Are you living in active addiction and struggling to get sober? Millions of people across the United States struggle with substance use disorder (SUD) and are searching for a way to achieve sobriety. SMART Recovery may be a way to do that. Offering a new perspective on addiction recovery, SMART Recovery stands for “self-management and recovery training.” Understanding this recovery method and its benefits can help you determine whether it can be helpful in your recovery.
SMART Recovery is not the only way you can achieve and maintain recovery. Nowadays, the options for addiction treatment are virtually endless. However, it can be a great tool for many people struggling to get sober. Reach out to an addiction treatment program and consider the options today.
Each journey with SUD is a unique experience. While there are millions of people trying to cope with SUD every day, no one goes through the exact same thing as someone else. Some people struggle with co-occurring disorders while managing intense triggers or cravings. Others must work to balance everyday life and recovery. Many must cope with the pressures of being single parents while trying to maintain sobriety. These are all unique experiences. Nevertheless, each experience requires proper addiction treatment.
In the same way that every journey with SUD is unique, so is every recovery journey. Research and decades of hands-on experience show that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment and recovery. Treatment is most effective when it is tailored to the individual. Therefore, upon entering treatment, everyone should have the opportunity to experiment with different therapies, evidence-based modalities, and holistic practices. Discovering what works best for each client will aid them as they embark on a long-term journey to sobriety.
In addition to helping with SUD, SMART Recovery can also help individuals manage addictive behaviors. Addictive behaviors — sometimes referred to as behavioral addictions — describe when a person is addicted to a specific action, habit, or compulsion. That could include an addiction to gambling, shopping, sex, or food, as just a few examples. While compulsions and addictions differ, there are similarities in that people follow an urge to do something.
There is no standard treatment approach for behavioral addictions. Treatment programs are best when tailored to the individual's needs and what they respond to best. They may incorporate many of the same treatment methods as SUD treatment. Some possibilities include:
Like any other treatment, every individual has to find what works best for them. Considering SMART Recovery may be a good first step.
SMART Recovery claims to be a “nationwide, nonprofit organization which offers free support groups to individuals who desire to gain independence from any type of addictive behavior.” It can teach people how to:
The SMART Recovery official website describes this program as a “transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.” A significant part of achieving sobriety includes learning the necessary skills to overcome addiction and regain the power to change one's life.
Many individuals in active addiction feel powerless over their addiction, but no one has to stay stuck there. Treatment should empower people and offer hope. SMART Recovery offers empowerment, community, and the chance to learn from peers and professionals. These peers and professionals work together to merge “science and experience to help people build healthy and balanced lives.”
SMART Recovery offers support meetings online and in person. These meetings help people begin down a recovery path to create “a more balanced, purposeful, fulfilling, and meaningful life.” Sobriety is not a cure for addiction. However, having a strong community and empowering life skills is an effective way to strengthen one's chances of maintaining sobriety long after leaving a rehabilitation facility.
Some of the other benefits of SMART Recovery include:
What some do not realize is that treatment and sobriety are a journey of self-discovery. Each individual will learn so many things about themselves along the way. That includes discovering their strengths and weaknesses and even realizing what they really want out of life.
Visit the SMART Recovery official website to learn more about it and discover how anyone can achieve and maintain a life of sobriety today.
Substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral addictions impact millions of people across the United States every day. Thanks to research and hands-on experience, professionals in the addiction treatment space have learned that the most effective treatment is individualized care. That means you can experiment with several therapies, evidence-based modalities, and holistic practices aimed toward helping you achieve and maintain sobriety. One method that may help is SMART Recovery. SMART Recovery is a national nonprofit organization that offers free support groups to people striving for freedom from addictive behaviors and may be able to help you in your journey. For more information on SMART Recovery or to seek treatment, contact NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400 today.
