At our St. Gregory Recovery Center locations in Iowa, inpatient and intensive outpatient addiction treatment is a journey, not a destination. More specifically, it’s a three-part journey—with early, middle, and late stages. Our teams work hard to offer safe, trauma-informed detox services, opportunities to engage in both group and individual therapy, equine therapy programs, and nutrition and wellness education to support you in sobriety.
We’re here to lend a hand throughout your recovery journey. Recovery is an ongoing process with no definite end, but this is something that we view with positivity and hope. We know that with resources, education, and a loving community, our residents and their loved ones will have many chances to see that living a rich, happy life after substance abuse is possible.
What Challenges Can I Expect in the Early Stages of Recovery?
During the early days and months of recovery and withdrawal from substances, your brain may feel like it’s wading through a thick fog. You may struggle to understand your decision to enter recovery. You may also have been forced to go to treatment and experience feelings of denial, bitterness, rage, or betrayal.
Acclimating to the world without substances is a shock for the brain and the body, making clear thinking and emotional regulation a tough battle. Here are the most common obstacles in the first few weeks:
- Rigidity and inflexibility regarding beliefs, self-image, world views, and perspectives that create ambivalence or disgust for the recovery process
- An overwhelming need to fake compliance or obedience in recovery in order to be released or leave as soon as possible and begin using again
- An inability to understand that substance use dominated and degraded one’s quality of life
If you see that you or your loved one is dealing with any of these common obstacles, don’t lose hope. It’s important to understand that these are widespread experiences, are often temporary, and can weaken or disappear with therapy and time in sobriety.
What Do People Struggle With During The Middle Stages of Treatment?
Many consider the middle stage of recovery to span the first six months to two years of sobriety. This period may include transferring your treatment to our outpatient center in Des Moines, where you’ll begin to build your relapse-prevention muscles. This stage entails a focused effort to process stress and disappointment without drugs or alcohol. While cravings present themselves at all stages of recovery, this period proves especially challenging in sobriety as your brain begins to familiarize itself with a new normal. You can expect to experience the following:
- Issues with memory loss, motor skills, and social cues—this depends on what type of substance abuse occurred. These obstacles may be more prevalent in people who abuse cocaine or methamphetamines, for example.
- Difficulties in making decisions
- Issues with gaining or losing weight rapidly
- Issues with communicating and tolerating cravings, relapse, and triggers
The comforting aspect of this stage is the clear progress you’re making. Noticing memory lapses, struggling to make good or logical decisions, and relearning how to read a room or respond to social cues indicate that your brain is retraining itself. It’s a good sign that you’re on the right path!
What Comes With The Late Stages of Recovery?
The late stage of recovery comes with successes, growth, and higher stakes. The head-on confrontation of trauma, deep wounds, and accountability without substances forces people to face their demons. This psychological environment is a real test of stress management, communication skills, and the commitment to re-create your life. Different obstacles that may arise include:
- Emotional exhaustion from constantly managing and avoiding triggers and the full surfacing of self-defeating patterns and traumas
- Disappointment and heartbreak due to cutting off or distancing yourself from relationships that jeopardize your sobriety
- Relapse
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that at all stages of recovery, people are battling against addiction stigma. If your loved one is working to get sober, be conscious of the rejection and bias they may face when looking for employment and rebuilding their lives as parents or partners.
Receive Support in Sobriety With St. Gregory Recovery Center
Whether or not you feel ready to face the obstacles that come with each stage of recovery, both our Bayard and Des Moines teams are here to support you in whatever capacity necessary. We’re committed to your success and the continual process of recovery. Don’t lose hope: substance use disorder (SUD)-related fatalities are declining little by little. This is in part due to addiction treatment efforts and new advances in medicine. Contact us today to get started!
