Tag Archive: honesty in recovery

  1. Coming Clean About Not Staying Clean: Communicating Relapse

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    Coming Clean About Not Staying Clean: Communicating RelapseRecovery from drug addiction and alcoholism begins with the firm commitment to get- and stay- sober. That commitment inherently forces honest communication about a relapse. Relapse is an unfortunate part of many adolescent’s recovery journeys. Getting sober at a young age can be difficult. By the time many other people their age are starting to party or have fun experimenting with substances, your teen is maintaining sobriety or entering treatment for the first time. Needs to fit in, be a part of, or feel “normal” can take precedence over understanding of the fatal consequences of substance abuse.

    Relapse itself is never as dangerous as the actions taken after the relapse. Sadly, oftentimes that “one last time” is the very last time. The body, completely clean from drugs and alcohol, is unequipped to handle one more hit or drink. Other times, “just one more” leads to many more. It may be years before an adolescent returns to recovery as an adult. With honest communication, relapse can be and remain a singular episode.  

    If your loved one has made the commitment to sobriety, you will want to encourage them to be as honest as possible as soon as possible. Have them contact their sponsor and take accountability for their action. Calling their treatment providers and counselors on their own will prevent them from perpetuating any cycle of lying or deception. Many programs have a zero-tolerance policy. However, when a client honestly and willingly admits their relapse, program directors may be inclined to make accommodations. Facing the consequences of a relapse despite the fear of what might happen next will be a better practice for ongoing recovery.

    Sharing the relapse experience at group level will rarely be met with shame, blame, or criticism. Peers, sponsors, and professionals in recovery have likely experienced relapse and understand the incredible challenge which is long term sobriety. Honestly approaching relapse will open the door to support, encouragement and guidance for getting back on track and starting again.

    Learning from a relapse only happens once the relapse ends. Getting back into treatment or a structured after care program will promote understanding the triggers which might have lead to relapse. Drinking and using happens when our adolescent loved one forgets that drugs and alcohol aren’t the solution to whatever problems they are facing.

     

    There is a solution to drug addiction and alcoholism. We find and practice it each day through our unique adolescent and young adult aftercare program at Sustain Recovery Services. Call us at 949-407-9052 for a confidential consultation and answers to your questions about the importance of extended care services for long term sobriety.

  2. Encouraging Honesty in Adolescent Recovery

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    Encouraging Honesty in Adolescent RecoveryThe psychological toll of addiction in an adolescent’s life is far-reaching. New ways of thinking and habitual patterns of conduct take over, due to the rewiring of their thought processes by drugs and alcohol. Ultimately an adolescent suffering from addiction finds themselves unable to be honest. First and foremost, they find difficulty in being honest about the severity of their using problems. Honestly expressing their emotions, needs, or fears becomes an equally challenging, but necessary process.

    Regaining the ability to be honest is a development found only in recovery from drugs and alcohol. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states that “developing a manager of living which demands rigorous honesty” is the key to recovery. In order to recover, one must have the “capacity to be honest”. The first step of the infamous 12 steps involves admitting powerlessness over substance abuse and recognizing the unmanageable state life has reached. The moment the adolescent in your life suffering from drug and alcohol addiction is honest about their problem, recovery begins. Along the journey of treatment and after care, tools will be developed for expanding practices in honesty.

    Encourage the adolescent in your life to admit their mistakes as soon as is possible after it happens. Recovery programs help addicts to do this by teaching them to take regular personal inventories of their lives. Shedding layers of shame and guilt, it is helpful to continuously clean the slate. Maintaining a daily journal or having a daily phone call with a 12 step sponsor is an easy way to do this. As a parent, family member, or loved one, demonstrate your own dedication to honesty as well. Exemplify humility in your own life by owning up to your own shortcomings and committing yourself to righting your wrongs. Taking these small steps toward honesty in recovery help the process become easier for you and your recovering teen or adolescent.     

    A recovering addict’s failure to develop a renewed sense of honesty can lead to relapses only to be covered with more lies and denial. Any one incident of dishonesty will make it easier for an addict to be dishonest again. Developing new patterns is a fragile process, vulnerable to backtracking. Both honesty and dishonesty will build on prior incidents. With perseverance, you will both begin to see how a recovered sense of honesty will help not only in long term sobriety but living a fulfilling life.

     

    Sustain Recovery Services offers a unique aftercare treatment program for adolescents in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. For more information on our transformational program, please call 949-407-9052.

I first met Sayeh in November of 2013 just after my 15 year old daughter had been admitted to a residential treatment program. As part of the program I was required to attend 2-3 AlAnon meetings a week. Sayeh attended the same AlAnon meetings as well as Alumni events as I. It soon became apparent to me that Sayeh had a heart for recovery, program, and God. When I was encouraged to get a sponsor I didn’t hesitate. Dependable, respectful, kind and generous of spirit, she exudes an inner peace that I hope to achieve with her loving guidance, as I work my own program. She is patient, & full of wisdom that she is always happy to share with her sponsees and fellow parents. I am so grateful our journeys brought us together.

Megan
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