FAQ
What are the keys to a quality sustained recovery?
Coping with all of life's stresses is a difficult for anyone, but more challenging for the recovering person. Not only is the recovering person learning how to deal with being sober/abstinent (something s/he is unaccustomed to doing,) s/he must also gain the necessary experience and skills to transform the quality of his/her relationships and develop new sobriety-supportive and emotionally nourishing relationships.
Recovery must become a top priority, to be practiced and applied every day. It requires strong motivation, commitment and discipline to stick with the trial-by-error learning process. Without a spiritual program or strong sense of self, and a healthy support system, it's usually just a matter of time before anyone (addict or not) will resort to the easiest and most immediate means of relief to cope.
Relapse and Recovery
Relapse is a natural and common part of the ongoing recovery process. The risk of relapse is based on how motivated and disciplined the addict is about working a program, and the extent to which he or she has developed and uses sober support. The veteran addict with years of sobriety is aware of the possibility of relapse at any time. The veteran knows his or her triggers, and takes precautionary measures to avoid them.
However, despite all best efforts, an addict can wear down under stress. The addict’s ability to cope, to stay sober, often depends on the level of stress s/he is dealing with. It’s quite common to become overwhelmed by stress, which leads to the need for relief and increased likelihood of acting impulsively. In no way does this mean the addict is no longer in recovery. It’s just a matter of getting back on track, maintaining sobriety and working a program.
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About Daniel Linder, MFT
Relationships. I was born with a keen sense about relationships, was always assessing how close and intimate people are with each other. I had a knack for relationships. The importance of relationships cuts to the core of who I am. The combination of clinical training, 25 years of professional experience treating dysfunctional, non-intimate couples and families, as well as rigorous self analysis has given me a lot to work with. I put what seemed to come naturally to me under a microscope in an effort to break the process of building healthy relationships down to concrete essentials: Understanding of Basic Principles, Communication Skills, Self-realization and Intimacy.