Healthy Minute: 'Join the Voices for Recovery'

The 2018 Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community,” explores how integrated care, a strong community, sense of purpose, and leadership contributes to effective treatments that sustain the recovery of persons with mental and substance use disorders. The observance works to highlight inspiring stories that help thousands of people from all walks of life find the path to hope, health, and wellness to support the message that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.

Mental and substance use disorders can affect people of all ethnicities, ages, genders, geographic regions, and socioeconomic levels. Many individuals who experience a mental or substance use disorder feel isolated and alone. Yet, every year millions of Americans experience these conditions. When mental and substance use disorders go untreated they become more complex and more difficult to treat. Intervening early before conditions progress is among the best and most cost effective way to improve overall health.

An effective approach to treatment addresses all aspects of the illness, including biological, psychological and social. With commitment and support, people with these disorders can achieve healthy lifestyles and lead rewarding lives in recovery. Those who embrace recovery can also achieve better mental and physical health and form stronger relationships with their community, family members, and peers.

It’s important that we offer support to individuals facing mental and substance use disorders. We need to create environments and relationships that promote acceptance. Support from families is essential to recovery, so it’s important that family members have the tools to start conversations about prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Here is a list of tips:

Educate yourself
Start the conversation –when they are ready to talk – listen
Avoid self-blame
Recognize this is a scary time for the person
Remember it’s not about you, it’s about the illness
Set boundaries
Recovery is hard work – practice self-care – (balance)
Do not work harder than the person you are trying to help
Recognize and acknowledge the potential the person has within them
Provide a sober environment that reduces the triggers for using
Do not shield the individual from the consequences of their addiction

If you or a family member are in need of local resources please use the SAMHSA Treatment Locator by visiting https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Other local resources are listed below:

Aurora Community Counseling