Suffering from addiction causes one to have many questions. We don’t know why we can’t stop, why addiction has taken over our lives, and why we continue to go turn to substances even when we don’t want to. Addiction treatment often incorporates programs that educate clients about the nature of the disease of addiction. By understanding how addiction affects one mentally and physically, we will be able to strengthen our recovery. Sun Tzu once said, ““If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Men and women in recovery are engaged in a battle to overcome addiction. To do this, they need to know both the enemy of addiction and themselves in order to successfully navigate their recovery. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains, “It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.” Through education about addiction and therapeutic techniques to help us know ourselves, we will be able to form the most effective program possible to ensure we maintain our sobriety. Many people who lack education about the disease of addiction assume that it is a moral or ethical failure on the part of the drug user. Even men and women suffering from addiction may feel as though their inability to stop is a sign that they are morally corrupt or are weak in some way for being unable to control their use. The fact, however, is that the disease of addiction makes specific changes to the brain and body that make it impossible for one to assert control over their use. Understanding this central fact about the disease allows one to move past the shame of their drug use and begin working effectively toward recovery. When we learn as much as we can about the disease, about ourselves, and about our reactions to drugs and alcohol, we will be equipped to live a life of happiness, joyousness, and freedom in sobriety.
Your story can be one of courage and redemption in sobriety. You can make the decision to seek help now and begin building a brighter future on the journey of recovery. Oceanfront Recovery, located in beautiful Laguna Beach, is staffed with knowledgeable professionals who will help you decide what you need in order to continue down a path to success, so that once you’re ready to step back into the world, you can do so with confidence, equipped with the skills and tools necessary to live a happy, substance-free life. For information about individualized treatment options, please call today: (877) 279-1777
