Are You Ready To Succeed In Addiction Treatment? 5 Yes Or No Questions

Are You Ready To Succeed In Addiction Treatment? 5 Yes Or No Questions
Addiction recovery can be broken down into five major
questions that need to be answered, processed, and moved
through for success. They are sequential and though the
questions may sound simple, there are hidden land mines
that can derail your recovery. Here are the questions that
need 'yes' answers:

1. Do I have a problem?

This question might at first glance seem obvious, but it
really is the key. If a person does not believe that they
have a problem, then certainly, there is no need for
treatment and life will continue on as always. This
attitude can involve that frequently over used the word
'denial'. The problems are evident to everyone around the
person, but it is not clear to them at all. The hidden
landmine in answering yes to this question, is that while
you may be aware of a problem, have you defined it
correctly? Hint: it is not the substance or behavior, but
your reaction to, and continuation of it. For example does
your behavior trigger obsession and compulsion?

2. Do I want to do something about the problem?

Again, this question is not as obvious as it may first
seem. Lots of people are aware that they have a problems
with addiction yet continue to not do anything about them.
A common attitude is that I can stop any time I want to, I
am just not ready to stop, maybe tomorrow, or next year, or
after the holidays.

3. Do I want to stop now?

If you can answer yes to the questions do I have a problem,
and do I want to do something about it, the next question
begging to be asked is... now? Is the time right? What is
it that has now moved you to action? Most people are moved
to action by a crisis that affects them personally and
immediately. This crisis usually cuts through barriers of
procrastination and denial. Examples may be divorce, jail
time, or the imminent threat of losing a job. There are
some people however, who simply get sick and tired of being
sick and tired.

4. Am I my willing to establish a plan that will maximize
my chances for success?

If we have established that a problem exists, we want to do
something about it and the time is right, doesn't it make
sense to pursue the plan that will give us the best chance
for success? Here is where many people go astray. It is
essential to get qualified help and input in developing a
personal plan that will give you the best chance for
success. The plan I hear most often, that is almost a
sure-fire method for failure is 'I know what to do let me
go do it.' Another plan that has a near zero success rate
is 'I have made up my mind to quit so that's a done deal,'
(using willpower alone). One tricky part about establishing
a successful recovery plan is that there is no standardized
plan will work for everybody. Professional input will
really help.

5. Having established a workable plan, will I put that plan
into action on a daily basis?

You can have the most wonderful recovery plan in the world,
but it does you absolutely no good unless you implement it.
This generally means moving forward and doing the next
right thing. It is essential to build accountability into
the execution of your program. A critical piece of
information is that addiction recovery is a process not
event. If you have been in treatment, recovery is not
complete with the end of formal treatment. The changes that
suggested need to be implemented throughout your life on a
continual basis. Addiction recovery is a life long process
of change.

Though these steps are a simplification of the addiction
recovery process, answering yes to all five questions, and
moving through positively through them all, will ensure
that you are on the right road for addiction recovery.

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