Holistic approach as a person in recovery
I strongly believe that a person in recovery from a substance use disorder is best served by having a holistic approach to taking care of themselves for the long term.
For myself, I had a narrow view of how to help myself and my life in recovery. For years, I only knew, and believed, that there was only one way to do this thing. The twelve step approach was it for me. I fully believed, even as a counselor working in the field, that the twelve steps were the end all and cure all for anyone with a substance use disorder.
It was only when I started reading research that I learned this wasn't true. It was only when my own narrow view was widened that I learned that there are people who never step foot inside a twelve step group and they are able to find recovery and live great lives. This went smack in the face of everything I knew to that point. I had always considered myself to be pretty open minded, but, when I really looked at the information I was reading, I realized I wasn't. I had long held the belief that someone could try other things to get to, and, stay in recovery, but ultimately they would have to come around to the twelve step model or else.........I would preach this in my mind and in meetings myself. Saying things in a way that sent the message.......one day you will have to come around to our way of believing.
What I found was that was completely self serving to only keep me in my own narrow way of believing. My shift in thinking came when I was doing a research project for my masters program. I read about other programs that help people in recovery. Lifering, Women for Sobriety, S.O.S, and SMART recovery are all viable pathways for many who don't agree with, like, or just want an alternative to the twelve step model. Each have great models that help people live amazing lives in recovery. During this time my eyes were opened and my long held beliefs challenged, and, ultimately, changed.
Prior to this I had been to treatment where the model was the Minnesota Model of Treatment. This is simply teaching people about the twelves steps. That's it. No education or information about alternative pathways. It's go to meetings, get a sponsor, work the steps. If you don't, you are not going to stay in recovery. This IS what I learned, and what I believed. From this point forward, with new and valid information in front of me my narrow belief system widened greatly.
Now, I was faced with a whole new set of tools and way to navigate a life in recovery. Even more, I learned that many CAN and DO live lives in recovery, happily and successfully, using other tools. People are able to get back to living positive lives through engaging with others in their communities who have common recovery goals and love exercise. Some love to use mediation and yoga and this gives them amazing results and helps them sustain their life in recovery. Others use only their faith and are able to shift their mindset toward a positive life in recovery.
There is a positive movement toward a more holistic approach to how we treat people with substance use disorders. Many treatment agencies are now allowing new approaches outside of the Minnesota Model of treatment. The federal government has changed their stance in how they fund treatment and recovery supports to allow for more than just one way of thinking. Communities are embracing alternative approaches to support people in recovery.
Encouraging a holistic approach will help more people get to, and, stay in recovery. For each of us to understand that everyone is different in this area, and, having the "one way" mindset and belief system will only hurt is important. I have to constantly challenge myself to keep an open mind. I have to be careful to not get to for one way, or the other, in my thinking in this area. A life in recovery is truly an individual thing. What works for me is great, but, that doesn't mean it has to work for everyone. I only ask you to consider that in your own thinking. I say "what if?" What if we all keep an open mind to the possibilities of saving more lives through new ways of approaching treatment and recovery? What if, we can reduce the 70,000 plus deaths our nation experienced in 2018 alone by asking ourselves if what we have been doing isn't working? We CAN see a positive and life saving impact by using a truly holistic approach.
For myself, I had a narrow view of how to help myself and my life in recovery. For years, I only knew, and believed, that there was only one way to do this thing. The twelve step approach was it for me. I fully believed, even as a counselor working in the field, that the twelve steps were the end all and cure all for anyone with a substance use disorder.
It was only when I started reading research that I learned this wasn't true. It was only when my own narrow view was widened that I learned that there are people who never step foot inside a twelve step group and they are able to find recovery and live great lives. This went smack in the face of everything I knew to that point. I had always considered myself to be pretty open minded, but, when I really looked at the information I was reading, I realized I wasn't. I had long held the belief that someone could try other things to get to, and, stay in recovery, but ultimately they would have to come around to the twelve step model or else.........I would preach this in my mind and in meetings myself. Saying things in a way that sent the message.......one day you will have to come around to our way of believing.
What I found was that was completely self serving to only keep me in my own narrow way of believing. My shift in thinking came when I was doing a research project for my masters program. I read about other programs that help people in recovery. Lifering, Women for Sobriety, S.O.S, and SMART recovery are all viable pathways for many who don't agree with, like, or just want an alternative to the twelve step model. Each have great models that help people live amazing lives in recovery. During this time my eyes were opened and my long held beliefs challenged, and, ultimately, changed.
Prior to this I had been to treatment where the model was the Minnesota Model of Treatment. This is simply teaching people about the twelves steps. That's it. No education or information about alternative pathways. It's go to meetings, get a sponsor, work the steps. If you don't, you are not going to stay in recovery. This IS what I learned, and what I believed. From this point forward, with new and valid information in front of me my narrow belief system widened greatly.
Now, I was faced with a whole new set of tools and way to navigate a life in recovery. Even more, I learned that many CAN and DO live lives in recovery, happily and successfully, using other tools. People are able to get back to living positive lives through engaging with others in their communities who have common recovery goals and love exercise. Some love to use mediation and yoga and this gives them amazing results and helps them sustain their life in recovery. Others use only their faith and are able to shift their mindset toward a positive life in recovery.
There is a positive movement toward a more holistic approach to how we treat people with substance use disorders. Many treatment agencies are now allowing new approaches outside of the Minnesota Model of treatment. The federal government has changed their stance in how they fund treatment and recovery supports to allow for more than just one way of thinking. Communities are embracing alternative approaches to support people in recovery.
Encouraging a holistic approach will help more people get to, and, stay in recovery. For each of us to understand that everyone is different in this area, and, having the "one way" mindset and belief system will only hurt is important. I have to constantly challenge myself to keep an open mind. I have to be careful to not get to for one way, or the other, in my thinking in this area. A life in recovery is truly an individual thing. What works for me is great, but, that doesn't mean it has to work for everyone. I only ask you to consider that in your own thinking. I say "what if?" What if we all keep an open mind to the possibilities of saving more lives through new ways of approaching treatment and recovery? What if, we can reduce the 70,000 plus deaths our nation experienced in 2018 alone by asking ourselves if what we have been doing isn't working? We CAN see a positive and life saving impact by using a truly holistic approach.
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