The Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment in 2007 defined recovery as a voluntary lifestyle focused on the maintenance of sobriety, personal health and positive citizenship. While abstinence is a key element, recovery is a process that encompasses all areas of a person’s physical, mental and social health. By improving overall health, recovering addicts reduce their risk of relapse, and they have a positive path forward that can reap rewards in many areas of life. When addicts are in rehab, therapists help them develop recovery plans, and local support groups and sponsors provide additional help and guidance. Recovery plans may expand and shift, but a valuable asset that helps people move forward on the right path is a recovery toolkit.
What Are Recovery Toolkits
In the literal sense, a toolkit is a collection of utensils, devices and other tools used to repair a problem or make an improvement. In the same way a recovery toolkit is a personal collection of items, ideas and information that assists recoveries in both times of growth and crisis. As early in the recovery as possible, people should begin building their toolkits. Therapists, sponsors and recovery partners can make recommendations for what it should include, but personal experience is an equally valuable guide for what lifts a person up and helps during tough times. The physical makeup of the toolkit will depend on the individual, but it can be a journal, folder, box or similar item. While people might save the contents electronically on a computer, tablet or cellphone, the toolkit itself should be a transportable physical hardcopy or collection. Recovering addicts should take them on family, work and leisure trips, and having a physical toolkit prevents it from being inaccessible due to low batteries or electrical blackouts.
Contents of a Recovery Toolkit
While each recovery toolkit is unique, experienced individuals often recommend several key tools including the following:
- Information on multiple support groups in the area in case you need help and your regular group does not meet that night
- All the phone numbers, email addresses and other contact information for your recovery sponsor
- Contact information for experienced recovery partners and therapists who can help if your sponsor cannot be reached
- A regularly updated list of actions that helped you avoid or overcome substance cravings in the past
- Personal items that also have a history of providing help during moments of weakness and temptation
- Information on local emergency rooms in case a relapse does occur and early symptoms of an overdose emerge
The above tools are important for all toolkits, but other items may or may not help depending on the individual. For example the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) published a long-form definition of addiction in 2011 that described the physical changes to brain circuitry and biochemistry, including the mesolimbic dopamine system, and certain types of people may benefit from recalling the science behind addiction. The person may feel empowered remembering that cravings, no matter how potent, will eventually pass, and their frequency and strength will likely decrease over time. For such individuals a recovery toolkit might include materials on addiction science, and being able to understand what is happening might be a tool for coping with cravings.
Still such a tool will not be helpful to everyone. While one person might be scientifically inclined, others may respond more positively to visual cues, artistic expression or physical activity. For this reason recovering addicts should include tools that they personally find helpful, and if the action or item cannot go into a kit (e.g., a painting or an activity like yoga), include a list of such tools to serve as a reminder. The actions, items and information will vary wildly based on personal preference and can include many possibilities including the following:
- Personal journal of the recovery journey so far
- An empowering song, poem, quote or spiritual verse
- An artistic action like songwriting, painting or dance
- Physical activity like running, swimming or biking
- An old personal photo taken at the height of addiction
- Photos of family and other people the addiction hurt
- An inspiring letter from a friend or loved one
- A personal letter to yourself about your need for recovery
- Written or recorded advice from other recovering addicts
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence website states that there are many paths to recovery. While each person must find his or her own path, the journey itself should not take place alone. Treatment helps set people on their paths, recovery groups offer ongoing social support and guidance, and recovery toolkits provide emergency assistance, inspiration and encourage. Even during positive moments, people can turn to their recovery toolkits for added motivation and growth.
Addiction and Relapse Help
The toolkit concept can apply to many areas of life, including a developing addiction or mental health disorder. Our toll-free helpline is one such tool designed to assist people with addiction, relapse, mental health and recovery issues. Our admissions coordinators can answer questions, make recommendations and even check health insurance policies for treatment benefits. We are available 24 hours a day, so please call now.
The post Building a Recovery Toolkit appeared first on Free Addiction Hotline.