Recognizing the need for professional help is one of the biggest steps a person can take in their recovery journey. If you are struggling with drug addiction and in need of treatment, you may be scared of what comes next. Will you be isolated to a far-away rehab center? Will you go through a painful detoxification stage? Will it even work? Will you hate it there? Will you be able to pick back up, right where you left off, after the program? The truth is, there are many misconceptions surrounding and chances are, substance abuse recovery is not all that you’d expect. With the right outlook and readiness, it can be so much more.

Below, Turnbridge details what you should really know about addiction, treatment, and substance abuse recovery.

1. Addiction is a disease.

Addiction is not a moral failing nor is it a choice. It is a chronic brain disease, and can happen to anyone, of any age and any upbringing. You are not a bad person for having this disease, and you are not alone. Millions of people around the world are diagnosed with a substance use disorder. However, it is important to recognize that, like any chronic disease (asthma, diabetes, etc.), addiction does require ongoing care and active management. Substance abuse recovery is a lifelong commitment.

2. Substance abuse recovery is not – and will not be – easy.

When battling addiction, many people want to think they can quit drugs and cure the thing overnight. The fact is, like many other chronic diagnoses, there is no magic “cure” for addiction. It is not “easy” to overcome, though it is treatable. As noted above, addiction requires active management, long-term commitment, long-term treatment, and hard work. Your body and your mind need to get healthy again. Your brain needs to re-learn how to function without drugs or alcohol. You need to develop new coping skills and most of all, re-discover who you are and what you want to do in your life this day forward. Then, you need to shape your actions around those hopes and goals.

3. Getting sober and living sober are not the same.

Getting sober means stopping the drinking and the using – it means abstinence from addictive substances. And it is the first step towards living sober. Living sober means making lifestyle changes that support your recovery from substance abuse. It means making a long-term commitment to sobriety and shaping your life, your actions, and your decisions to sustain that. Living sober is not a sentence, however, it is a choice that people in recovery learn to enjoy. It involves being healthy, participating in fun events and activities with a clear mind, and developing lasting, sober relationships with people who will always be there for you.

Of course, living sober takes time. Not only does it require lifestyle changes – such as the people you hang out with – it also requires a change in your total outlook. Having a positive attitude in recovery is the key to lasting success.

4. Substance abuse treatment is not one size fits all.

Everyone carries their own, unique addiction story. Their drug(s) of choice, the way they were introduced to drugs, how they initiated drugs, their reasons for trying and continuing drugs, their experiences with drugs, all vary. As a result, addiction treatment cannot be one-size-fits-all. No single treatment works for everyone. And no single treatment is the “right” one. Substance abuse treatment must vary based on the type of drug a person is addicted to, as well as the characteristics – age, gender, background, education, mental health issues, family life, and more – and mindset of the person. You must find what works for you, and your addiction counselor can help with that process, altering treatment methods based on your wants and needs.

It’s also important to recognize that everyone in substance abuse recovery goes at their own pace. At Turnbridge, for example, there are no time constraints. Each step of our Phased Reintegration program builds off the preceding one, meaning a resident cannot move to their next phase of treatment until he/she has fully succeeded in the first.

5. Healthy living is important in substance abuse recovery.

Physical and mental wellness go hand-in-hand. And, without a doubt, addiction took a toll on your body. Drugs can deprive your body of nutrients, cause anemia, and lead to unhealthy weight loss. For full healing, you must ensure you are taking care of your body. During substance abuse recovery at Turnbridge, we require that residents establish an exercise regime. We also encourage them to shop for and prepare healthy, balanced meals.

6. A recovery center is not like a hospital.

When many people think “rehab,” they think that they are being sent away to a confined, clinical facility to get treated. In reality, a great drug treatment center will give its residents a space to heal, grow, and flourish. At Turnbridge, we believe recovery is most achievable when it takes place in a setting built for success. All of Turnbridge’s recovery housing and facilities reflect the beauty and quality we wish for our clients to discover within their selves. They have access to libraries, yoga studios, music rooms, outdoor space, and more inspiring settings. Residents at Turnbridge are also surrounded by peers of the same age, gender, and experiences.

7. Relapse in the recovery process does not mean failure.

Addiction, like many chronic illnesses, is a relapsing disease. It has been said that drug addiction carries a 40 to 60 percent relapse rate. Similarly, however, Type I Diabetes has a 30 to 50 percent chance of relapse. Relapse is common, unfortunately, and it can be very devastating. It’s important to know that relapse does not indicate you have failed. Rather, it means that something in your treatment or recovery plan needs to change. Something needs to be revised. Perhaps a longer-term, inpatient treatment center will be a better fit. Think about what brought you to relapse and make that a focus of your treatment moving forward. The other important thing to remember is that relapse is preventable. With a commitment to aftercare, you can stay on the road to recovery.

For more information about Turnbridge, or to learn how to start your recovery journey, please do not hesitate to reach out. Call 877-581-1793 for more information about our young adult drug treatment programs.