Hi, I’m Roslyn Saunders, I’m a Addiction Coach
Let’s discuss the 5 Stages of Addiction Recovery
Addiction is a complex disease, but recovery is a powerful journey of healing and transformation. If you or someone you love is grappling with substance use, understanding the roadmap of recovery can provide clarity, hope, and a path forward. As an Addiction Recovery Coach, I’ve seen firsthand how acknowledging and navigating these stages empowers individuals to build sustainable sobriety.
Here are the five essential stages of addiction recovery:
Stage 1: Pre-Contemplation – The Unaware Stage
In this initial stage, individuals may not recognise that they have a problem, or they might minimise its severity. They might attribute negative consequences to external factors rather than their substance use. There’s often a lack of awareness about the impact of their addiction on their health, relationships, and daily life. While challenging, this stage is an important starting point, as even a small seed of doubt can eventually blossom into a desire for change.
Stage 2: Contemplation – The Acknowledgment Stage
This is where the internal shift begins. Individuals start to acknowledge that their substance use might be a problem. They may weigh the pros and cons of continuing their current behaviour versus making a change. This stage is characterised by ambivalence – a back-and-forth struggle between wanting to change and resisting it. They might express thoughts like, “Maybe I should cut back,” or “This isn’t really working for me anymore.” This is a crucial period for gentle encouragement and support.
Stage 3: Preparation – The Planning Stage
Once contemplation deepens, individuals move into the preparation stage. Here, the decision to change has been made, and the focus shifts to planning for action. This involves researching treatment options, talking to professionals, setting small goals, and making concrete arrangements to begin their recovery journey. This might include scheduling detox, seeking therapy, finding support groups, or preparing their environment for sobriety. This stage is filled with hope and a sense of purpose.
Stage 4: Action – The Active Change Stage
This is where the real work begins. The action stage involves actively engaging in the chosen recovery plan. This could mean attending therapy sessions, participating in 12-step programs, entering a rehabilitation facility, or implementing new coping mechanisms. It’s a period of significant behavioural change, where individuals are learning to live without their substance of choice and developing new, healthier habits. Relapses can occur in this stage, but they are viewed as setbacks, not failures, and an opportunity to learn and readjust the plan.
Stage 5: Maintenance – The Sustained Recovery Stage
The final stage, maintenance, is about sustaining the changes made and preventing relapse over the long term. This is an ongoing process of integrating new coping skills, building a strong support system, identifying triggers, and developing strategies to manage stress and cravings. It’s about living a fulfilling life in recovery, continually growing, and evolving. This stage emphasises the importance of continuous self-care and engagement with recovery resources.
The journey through these stages is rarely linear. It’s common for individuals to move back and forth between them, and setbacks are a normal part of the process. What’s most important is persistent effort and unwavering support.
Are you ready to take the next step on your path to freedom?
If you’re struggling with addiction, please know that you don’t have to face it alone. As your Addiction Recovery Coach, I am here to guide you through each stage, provide personalised strategies, and offer the unwavering support you need to build a life free from the grip of addiction.
Don’t wait another day to reclaim your life.
You can book your free call with me (addiction coach) at www.roslynsaunders.com.au or call me directly at +61 439 339 166.
Book a confidential, free 20-minute chat with me today. Let’s talk about you.
Warmly,
Roslyn Saunders
Addiction & Recovery Coach
Registered NDIS Provider (Psychosocial Recovery Coaching)
Member of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT)
