Dr. Sally Satel, one of the most respected physicians in the field of substance abuse, has written extensively on various topics related to addiction, and there’s one particular topic she often underscores even though it’s seldom mentioned in public discourse: many people who recover from addiction do so on their own. The empirical evidence for this has been collected in research studies among Vietnam War veterans who started using drugs during or after their combat experiences and who were able to overcome addiction without therapy. Longitudinal surveys conducted among college students in Massachusetts estimate more than 60 percent of drug addicts are able to kick their habits by themselves and without problematic relapse episodes. The common denominator here is determination along with a strong desire to get better.
The First Steps
Many recovering addicts believe the key to personal success is seeing their addictions as the terrible habits they really are. If you take the first step of viewing addiction as a hard habit to break, your chances of a positive outcome will increase significantly. Each time you remind yourself about this, feelings of profound guilt will diminish.
Go ahead and set a future date when you would like to be clean. For example, if you plan to spend next Thanksgiving with your family, choose a mid-November date. Once you recognize drug abuse is negatively impacting your life, you need to make a conscious decision to change before embarking on your journey to sobriety.
Become an Agent of Change
If substance abuse has changed your life negatively, you’ll need to be prepared for further periods of change. At this stage, you’ve already set goals. Now you need to make the necessary changes to achieve them. Becoming an agent of change starts with either changing the environment that prompts you to use or removing yourself from the environment altogether.
This also involves making preparations for the next stage of recovery. For example, if you choose to receive ibogaine therapy in a place where it’s legal, you’ll need to travel outside the United States, so you’ll have to make arrangements not only for the trip but also for the days when you won’t be home. This isn’t an easy step because you may need to change some routines to prepare for recovery. For people who choose to seek treatment at Ibogaine Clinics, Tijuana, Mexico, is one place where this type of treatment is offered legally.
Reach Out to Supportive People
Quite a few addicts are able to go through the recovery process without someone by their side, but things don’t have to be this way. If you believe your spouse, a close friend, or a family member will help you through the process, make sure to reach out to the individual. The journey to recovery is always smoother with the right people helping you along.
Be Mindful of Relapse
Many recovering addicts will tell you the profound guilt they felt after a relapse episode was the worst experience of their lives. The dangers of relapse will be minimized as long as you take solid first steps during your journey to recovery. Being able to rationalize relapse so it doesn’t happen again is a sign you’re on the right path.
Recovering from drug addiction is neither quick nor easy, and some people may require long-term continuing therapy for a complete and lasting recovery. For example, ibogaine treatment may serve as a useful detoxification tool by interrupting the substance abuse and addiction cycle, but people who go to ibogaine clinics may continue to need behavioral therapy and other forms of addiction treatment to maintain long-lasting sobriety.