Helping Family and Friends - Recovery Road Map (dot) com


Helping Family and Friends ~ Recovery Information
Recovery Road Map ~ Philosophy for Helping Others 1. Ultimately the addicted person needs to be allowed to be both responsible and accountable for their choices (good and bad) in life, and needs to be able to face the consequences of those choices. 2. Avoid or stop enabling the addicted person. Enabling is knowingly making it possible for the addicted person to continue to use alcohol or drugs or act out their behavioral addiction. This is often done by: providing money, paying off their drug debts, lying or covering up for them, using with them (joining in), or allowing them to use around you or at your home (parents -> teens), or keeping secrets about the addict's behavior. 3. Avoid or break any patterns of codependency with the addicted person. Codependency is a pattern of trying to control others for their own good, which ends up being bad for yourself and for the relationship. 4. While a substance use or behavioral addiction may start out as a choice, once the neurobiological reward system gets engaged, the addicted person often needs significant help and ongoing support to recover from the disease. 5. It is important for people "in recovery," to work on their life issues that may have influenced their becoming addicted to alcohol, drugs, or addictive behaviors. 6. At some point the person "in recovery" needs to stop defining themselves as "an addict," and realize that as a human being they are so much more than one narrow aspect of their life. 7. Any kind of life change is a process - such as the Model of Change listed on the right and further detailed below.
Click here for a printable Helping Others Philosophy pdf			Click here for a Model of Change pdf
Transtheoretical Model of Change The “*Model of Change” developed by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente is based on the assumption that the person recovering from drug abuse/addiction passes through several common stages with different characteristics as they go through a recovery process. Ultimately, each person will have to follow their own unique pathway to recovery, and thus stage models* of recovery are at best a “*descriptive” guide rather than fully “explanatory*.” The complete Model of Change document (pdf) can be downloaded in the member's section.
Step 1: Precomtemplation ~ Accepting the person... *Precontemplation* (PC) is the first stage, and about 40% of substance users at any given moment, are thought to be in this stage. Precontemplation is when the individual is *actively abusing chemicals* and it has not occurred to him or her to try to abstain from chemical abuse. This phase can continue for *years* or even *decades, and it is during this phase of chemical use that denial* is most prominent. Many people in this stage will over estimate the problems inherent in quitting and under estimate their available resources for change. The Helper's Challenge - raise doubt (about viability of current behaviors). The *therapeutic challenge* is to *teach* the person (client/loved-one) about the effects of the drug(s) of abuse, to make them *aware* of the dangers associated with continued use, and to help awaken within the client a *desire* for a different lifestyle. The client will need help identifying the *barriers* to their recovery, and to help them identify *routes* (pathways) by which they might enhance their *self-esteem. One goal for the therapist working with such clients is to address their ambivalence about change. Working with the clients to give them a chance to be honest* about their substance use and behaviors. A Conversation about How to help Others and the Cycle of Change Warning Signs of Alcohol or Drug Use Warning Signs of Teen Substance Use Common Causes of Addiction Non-judgmental Approach				I Promised... I know I promised you this time I was done, not even 2 days later, I was on another dope run. I wish you guys could just sit and see, how this drug has total power over me. I hope you guys understand, I never wanted to be the way that I am. I pray that one day I'll be set free, from this drug that won't let me be me. I don't think anyone will be able to make me stop, not even the fucking cops. When I got married, the pastor should of said: "Do you take this drug, until you are dead." Anonymous
I’m in this place. No way to go. I’m in this space, but no one knows. I can’t see out. I’m trapped within. This familiar doubt. Never to win. Can’t stay this way. She says to me. Not one more day. Or I’ll cease to be. Can’t anyone hear, my screams inside? Won’t let them near. It’s mine to hide. I’m in this place. No way to go. I’m in this space. Why doesn’t anyone know? Rosealee B.	Step 2: Contemplation ~ Facilitating thinking about change. *Contemplation* (C) is when the individual begins to entertain the *idea* of *possibly stopping* the alcohol/drug use “one of these days.” About 40% of substance users are in this phase, at any given time. During this phase the individual *remains ambivalent* (mixed thoughts and feelings) about the *possibility of change, but has a growing “sense of dissatisfaction” with his or her alcohol/drug centered lifestyle. An individual may remain in this phase for months* or even *years, while continuing to engage in chemical use. The Helper's Challenge - tip the decisional balance. The therapeutic challenge* is to enhance the client’s *motivation to change, to awaken within the client a desire* for *spiritual growth, to help the client understand* how the chemical use has affected his or her life. Assist the person to come up with their own reasons why they might want to make changes. Strengthen the person's belief that they can make effective changes (self-efficacy). What are the risks of not making any changes? Alcohol & Drug Use Assessment Chart - How much help does the person need? Intervention - Six Principles of Change Dealing with Depression: A Road block to Recovery (member's section)
