Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process. Because each case of substance use disorder (SUD) is different, the treatment plan and overall length of each recovery stage will differ as well.
As you discuss your situation and progress with your treatment team, you will be able to determine to some extent what your timeline looks like. This timeline is always subject to change, though. Encountering a relapse or experiencing other hardships through recovery may extend the length during the beginning stages, altering the estimated length.
When Does Recovery End?
Recovery is not something that people “complete.” It is a lifelong journey that, once begun, remains an aspect of your life. It does not have any official ending.
There is, however, a state of sobriety maintenance during which you no longer are seeking services and are maintaining sobriety on your terms. This is often considered to be the completion stage or the desired state individuals hope to reach. Since sobriety is a continuous state, the idea of the end of recovery needs to be kept in perspective.
The Stages of Recovery
Recovery is a developmental process. This means you have to go through stages to learn the necessary skills to manage your substance use and allow time for your neural pathways to rewire.
The following four stages can help you pinpoint how far along you are in the recovery process on a tentative timeline. Whatever stage you find yourself in, keep climbing toward success.
#1 Withdrawal
This is the beginning stage of the recovery journey. During detoxification, when substances are no longer in the body, symptoms of withdrawal begin to set in. These often cause individuals to feel high levels of emotions, distress, and feelings of sickness. This stage can be frustrating for many, as most people initially feel worse than when they were using substances.
Continuing through this stage can be difficult if this is the case, as recovery may feel pointless. It is important to consider the stages ahead of you. Moving past this often requires high levels of motivation, support, and commitment. Remember why you initially started recovery. This stage typically only lasts a few weeks and can be the most difficult period for some people.
#2 Early Abstinence
This stage is often referred to as the honeymoon stage. When individuals are in early abstinence, they begin to feel the positive effects of staying away from substances and feel highly confident in their abilities. While this level of confidence is great, it often sets up unrealistic expectations for the remainder of the recovery process.
Many individuals tend to think that they have already gone through moments of hardships and are on an uphill trend. Sadly recovery is not a linear process. There are many ups and downs that need to be encountered before reaching a state that is considered completed. The early abstinence state typically lasts around three to six weeks before moving into the next stage of recovery.
#3 Protracted Abstinence
The next stage is protracted abstinence. Protracted abstinence occurs as the state of abstinence is occurring for a longer duration. Usually, this is when external issues begin to arise.
Previously, external hardships were easy to overlook due to the immediate gratification of quitting. However, now stress factors begin to occur, and the desire for substance use arises again. Cravings and temptations may increase during this stage. It is common to encounter emotional disparities, self-isolation, or lack of self-control.
Justification for relapsing is commonly encountered during this stage. Staying strict with your regulations and avoiding opportunities for relapse can help you avoid getting into this situation. Being aware of your trigger points and using your support system and treatment team can help you move forward from the stage of protracted abstinence. This stage is also referred to as protracted withdrawal, as withdrawal symptoms may reoccur for some individuals. The length of this stage typically lasts three to six months but varies drastically for each person.
#4 Adjustment and Resolution
This stage is where adjustments are made in your current behaviors, habits, and lifestyle to continue the promotion of sobriety. By addressing the issues and trigger points that encourage the reintroduction of substances into your life again, you can create resolutions to stay away from those opportunities and keep yourself on the path to long-term success. The length of time individuals are in this stage differs drastically depending on their ability to maintain sobriety and other factors that influence recovery success.
This stage is considered to be the sobriety maintenance stage when properly achieved. After maintaining this stage for a long enough time frame that you feel fully confident in your abilities to maintain sobriety in any given situation, you have reached a tentative endpoint. However, it is important to be aware of how the cycle of addiction can come into play at any point in your journey. If a relapse does occur, the cycle of addiction and stages of recovery may start all over again. This is why the endpoint is hard to define.
The recovery process is drastically different for everyone. The process and length of recovery vary. Determining the end state of recovery is complicated. After all, the recovery journey is a lifelong process. Some people consider the state of completion as maintaining sobriety and feeling comfortable doing so in any situation. Others believe that there is no official endpoint in recovery, as there is always more to learn and grow from. Using the stages of recovery, you can assess how close you are to the ending stage and what the end goal looks like for you. To learn more about the length of recovery, reach out to Dream Recovery at (657) 216-7218.
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