1. Your Relationship with Yourself
Recovery is not just about stopping the use of a substance. Even once people stop using, there will frequently be fallout that impacts their self-image. Using impairs the way you view yourself and can negatively affect self-perception, because when you treat yourself with disrespect and disregard, you will hurt. Addictive behaviors occur on a continuum and the lines between use, abuse and dependence can become blurred rather quickly. A known earmark to measure addictive behavior is increased tolerance (the need for more to reach the high previously achieved with less of the substance). Far into the addictive process, this may reverse and you will again need less of the substance to reach a high as your body organs start to be more vulnerable to the addiction process.
2. Your Relationship with Others
As your substance use pattern changes, you may start to minimize the degree of use or frequency to avoid the disapproval of others. If your intimate relationship(s) are becoming strained, it may be time to look at your use pattern. If someone who cares about you is telling you that you are using too much or too often, perhaps they see something that you aren't. It may be that you think you have the use under control, but addiction can be a slippery slope.
3. Your Relationship to the Substance
When your relationship to the substance becomes more important than any other relationship, you are moving closer to the addiction continuum. It may be that the substance serves to help you take the edge off or loosen up and be more relaxed in social situations. Most people don't recognize when they are self-medicating and can even become offended at the suggestion. It may be that you are suffering from chronic pain and substance use alleviates that pain. If it is a legal substance such as alcohol, using is particularly easy since it is so readily available.
4. Changing Your Behavior and Symptom Substitution
When you choose to stop or change your use pattern, it will be important for you to have a support system in place, such as A.A., N.A., therapy or a support group. Equally important is to consider what behavior you are stopping and how it will be replaced. Frequently, people will stop using one substance, only to pick up another or switch into an equally destructive behavior. The process of symptom substitution can be insidious, as the replacement behavior may not have been a problem (eating, spending, sexual addiction) for you in the past. If this is occurring, utilize all support systems to help keep you on a healthy track.
5. Relapse and Recovery
On the road to recovery, there will be relapse. It doesn't happen to everyone, but it happens more than most people would like. Relapse is a particularly dangerous situation because it can too easy to think, "I'm off the wagon so I might as well go wild!" A better approach is to recognize relapse for what it is, a slip-up--nothing more and nothing less. It is just a blip on the continuum, so try not to make more of it than is practical or healthy. Tighten up the support services and turn your recovery toward a well and healthy lifestyle.
