Celebrate Your Journey!

By Amy Tilley, PsyD
Chief Clinical Officer, Desert Star ARC

National Recovery Month is celebrated every September to educate Americans that substance use and mental health recovery is possible and that individuals can lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

Did you know that Recovery Month is 35 years old and still going strong?

This month highlights the importance of getting treatment for behavioral health issues, which is just as important as getting treatment for your physical health and addressing health issues like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Recognizing this month shows — recovery is possible, and treatment does work.

Recovery is a journey — one that doesn’t end

It is an active, organic process that needs to be nurtured and attended to each day. This includes recovery from substance use, and mental health recovery. Our entire wellbeing depends on being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. Wherever you are on your recovery journey, it had a day one. That first day may have been one of the most difficult days of your life…it probably consisted of you asking for help, which is not easy to do for some people.

Many people may be thinking about starting a life in recovery, but they are scared, don’t know where to go, who to ask, what to do…it can be paralyzing. Asking for help can be seen as a sign of weakness; however, it is quite the opposite. Asking for help is a vulnerable and brave thing to do. Every person deserves help. Substance use and mental illness knows no boundaries. It can and will affect every aspect of your life—and continue to wreak havoc on you and your loved ones if you don’t ask for help. So, pick up that phone, call a friend, send a text, walk into a treatment center, find a 12 step or NAMI meeting and ask for help.

A wise soul, who is in long term recovery, told me: “I need to put the same number of hours into my recovery, each week, as I did my addiction. And I had a full-time addiction!” This person puts full time effort into her recovery and is enjoying life to the fullest, one day at a time. Another person in long term recovery, who facilitates a continuing care group, starts each group out with asking the members: How many days of continuous recovery do you have? And how did you get there?” Their answers vary (regarding days), but the piece that remains the same is, “we got here one day at a time.”

Each journey begins with a single step. National Recovery Month highlights this and celebrates each person who is working diligently to have a full, healthy life in recovery. Below are some resources that are free for you to use this month, and in your daily life and your journey of recovery and wellbeing.

SAMHSA: The Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration works diligently to prepare for this month—to create content and tools that are useful for you and your loved ones to utilize to aid in your recovery. They have a new toolkit out that is full of resources, digital content, and materials that you can share with friends and family who may need assistance in their recovery journey. Check out their website: https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery-month/toolkit

Faces and Voices of Recovery: a national organization that works with local organizations to promote Recovery Month and to normalize recovery and de-stigmatize addiction. Check out their website for local events in your area: facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/

Remember: recovery is possible. Help and support is available, no matter where you are on your own personal journey. You matter. You deserve recovery. You deserve to be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually well. Your healing journey can begin any day you want. If you are in active recovery, keep going—one day at a time.

Learn more about services and programs by visiting  Desert Star Addiction Recovery Center or call 520-638-6000