Addiction – From Denial to Acceptance

Most people coming into addiction treatment are in some stage of denial. There are those who deny they have a problem at all, but when we get information from a spouse, an employer, a friend, medical information, DUI history, etc., we get a different picture. Many come into addiction treatment knowing there’s some level of substance abuse, but they deny they’re addicted — those in partial denial still think they can control the alcohol, cocaine, opiates, or whatever their drug of choice may be, yet their history’s filled with failed attempts at controlled use.

Then there are those who admit they have an addiction problem but deny it’s so serious they have to follow a detailed treatment plan and make major changes in their life. These people usually leave treatment confident they have it licked, in spite of warnings from their counselor they need to follow a recovery management plan. Normally, we’d say that positive thinking is a good thing, but when positive thinking fails to recognize the harsh realities of recovery from addiction, the pitfalls, the relapse triggers, the need for continued support and diligence, then positive thinking becomes just another form of denial.

Acceptance is the key to addiction recovery. Acceptance that there’s a problem, and acceptance that actions have to be taken long term in order to stay in recovery. Quitting is relatively easy, staying quit can be hard. Staying quit is made easier by following a recovery management plan. The recovering addict has to be on guard against the return of denial. It can sneak in under many disguises. If you’ve never had a problem with any drug, and don’t fully understand how someone can go through such a terrible experience as addiction, go to treatment and gain acceptance, then leave treatment and in two months go right back to drinking, smoking crack, taking opiates, smoking pot, whatever, then think about a diet you’ve been on, or any major change you’ve attempted that you eventually gave up on and went back to your former behavior. Change is hard, and changing from addiction to abstinence is very hard, because the drinking and using have become so much a component of lifestyle and daily behavior. When you do the same thing over and over for a long period of time, it’s hard to change to another way of living.

With addiction the stakes are high, so going back to addictive use can be deadly. It’s important for the recovering addict to know that acceptance is not just a one time experience — the recovering addict must promote and nurture full acceptance every day. Positive thinking can be helpful, after there’s full acceptance that a long term recovery management plan is necessary — then positive thinking is inspirational and uplifting.