Getting Past the Stigma of Sobriety in Recovery

The iconic Saint Francis of Assisi famously said, “A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” This concept is critical when it comes to getting past the stigma of sobriety in recovery. Sobriety is a beautiful thing, and yet there remain many people who don’t understand its benefits and importance. The good news is that this stigma is fading, and more and more people are choosing sobriety and/or some type of defined recovery.

Better Understanding Addiction

Addiction affects millions of people every day. It is one of the most common and deadly diseases known to humanity, and, yes, it is a disease. This is where the stigma on the other side of recovery often resides. Many people think that addiction is some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply not the case.

Most addiction specialists and medical professionals now agree that addiction is a disease and is more similar to other chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. This is because without some type of professional intervention, addiction will almost always progress and get worse, rarely better.

Addiction is also a “family disease.” However, what exactly does that mean? It means that addiction affects far more than the individual who is struggling. This is why many people often refer to addiction as a tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path. Yet, while addiction may hit closest to home, the family (and close friends) are often in the best position to help a loved one when a problem becomes apparent.

Healing at the Cellular Level: Better Understanding Addiction Recovery

More and more people are choosing recovery every day. One of the reasons for this is that there are far more recovery centers and treatment facilities than ever before. However, one must also be cautious when choosing a recovery center.

The reality is that recovery has become a multi-billion-dollar business. While, as previously mentioned, this can be positive, it can also mean that there are more bad actors out there looking to put their financial bottom line over their clients’ well-being. These are also the types of treatment centers that only offer “one-note” recovery.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we know that overarching “one-size-fits-all” treatment plans rarely work. This is because they rarely get to the critical components of individualized issues. No one person struggles with active addiction in the exact same way. Why then should they settle for the exact same recovery plan? The answer is that they shouldn’t.

The Stigma of Active Addiction

Millions of people will never get the help that they need. This is just the reality of the disease and the stigma that keeps people sick and suffering. Many people don’t tell others that they are struggling because they fear the stigma that is often associated with active addiction. The truth is that loved ones are almost always out to help, never to judge. The key is to look out for the signs and symptoms of active addiction, so an intervention can be made as soon as the problem is recognized.

Of course, the signs and symptoms of addiction are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms. The following are just a few:

• Isolating away from family and close friends
• Experiencing trouble at work or school
• Not being able to stop drinking or using once started
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough
• Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems (like constipation)
• Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
• Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• Causing harm to oneself or others
• Having suicidal ideations

Now, people can often minimize addiction or even falsely categorize it as that previously mentioned “choice.” However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help sooner rather than later is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. However, many people also feel stigmatized for their sobriety.

The Stigma of Sobriety

There is no doubt that society is solidly saturated with alcohol and substances. This can be seen in the millions of bars and billions of dollars spent on advertising for various types of alcohol and substances. So, when one chooses to get sober, it can feel like they are going against the grain.

It is also true that it is important to judge others for their own behaviors. For example, many people can drink on occasion and will never have an issue. Yet, this is not the case for the millions of people who struggle with addiction. These people face the phenomenon of craving – once they start using or drinking, they cannot stop. For these individuals, sobriety is the most effective option. So, that being the case (life or death), it is important to be able to navigate the stigma of sobriety in recovery. Otherwise, it could lead to a relapse.

Many people don’t realize just how common relapses can be. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Also, “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.” These statistics also show why it is so important to get to the root/core causes of addiction.

Getting to the Root/Core Causes of the Issue

Many people forget that addiction is about much more than the drink or the drug. It is what is going on beneath the surface. This is why many people in recovery say, “It is about the thinking much more than it is about the drinking.” Often these underlying issues have to do with issues of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is more common than many people may think. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Center for PTSD, “Most of us will experience at least one trauma in our lifetime that could lead to PTSD. There are factors that put you at risk of experiencing a trauma, many of which are not under your control. For example, if you were directly exposed to the trauma or injured, you are more likely to develop PTSD.” The good news is that there are many means, methods, and modalities that can help with issues like PTSD and addiction. 

These modalities should come from all avenues of recovery if one is to heal at the cellular level. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and surf therapy. There are also many holistic healing methods, like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation, that can help one fully recover from addiction.

Getting Past the Stigma of Sobriety in Recovery via Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can be particularly beneficial because it gets to those underlying issues previously mentioned. It helps individuals better understand the negative thinking that often leads to alcohol and substance use. This introspection helps individuals see this negative thinking and learn to change the behaviors associated with it. CBT is particularly effective at making this happen.

