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Before we even get started - a fundamentally important issue for you to understand - is that the process of recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs, should be thought of as something totally different to the actual treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction.

Treating addiction is typically the three-four-five-or six week period you spend at a rehab/treatment center - detoxing, receiving ongoing care and treatment using various methods like counselling, and helping you deal with the issues that led you to a life of addiction.

Recovery is all about what happens after you’ve left treatment/rehab - in other words it’s everything you do from then on to make sure you stay on track and don’t relapse. So recovery is pretty much about the rest of your life then - and so one of the reasons I believe relapse rates are often high - is because addicts see treatment as the finishing line, when in fact its only the beginning.

Recovery from alcoholism and addiction then, is in essence, about the consistent habits and new way of life you create for yourself - so that you stay on the road of recovery road and don’t end up relapsing.

It’s the 12-Step or other spiritual program you follow, the new (non-addict) friends you now spend your time with, it’s the continuous taking ownership of your emotions and feelings so you don’t get into a state where you want to have that drink or pick up that drug, phoning that friend for support when you’re feeling low and more vulnerable

So in other words - recovery is all about taking continuous action and forming new life affirming habits that will leave the destructive addict part of you a thing of history - and bring to the fore your warrior, spirited self that will flourish despite what life may throw at you.

That’s why treatment should be seen as preparation and a stepping stone towards recovery - not the end itself. Now I know not everyone gets professional treatment or goes to rehab in overcoming their addictions - but those that succeed whether it be consciously or not - make fundamental changes to their lives and work at it on a continuous basis.

So when trying to understand alcohol addiction recovery and drug addiction recovery - remember its something you do and work at for the rest of your life. It can be hard at the beginning, but with time does become much easier - and soon your life will be unrecognisable from the nightmare it was.