Addiction

The iconic American author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” This relates to a fear that many people have when they enter a recovery program. They become worried that they are both going to lose their identity and are going to gain an identity that solely relates to their recovery. Neither has to be true. With the right program, it becomes quite easy to find one’s identity outside of recovery.

The Importance of Identity in Recovery

Many people worry that they are going to lose their identity when they choose to enter a program of recovery. However, these same people often forget that their identity has already been disrupted and corrupted by their addiction. So, it is better to think of recovery as regaining one’s identity from addiction rather than losing an identity that was already very much lost.

However, it is also important to gain some new identity in recovery. A big part of recovery is the elimination of ego, and ego is often a big part of people’s identity before entering treatment. Once this ego is “smashed,” a new “recovery identity” can begin to form.

This is an identity that values one’s recovery above all else. It is also an identity that can relate to others in recovery.

The Importance of ‘Identifying’ in Recovery

It is often said in recovery that one should “identify” with others rather than “compare and contrast” with them. This is important because it helps to show people in recovery that they are not alone. Yes, the details of people’s stories may differ wildly, but the feelings and the emotional states are almost always identical. These are the feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and worthlessness that come with active addiction.

Many people who have dealt with active addiction feel like they are not worth redemption. However, once one can identify with others in recovery, they can then see that they are no better or worse than anyone else out there, and they have every right to live a “happy, joyous, and free” life. Part of this life is finding one’s identity in many different areas.

Finding Your Identity Outside of Recovery

It is important to strike a healthy identity balance in recovery. This means that recovery should always come first, but it does not need to be “worn on one’s sleeve” at all times.

One’s identity outside of recovery can look very much like one’s identity before recovery, minus the toxic aspects of addiction. For example, if someone was into mountain climbing or skateboarding before recovery, there is no reason why that part of their identity can’t come back. It will most likely come back stronger than ever because it will not be held hostage by addiction.

Also, many people find ways to integrate their recovery into other avenues of their identity in a healthy way. For example, that same person who may be into mountain climbing may start a sober mountain climbing society. Speaking of mountain climbing, Colorado is also a great place to both mountain climb and find one’s identity outside of recovery.

Finding Your Identity Outside of Recovery in Colorado

Colorado has some of the best treatment facilities and treatment specialists in the country. It also has some of the best recovery communities in the country (vibrant 12-Step communities, for example).

Colorado is also a great place to find one’s identity outside of recovery because it strikes the perfect balance between urban living and natural landscapes. One can find their identity in nature by engaging with the Rocky Mountains and all that they have to offer such as hiking, skiing, or rock climbing. Also, one can find their identity in city hubs like Denver or Boulder where some of the most exciting art, music, and sporting communities are.

Here at The Redpoint Center, we also know that it takes time to find one’s identity in recovery, which is why we offer different levels of care. For example, if someone still needs time to establish their identity, we have some of the best sober living facilities out there that can help them integrate into life as they continue to find themselves.

The Importance of Comprehensive Care at The Redpoint Center

Recovery is all about finding oneself. When that happens, one rediscovers who they really are, and who they are meant to be.

Emerson also famously wrote, “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” That is where one’s identity truly lies: on the inside. Addiction and mental illness try to keep it locked away. Here at The Redpoint Center, we are here to help those healthy identities reemerge.

Many people fear that their recovery will become their main and only identity. This does not need to be the case (unless one chooses it to be). A healthy recovery means striking a balance between one’s identity inside and outside of the treatment program of their choosing. If you feel like you or a loved one may be struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to a successful long-term recovery. For more information on how sobriety opens us up to be the person that we always wanted to be, please reach out the The Redpoint Center today at (303) 710-8496.

It is important to remember that support is about more than simply helping someone up. It is also about holding them up after the fact. Perhaps no place is this more true than within the family, especially when that family has been affected by addiction. This is also why reconnecting with the family after rehab can be so crucial.

Integrating Back Into Everyday Life After Rehab

There are many questions that, understandably, pop up when one is ready to leave rehab. These are questions like, “Where am I going to stay?” “What am I going to do for work?” “Will I be accepted back into my family?” Also, perhaps the most important, “How am I going to keep sobriety my priority?”

This last question is critical when it comes to integrating back into everyday life after rehab. Many people often get overwhelmed with the other questions, but it is important to remember that those questions become moot if one does not keep their sobriety at the forefront. It is also important to make the right choices after rehab and not try to rush anything.

No one’s recovery is the same, and this also applies to where people are after rehab. Some people are ready to get right back into their day-to-day lives, but others may want to take it a little slower. For these individuals, looking into a stay at a sober living facility may be an ideal option. Staying in a sober living facility is also a great way to stay connected to recovery after rehab.

Staying Connected to Recovery After Rehab

As previously alluded to, there is a saying in many recovery communities that goes, “Anything one puts in front of their recovery, they have the potential to lose.” This means that one’s recovery must always come before anything else. Recovery communities are a great way to ensure that this remains the case.

Recovery communities like those that utilize a 12-Step program can be pivotal for those who feel a little unsure about how secure their sobriety is after rehab. Many people find that they have a lot of time on their hands right after rehab, and connecting with a recovery community can help not only fill that time but also fill that time with healthy sober conversation and growth.

It should also be noted that Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is a great place to be after rehab. One of the reasons is that it is the perfect location to connect with both nature and urban settings. Another reason is that it has some of the finest recovery specialists in the country. It also has established and vibrant recovery communities for support.

Reconnecting With Family After Rehab

Another way that one can get support is by reconnecting with family after rehab. Of course, this is only if reconnecting with family is a healthy and viable option.

