The Five Stages of Recovery

The five stages of addiction recovery are like a map for beating a substance use disorder (SUD). These five stages give hope and advice to anyone who wants to start a big journey of change. Knowing every step of change and challenge can help you spot chances to move through recovery with hope, determination, and understanding.

What Is the Stages of Change Model?

The stages of change model, also known as the transtheoretical model (TTM), is a way to understand how changes in behavior come about. It’s useful in helping people beat addiction by showing us that changes happen in stages.

What Are the Five Stages of Recovery?

The five stages of addiction recovery are as follows: the stage before thinking about change (precontemplation stage), the stage of thinking about change (contemplation stage), the stage of getting ready (preparation stage), the stage of making the change (action stage), and the last stage, keeping the change going (maintenance stage).

Every stage of change is a unique segment of the path to long-term improvement. With robust backing and intelligent strategies, you can navigate these phases effectively.

Stage 1: Precontemplation Stage

The thinking about change stage is when you start to see you might need to change. Often, people don’t see the problem with how they use substances. They don’t notice the trouble and upset it causes for others around them. They need to start understanding and feeling that change is necessary. Ways to help include teaching them, being kind and understanding, and gently showing them the brutal reality of their situation without making them feel attacked.

Stage 2: Contemplation Stage

The thinking about change stage means thinking about a new way. It begins when you have a clear moment or a big realization that drug and alcohol abuse is controlling your life. This stage can be challenging because you might want to stop the addiction but are scared to let go. It’s about moving past, not wanting to see the problem. Even though the change in thinking might not be huge yet, it’s an important step towards not being okay with how things are anymore.

Stage 3: Preparation Stage

The getting ready stage is about making plans for change and deciding you will do it. In this stage, the person, along with friends and family, looks for treatment choices, finds information, and figures out what support they can get to help with getting better. It’s a time to look up facts and ask questions so you can choose the best way to deal with alcohol or drug addiction that fits what you need.

Stage 4: Action Stage

The action stage occurs when you embark on a transformation, and the healing process begins. Starting treatment is the beginning of your active recovery. This stage is filled with challenges and breakthroughs but is also a time of noticeable change in your life. You can rebuild one step at a time through a rehab program, therapy, and sometimes medically assisted treatment when needed.

Stage 5: Maintenance Stage

Finally, the maintenance stage is the sustaining process. It focuses on sustaining the things you gained from the action phase. Recovery doesn’t end with treatment; you must work at it for life. Maintenance involves identifying and managing triggers, using learned relapse prevention strategies and coping skills, and keeping a healthy lifestyle surrounded by a solid support system. It requires setting new goals, nurturing healthy, loving relationships, and sometimes finding a way to give back to those still on their own journey through the recovery process.

Residential Treatment in Southern California

If you or someone close to you is struggling with an addiction, there are kind and effective treatments for substance abuse that are based on science. At Northridge Addiction Treatment Center (NATC), all the programs to help with addiction come from scientific proof and medical studies.

Northridge Addiction Treatment Center creates a unique treatment plan for everyone based on their needs and wants to achieve. They use a complete way of helping that includes programs for dual diagnosis and medical help to treat both mental health issues and substance use problems at the same time.

NATC also has on-site medical detox to help with withdrawal symptoms in a safe and as comfortable as possible. NATC provides one-on-one therapy, support groups, motivational talks, and family therapy.

Getting better might have harsh challenges, but staying better for a long time is possible if you have the right help and are genuinely committed to your recovery.

Get in contact with one of our treatment specialists today to discover the right treatment option for you. Change can happen, and a brighter future is ahead.