While addiction involves much isolation, most alcoholics and addicts do not really want to be lonely. At its worst, addiction leads people away from their families and friends because they feel ashamed and guilty for their behavior. As the addiction worsens, they are alone because they are too sick to take part in any kind of social experience.
In some cases, some may make an attempt to be the life of the party. They go to great lengths to get attention and puff up their egos with bravado and noise. Underneath, though, they are just as alone as the alcoholic hiding in the bathroom with a secret stash of liquor or an addict shooting up in a dark alley.
Treatment Programs Provide Support Options
Rehab and recovery sets a whole new dynamic in motion. In treatment, addicts and alcoholics are surrounded by others who have been through the same things. They know the agony of addiction, and they offer the hope of a supportive community in recovery.
Just as addiction is a progressive disease that always makes a downward spiral, recovery is a process that is a gradual climb upward. Residential treatment guides the way for people in recovery through education, individual and group therapy, counseling and other support measures. As residential treatment comes to a close, the staff will provide community resources for ongoing support. They will offer a lifeline in order to reduce the risk of relapse. Many treatment centers have alumni programs, which give clients and their families the chance to reconnect with the professional staff who walked them through the early steps. With this, you have a community supporting you every step of the way.
Recovery is not a “do-it-yourself” project. Let 1st Step be partners with you as you embark on recovery.