There is a reason why people refer to addiction as a “family disease.” This is because addiction does not just affect the individual who is directly struggling. Also, because addiction is a family disease, it needs a “family solution.”

This family solution often involves the family getting some help for themselves while their loved one is in rehab. Now, this may come in the form of family therapy, individual therapy, counseling, or family workshops that take place at the recovery center. These actions can really help the whole family start to heal early before it comes time to reconnect.

Healing With Family After Rehab

Part of healing with the family after rehab must come in the form of trust building. This may come from making amends (which is a big part of 12-Step recovery), from committing to continued therapy (including being part of family therapy), and creating a relapse prevention plan and sticking to it.

It is also important to understand that rehab is not a “silver bullet” solution. Recovery takes work and also takes time. There will be times when things don’t always go as smoothly as the family might hope. However, by sticking to a family recovery plan, “one day at a time,” positive progress can and will happen.

Helping the Whole Family Heal at The Redpoint Center

Here at The Redpoint Center, we understand how important it is to help the entire family heal. Yes, ultimately, the choice to recover must come down to the individual. However, when that choice is made one can use all of the support they can get, especially from the family.

The iconic author and philosopher Khalil Gibran once wrote, “To be able to look back upon one’s life in satisfaction, is to live twice.” At The Redpoint Center, we are here to help families be proud of their lives that they will one day look back upon together.

Family dynamics can be complicated when it comes to recovery, to say the least. This includes mending relationships with family members and reconnecting with family after rehab. There are also outpatient programs and sober living facilities that can help individuals slowly integrate back into family life, and help with the family healing process. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path to long-term recovery. For more information about how to navigate reconnecting with family after treatment and other long-term recovery options, please reach out to The Redpoint Center today at (303) 710-8496.

The American author and psychologist Wayne Dyer once said, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Change is one of the cornerstones of recovery. It is all about changing the way of living from a state of harm to a state of wellness. However, change can also be alarming and scary. This is also true when we ask ourselves, “Will my loved ones accept my addiction recovery?” And when we ask ourselves, “Will they be comfortable with my change?”

I’m Sober, Now What?

We ask ourselves many questions once we complete our initial stay in treatment or our initial outpatient program. The overarching question is often, “I’m sober, now what?” This question pertains to many avenues of life, including our work, social, and, most certainly, home lives.

When it comes to all of these arenas of life, we must also take into account not just how we feel, but how others feel around us. Now, this does not mean that we should allow others to negatively affect our recovery, but it does mean that we can help them understand our recovery in ways that can benefit everyone involved. However, before we can help others accept our addiction, we must first accept it for ourselves.

I Must Accept My Addiction Recovery

Just as change is a big part of recovery, so too is acceptance. Many of us are willing to accept help with our initial recovery, but once we start to feel better that willingness to accept long-term recovery starts to waiver. This is dangerous because it can easily lead to a relapse, which is much more common than many people may think.

“Accepting my addiction recovery” also involves accepting that we are not going to be able to control the actions of others, only the way we react to those actions. This is crucial when it comes to helping loved ones accept our addiction recovery.

Helping Loved Ones Accept My Addiction Recovery

More often than not, loved ones are thrilled when we choose to get sober. However, when this sobriety starts to change us and how we interact with them, it can be a bit hard for them to adjust. We can help them with those adjustments by being open, honest, and willing to answer any questions that they may have.

One of the questions that often comes up is whether or not we are going to be able to drink or use substances “normally” again. It can be hard for people to understand that even one drink or a drug can trigger a relapse and a reset of all of the addiction problems that existed before treatment. Explaining this reality can be very helpful in helping loved ones understand why we must remain so close to our recovery plan.

Loved ones also often feel that our recovery is “taking us away from them.” This is because we must stay so focused on our recovery, especially early on. Often, this includes going to recovery meetings and therapy sessions regularly. It can be helpful to explain to them that one of the reasons we stay so focused on our recovery is so we can improve the relationships around us. Besides, without our recovery, we wouldn’t even have an opportunity to continue or mend these relationships.

To Accept My Addiction Recovery in Fort Collins: Moving Forward and Doing What Is Best for My Recovery

The reality is that some loved ones are not going to be able to accept our recovery and what we need to do to maintain it. When this happens, we must be willing to move forward without their approval.

We must remember that, ultimately, it is our sobriety and our lives that we are saving, and we cannot let anyone else’s feelings toward our recovery get in the way of that. The reality is that we must always be progressing in our recovery, and for many of us, Fort Collins, Colorado is the perfect place to do that.

With the perfect proximity to both nature (the Rocky Mountains) and vibrant city hubs (Denver), Fort Collins is an ideal place for continued recovery. It also has an exceptionally established recovery community that helps to keep all involved sober “one day at a time.”

Healing at the Cellular Level With The Redpoint Center

Here at The Redpoint Center, we understand how important it is for the entire family to heal from the “family disease” of addiction. We also understand that healing can take time.

The renowned Austrian psychologist Viktor E. Frankl once said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” That is what we aim to do here at The Redpoint Center: help people change into the healthy, successful people they were always meant to be.

It can be difficult for some people close to us to accept that we are getting help and choosing a recovered lifestyle. However, it is important to address the issues of one’s new choice of sobriety with loved ones, as well as eliminate toxic relationships from one’s recovery journey if they are going to have successful long-term sobriety. If you feel like you or someone you love is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery. For more information about how to talk to loved ones about recovery, please reach out to The Redpoint Center today at (303) 710-8496.