5 Myths about Recovery, Debunked

Whether through organized group therapy or informal get-togethers, joining others who are also recovering from addiction can help you combat isolation. Many patients also draw strength from realizing they are not alone. A significant part of the treatment process is shedding the behaviors and situations that likely contributed to your addiction in the first place. When you give yourself time to heal in an environment that’s free from triggers, you are giving yourself a better chance of maintaining your sobriety after you return home. If an intensive outpatient program is right for you, you can seek treatment without leaving home for extended periods.

  • Alcohol is everywhere because it’s generally easier to legally acquire than drugs and most gatherings will have some type of alcoholic beverage present.
  • For the most part, people don’t want to lie so they typically omit or sidestep relevant information that they feel will get them judged or punished by their loved ones.
  • Committing a crime and being addicted to substances do not go hand in hand.
  • It’s complicated to admit to yourself that you need help, especially when dealing with addiction.

So, the stress from moving away from everyone you know, getting a new job, or going to college can be enough to cause a person to return to bad habits. It’s a force that can take control of anyone regardless of their life circumstances. They may become unavailable to family and friends, steal for money or drugs, or make bad choices they wouldn’t have otherwise made. But, the fact is that they aren’t addicts because they lack moral fiber or because they are weak or bad people.

Understanding Recovery the Right Way

This is terribly frustrating, for both the person who wants to quit and for that person’s family, but a relapse isn’t a failure. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and change your plan for next time. Another, related, misconception is that when you relapse, you have to start over from scratch. Some people have worse withdrawal when detoxing after relapse and it’s normal to feel a bit discouraged.

  • Addiction is an equal opportunity offender that affects all classes, ages, races, genders, and professions.
  • This assumption may be born from fear and a lack of understanding about addiction, especially considering how easy it is to judge something and someone without any prior experience.
  • The next myth is that “an addicted person just needs to stop using to get better.” Unfortunately, addiction is not only about the substances.
  • People who don’t know much about sobriety think that if you’re sober you must be a member of AA and spend your nights in church basements drinking coffee.
  • As a result, they move on to the next step or revert to the pre-contemplation stage.
  • The next of the addiction myths we’ll dive into is the idea that “experiencing a relapse is a complete failure” and it means any progress in recovery has been ruined.

When we look into how substances affect the brain and change behavior, we understand addiction better. Because some people feel a great deal of shame about their substance abuse they often hide it. For the most part, people don’t want to lie so they typically omit or sidestep relevant information that they feel will get them judged or punished by their loved ones. Like all of the myths thus far, the “rock bottom’ myth has serious repercussions that enforce a counterproductive course of action…if any action at all. The implication that a person is powerless to seek treatment until they’ve lost all their resources or support networks directly suggests one has to lose everything in order for care to be effective. The idea of putting your life on hold to enter a treatment program may seem overwhelming.

Myth 3: Relapse is Failure.

But knowing what you can expect can help you advance through these stages more confidently. Just take the necessary steps to get yourself in the healing mindset, and then take physical steps towards sobriety. It can be difficult at times, but a life of sobriety is better than an addiction that gets worse and destroys your life. This doesn’t mean previous treatments failed, because the person with addiction still made progress overall in getting well. A recurrence may be a sign that the treatment approach or other supports need to change, or that other treatment methods are needed. When addiction takes hold, these changes in the brain erode a person’s self-control and ability to make good decisions, while sending highly intense impulses to take drugs.

myths about addiction and recovery

The stigmas surrounding addiction can make it incredibly difficult for those who are struggling to seek help. Here at Recoverlution, we offer a refuge for those in any stage of recovery to find community and connection, wellness tools, knowledge, and resources to aid them on their journey through recovery. Additionally, many people want to seek help long before hitting “rock bottom.” However, feelings of guilt and shame prevent them from taking that courageous step.

You Must Hit Rock Bottom Before Seeking Treatment

People whose lives have been touched by alcohol abuse or drug addiction have firsthand experience with the powerful hold a substance can have on a person. Debunking this myth is important to reduce the stigma against addicts because it takes an incorrect moral stance that makes it hard for myths about addiction and recovery someone to seek out help without fear of judgment. We’ve come a long way in our understanding of addiction and addiction treatment and we’re still learning more all the time. These can create all kinds of problems for people struggling with addiction and the families of those people.

A relapse is an indicator of more work that needs to be done beneath the surface, and that’s okay. In this guide, we’ve looked at some of the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ myths that surround addiction and recovery. These myths are common but don’t really match the complex reality of recovering from addiction.

Myth 5: Addiction Treatment Looks the Same for Everyone

Knowing that recovery changes over time helps people and their families face challenges with more understanding and strength. The common false belief that people are “always addicts” creates a damaging label. We believe that people, even those that relapse, can change and grow beyond their addiction. Changing how we see this is key to breaking down society’s harsh judgments and building a more understanding environment. Especially in recent years, there is a common misconception that only “hard” drugs are dangerous. Prescription medication, alcohol, and marijuana are often categorized as “safer to use” because of legalization and normalization of use.

myths about addiction and recovery

You have a better understanding of what caused your addiction and you probably have more resources to make another try. One especially pernicious myth about addiction is that people choose it. People choose to drink or use drugs, but no one chooses to become addicted.

These plans take into account things like the kind and seriousness of the addiction, mental health, and personal likes and dislikes. By making our programs fit each person, we make sure they get the most helpful and supportive care. Addicts aren’t “bad people.” This myth is built on a fear-based stigma that promotes judgment over compassion. In fact, one of the most difficult initial hurdles is processing the shame addicts often feel about their addiction. The black-and-white myths about addiction have contributed heavily to the widespread belief that addicts are bad people. Numerous media outlets have spread the false notion that addicts are egotistical, helpless, and uncontrollable.

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