Step 3: Preparation and Determination ~ Planning for Success! *Preparation & Determination* is the stage where the individual begins to make the *cognitive changes* necessary to support his or her *attempt at abstinence. Determination* is the cognitive (thinking) process of building up one’s resolve (firm determination) in support of their decision* or choice to try to alter the existing pattern of behavior.* Preparation is figuring out all the steps that need to be undertaken, and all the triggers and cues that need to be guarded against, in order for the addict to be able to follow through with the decision that was made. The Helper's Challenge - encourage the development of an appropriate plan to change. The *therapeutic challenge* at this stage is to *nurture the change process, offering encouragement, support, feedback, gentle confrontation, humor, and external validation* for the client’s struggles and successes. The more the person can create their own plan, the more they will take ownership over it, and the greater the likelihood they will follow through. Types of Treatment ~ Outpatient, Inpatient, & Psychiatric 12 Steps ~ Christian version Types of 12 Step Meetings 12 Step Programs Demystified (member's only section) 12 Steps & 12 Signs of a Spiritual Awakening
	Step 4: Action ~ Supporting the change process. *Action* (A) is the stage where the client *actively engages* in the *process of changing his or her addictive behaviors. For some clients and therapist this is when the client initially stops their substance use, and begins a period of complete abstinence from mood altering chemicals (the client’s “clean date”). It is important for persons in early recovery to know that “using dreams” can be quite common and are not indicative of a pending relapse. The Helper's Challenge - offering support as the person makes changes (harm reduction). The therapeutic challenge* during this phase include: *optimizing client opportunities for growth, being alert to signs* that the client is unable to handle the perceived *level of stress, encouraging the client to initiate, re-establish, or further develop a stable substance-free support system, helping the client handle the emotional* “*roller-coaster” that he or she may be experiencing, helping the client to be realistic about his or her progress* (not over estimate their gains) and serving as a *parent substitute, mentor, cheering squad, and guide. The action stage may last from one day up to six months, until the person achieves a stable change in behaviors*. Denial, Enabling, and Codependency TIPS33 ~ Treatment of Cocaine and Methamphetamine Addiction
Step 5: Maintenance ~ Social support and deep personal changes. *Maintenance* (M) is the stage that begins about six months after the individual has abstained from chemical use, and blends into the *termination stage* at around 5 years. It is during this phase that the individual learns or relearns the behaviors that will enable him or her to continue to abstain from chemical use. It is putting the new patterns of *thinking, feeling, and acting* into *practice* that enables the person to *progress in his or her recovery* (progress not perfection). It is learning that “healthy routines are good medicine” and a certain amount of repetitive patterns in the person’s daily life are ok, and the person in recovery does not need to go from “chaos to chaos” any longer. At this time, the individual might have to *confront personal issues* that contributed to, or at least supported, his or her use of chemicals. It is during this phase of recovery that the individual must learn the skills necessary to support a substance abuse free lifestyle, including the need to find or keep a job and to enter into relationships that will support recovery. This is also a time when the person in recovery can safely explore their *past* issues, experiences and relationships, and put them into proper perspective. The Helper's Challenge - focus on personal gains (strengths model) and maintain a viable relapse prevention plan. The *therapeutic challenge* is to assure the stability of change and help clients both identify and then address issues that might threaten their recovery. One of the most frustrating aspects of substance abuse is that it does proceed in a *cyclical* rather than a *linear* manner. The Tortoise and the Hare Story ~ Traditonal and Working Together versions Relapse Prevention ~ Assessing Relapse Potential
	Step 6: Termination ~ Life Fulfillment ~ From recovery to discovery! Only about 20% of people who begin the recovery process will reach the termination stage, which is marked by cognitive changes that free them from such things as *dreaming* about using their “*drug of choice,” and preoccupation* with chemical use. The model of change has been applied to a variety of addictions from chemical use to other behaviors. It works both as a *therapeutic tool* used by professionals and as a *self-help guide* for those who recovery “naturally” (without professional help). The Helper's Challenge - to help the person see that they no longer have to define themselves (who they are) in terms of the worst things they have been through in their life. Rather it is better to see ourselves as humans who are continually growing, overcoming, and becoming... There is much more information in... you guessed it - the member's section.
© Copyright 2010, Creative Resource