RECOVERY OPTIONS; Let’s discuss recovery options. The first thing that comes to mind with those that want to help loved ones struggling with addiction is rehab. Rehab in most cases should be the last resort unless the health of that person struggling with addiction has gotten too bad- in this case, it’s more of a lifesaving intervention than a way for them to recover. Keeping them somewhere so their bodies can recuperate. Let’s talk about recovery options, with rehab being the last resort. The first recovery option is growing in love (non-judgement). This works best when it comes to those around the person who is struggling with addiction. They can take the person to rehab and that person gets well, but when they return to the same critical environment, they relapse. Seeing addiction as a disease breaks down the walls of judgement. Many of the people that are struggling with addiction don’t want to be struggling with it but are powerless over it. Would you judge someone for getting cancer? No, you would have compassion on them. Growing in love also means deeply understanding your role and owning up to it in enabling the person who struggling with addiction. Most times, when the enabler sorts their side, it rubs off onto the person struggling with addiction well into their recovery. Those that struggle with addiction have many secrets. We easily walk away from judgmental people. In most cases, these are the people who are closest to us. They never intend to be judgmental but because they are so close to the situation, they never see things clearly. This brings me to the second recovery option. A third party. A third party in this case could be a therapist, or a person in recovery that both of you respect. Or a third party in this case can be the support of a group of people, for example, Alcoholics Anonymous. The benefits of getting a third party works wonders in breaking someone out denial. People that struggle with addiction oft times feel alone and feel that no one is like them or has experienced what they have experienced. Gathering with like minds and sharing breaks a person out of denial in most cases. The third recovery option is the use of media. Movies’ films, documentaries, shows etc and literature. This will flood the person who is struggling with addiction with information that will increase their awareness. The thing that bothers most alcoholics is the mentality that maybe one day, they will drink normally again. This thinking is debunked using this recovery option. The fourth recovery option, which should’ve been the first is God. Truth be told, one cannot walk this recovery journey and progress on it without the grace of God. There are many graces we need in recovery- the grace to forgive ourselves and others, the grace to stay sober, the grace to get deep insights and revelations, the grace to renew our minds and drop old toxic thinking habits… Only God can provide those graces when we ask Him. In active addiction, most of us resent God. We perceive Him as being unfair and unloving, and being a punisher. Progress in recovery is made when how we perceive God changes and flows into everything we are and do. Personally, I see God as Love. Love never fails to forgive no matter the wrong done. That displaces the fear of punishment. When I stop fearing punishment, then I can do things right. Involving God means becoming prayerful. To break any addiction, prayer has to be deeply involved- most especially the sexual addiction ie porn, masturbation etc. There’s keeping away and avoiding which is initially good and there’s the truly being set free- when the strong cravings or lusts are dealt with from within. Only prayer can lead you to the latter. The fifth recovery option is the 12 Step program. Using these steps to direct the path of one’s recovery can establish a strong foundation for one’s recovery. These are some of the recovery options I can think about for now and they should all be considered before someone is referred to a rehab- unless their health situation is really bad.