Walking through fire. A scary yet highly effective approach to long-term addiction recovery

MANY PATHS TO THE SUMMIT

When it comes to Substance Use Disorder treatment there are lots of passionate opinions and so many approaches to the problem that it can make your head spin at first glance. So, I’ll describe our unique approach to long-term addiction recovery. Cornerstone offers an immersive and transformative experience. Almost everyone on staff here at Cornerstone is in recovery from addiction and has the practical experience to offer every step of the way. We use a culmination of multiple disciplines; trauma care, cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy, fitness training, life-skills (occupational therapy), meditation and spirituality. We artfully integrate each component into one single treatment plan depending on the needs of each particular client.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

Let’s start from the top. I believe the stigma around addiction is changing, I think as a society we’re recognizing more and more that the drug addict or alcoholic is often an otherwise healthy person who has become sick over time. One set of circumstances at a time they’ve caved to life’s pressures until they’ve lost control. You see, substances are how the sick person copes with life. Look, if substances were the problem you could remove the substances and the problem would simply go away. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. That’s why loved ones are baffled when the suffering person leaves detox, jail or rehab and goes right back to the substances. The problem is not so much the substances themselves, but rather the massive disconnection between their actions and their core values, not leading a purpose-driven and meaningful life. Substances dull those feelings of inadequacy, trauma and disconnection. Therefore, the substances have become the solution. A solution that’s ultimately destroying everything around them and will ultimately claim their life.

THE DEATH OF THE OLD LIFE

When this person finally reaches a breaking point, is willing to get help and comes into contact with us here at Cornerstone we don’t want to waste any time. The window of opportunity is often small. This is when we get them into detox and begin sitting down with them and describing our own journey out of the darkness and into recovery so they can see that they’re not alone and that recovery is possible. Then we bring them into the group setting and they begin to go through the motions of “normal” healthy living, ie: stable sleep schedule, healthy meals, exercise and they begin to feel better physically. That’s usually when something you might not expect happens, they decide they’ve over-reacted and need to leave treatment, there are things they need to attend to. What they’re doing subconsciously is retreating from the challenges that lie ahead.