RECOVERY IS THE DESIRED OUTCOME
It’s been said that “recovery is a process, not an event.” Many of us know that the growth and transformation that happens after we eliminate use of alcohol and other drugs is a lifelong process. As we move forward in our recovery journey, we experience new opportunities, achievements, and lessons. Along with these come challenges and setbacks. During these times, we may need to seek out extra help and support. This often helps to secure our recovery and prevent relapse. Sustaining our recovery requires cultivation, so that we don’t fall back into old ways or active addiction. Over the years, scientists have confirmed what many of us knew all along: addiction is a chronic condition. This means that, just like with other chronic conditions including heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, there is not a cure that will make our addiction go away completely. This is why many of us say that we are “in recovery,” rather than “recovered.” We manage our condition through a process of changing how we think, behave, and (re)assemble our lives. Most of us cannot do it alone, so we seek out others to help support and cultivate our recovery journey. Recovery doesn’t just automatically happen, it evolves and changes over time as we grow and mature.
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