CBT has a long history of efficacy. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Cognitive Behavior Therapy, by Doctors Chand, Kuckel, and Huecker, “In the 1960s, Aaron Beck developed cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or cognitive therapy. Since then, it has been extensively researched and found to be effective in a large number of outcome studies for some psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, and personality disorders. It has also been demonstrated to be effective as an adjunctive treatment to medication for serious mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.”

DBT can also be effective at treating both addiction and addiction with co-occurring mental health issues. According to the peer-reviewed journal The Mental Health Clinician, “Dialectical behavior therapy is based on cognitive-behavioral principles and is currently the only empirically supported treatment for BPD. Randomized controlled trials have shown the efficacy of DBT not only in BPD but also in other psychiatric disorders, such as substance use disorders, mood disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders. Traditional DBT is structured into 4 components, including skills training group, individual psychotherapy, telephone consultation, and therapist consultation team.”

Getting Past the Stigma of Sobriety in Recovery via Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Regarding stigma, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy continues to be in the crosshairs. This is even after there have been many studies to show its efficacy.

According to the peer-reviewed journal BJPsych Open, “Approaches to ketamine therapy that involve active therapeutic support, such as KAP [ketamine-assisted psychotherapy], leverage the subjective psychoactive effects of ketamine administration to maximise therapeutic benefit. Indeed, although the role of the acute psychoactive effects of ketamine remains a subject of debate, theory and research suggest that these effects may be important, and perhaps even central. For example, a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy session using a single psychedelic dose of ketamine produced higher rates of abstinence from heroin users than did a low sub-psychedelic dose.”

Getting Past the Stigma of Sobriety in Recovery via Experiential Therapies

There are many types of experiential therapies that can help one recover from addiction. One of these is horticulture therapy.

Horticulture therapy offers many vast and varied benefits for recovery. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-oriented horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.” 

The good news is that there may be no better place to recover with horticulture therapy than at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab. When one walks onto our luxury 30-acre property, they will be met with the most luxurious landscapes. These landscapes are covered in amazing fruit trees, pineapple patches, and vegetable boxes bursting with produce. These are all available to be cultivated by clients looking to connect to the land while healing both internally and externally.

Getting Past the Stigma of Sobriety in Recovery via the Twelve Steps

12-Step recovery can also be critical for long-term recovery and avoiding stigma in recovery. This is because there is strength in numbers. The recovery meetings utilized in 12-Step recovery can help people relate to those who have had similar experiences and provide a safe space for discussing issues like stigma that is often faced.

These meetings are also a great place to avoid a potential relapse. In fact, the primary text of 12-Step recovery (often referred to as The Big Book) discusses how working with others is one of the best ways to avoid a relapse. The chapter, “Working With Others,” states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail….You can help when no one else can.” There are also many holistic healing methods that can help one recover at the cellular level.

Getting Past the Stigma of Sobriety in Recovery via Holistic Healing Methods

The iconic Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously; our eyes can still see the beautiful sky; our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.” One way to eliminate this fear is to cultivate a holistic-based practice in one’s recovery routine.

Many holistic healing methods have been practiced for thousands of years. It has only been recently that they have been used to aid in addiction recovery. Holistic healing methods have been shown to have many benefits. The following are just a few:

• Improved breathing
• Better strength and posture
• Acquiring a better sense of self
• A greater focus on mindfulness
• Creates empathy
• Finding a better sense of mental balance and clarity
• Helping one connect with others and heal relationships
• Increased positivity and wellness
• Connects individuals with new, relatable people
• Encourages spirituality
• Reduces anxiety and depression
• Can help individuals who struggle with suicidal ideations

As one can see, these benefits are vast and varied. These methods include yoga therapy, mindfulness meditation, acupuncture, aroma therapy, massage therapy, and Reiki. Also, these methods work particularly well when utilized alongside “evidence-based” modalities like psychotherapy. The key is to find a multi-angled approach to recovery and stick with it. This includes sticking with it after leaving the recovery center. Aftercare can be essential for long-term success.

Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future.

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then it is time to get past the stigma of sobriety and ask for help. Recovery is out there and waiting. It’s time to go out and get it. We can help!

Many people fear that they will be stigmatized for being sober (this is especially true for younger people). However, this is no longer the case, as sobriety is quickly becoming the preferred way of life for millions of people. The good news is that many tips and tools can help show one how to be comfortable in one’s recovery. 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 right road to recovery, right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about the stigma many face in recovery, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab at (808) 775-0200.