The term and process of recovery has become popular as it has become part of mainstream culture due to being endorsed by famous people like Eminem, Robert Downey Jr, and Demi Lovato. This is great news and opportunity for people everywhere to gain access to the recovery process.  A quick Google search defines recovery as “a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.”

Recovery starts when someone acknowledges substance/alcohol use or other addictive destructive behaviors. Recovery begins for the person that begins to address their trauma or abuse. Recovery happens for the individual who begins to focus on their anxiety and depression. The definition says “a return to a normal state”. I believe that the aforementioned issues creates a separation from who we really are.

The addicted person is disconnected from their values. The anxious and depressed person, often times, is experiencing separation from their physical self and presents as heaviness, tingling sensations and chest pains. The person with trauma is almost a mosaic of fragmented parts of who they once were, struggling to find the pieces that were taken or given away. RECOVERY RESTORES US TO OUR NORMAL STATE…

Recovery looks different for each person. Finding daily practices, integrating healthy habits, and striving to make the best choices are all part of the recovery process. Talking about feelings, learning how to eat, sleep and take care of the physical self are ways that we come back to who really are and intended to be.

People get the recovery thing confused because it is easy to fixate on the outcome. But the process is about the journey not the destination. Recovery is not an event that is over because someone relapses or stops taking anxiety meds or bails on their therapist because therapy is too stressful. Instead, recovery is like everything that exists—a process. The process doesn’t end. It never stops. We keep working and learning and growing even when we mess up or fail. That is part of the process.

Recovery is like a homecoming because it ushers people back to themselves. Imagination, creativity and inspiration can be obtained again. Life becomes an experience of meaningful moments and not a prison sentence of time determined by a clock. There will still be challenges but that’s what it’s about. Being restored allows us to overcome and get support from others when needed. You may decide that you do not want to go back to who you were. That’s cool too. Just know that recovery, allows for the reinvention of self.

If you’re in recovery or curios about the process, then reach out. We would love to be part of your process.