Last week I was sent an attachment that I felt was spot-on for helping people to understand addiction and recovery. It was an Addiction Tree, sent to me by Sean Rendell. This simple, yet powerful illustration shows the many components that need to be understood and/or dealt with for addiction to be overcome.
The Addiction Tree illustrates how much help and support people need when addressing their substance use. It can be easy to just focus on the substance use itself, but there are so many other areas and components that need to be dealt with. To me, this emphasises the need for readily available long-term, diverse and intensive help and support – and not just for those lucky few!
Alongside sending me the Addiction Tree, Sean also sent me his views on ‘What Recovery Means To Me’. Again, I have been blown away and humbled by such an honest and inspirational account. I hope you enjoy Sean’s article, and please share your views and experiences.
The Addiction Tree illustrates how much help and support people need when addressing their substance use. It can be easy to just focus on the substance use itself, but there are so many other areas and components that need to be dealt with. To me, this emphasises the need for readily available long-term, diverse and intensive help and support – and not just for those lucky few!
Alongside sending me the Addiction Tree, Sean also sent me his views on ‘What Recovery Means To Me’. Again, I have been blown away and humbled by such an honest and inspirational account. I hope you enjoy Sean’s article, and please share your views and experiences.
5 comments:
Sean I love the addiction tree and with your permission will print it off and show co workers/clients etc
love it, and long may your journey on the road of happy destiny continue, big hug and thankyou for sharing so openly with us!
Big Hug Annemarie x
Sean,
Sitting on the other side of the world - Broome, West Australia - I was greatly moved by what recovery means to you. It makes me so proud to work in this field. I may have said that many times, but it is good to reiterate again. I also feel really chuffed at this recovery series that Lucie and Kevin have set up. Look forward to exchanging emails and other communications in the years to come. Take care. David.
What an achievement mate. Inspirational.
Fantastic Sean and congratulations not only on your recovery, but for having the courage to overcomme any fears you might have experienced in telling it as it was and is.
Your struggle in gaining your hard won recovery illustrates all too clearly just how difficult it can be, but it also shows that it is a realistic goal for those who want it. I wish you well on your continuing journey of recovery.
A personal view on recovery: Part 4.
If we are willing to accept that the process of healing and recovery is our personal responsibility, and it has to be acknowledged that some are unwilling to do so, the ‘preparation’ stage of the transtheoretical model, as described in ‘Changing for Good’ is a good place to start.
That does not mean that we can do it entirely on our own, nor should we expect to do so. Nor does it mean that we have to wait for a ‘vacancy’ in state sponsored facilities, or the wherewithal to go into private treatment. Nor does it mean that we have to be abstinent for a predetermined arbitrary period of time before we can be ‘accepted’ into treatment. Have we not already suffered sufficient rejection that we want to expose ourselves to further critical judgement?
It does mean that we need to be sufficiently open minded enough to personally investigate, rather than relying on hearsay, those agencies which do not have any waiting lists, or demand money, or abstinence. Their doors are open seven days a week, and the only requirement for entry is a desire to quit. Agencies, where differences, in race, creed, or background, are laughed out of countenance. Agencies where there no tells you what to do, but whose members are willing, if asked, to explain how they became free of their compulsions and obsessions, and subsequently have re-built their life.
I am of course talking about the twelve step fellowships, and regardless of what anyone has heard to the contrary, neither ones views on religion, their sexual orientation, or culture, should discourage anyone from attending, since they have meetings catering for those groups. However do not judge these fellowships by one or two attendances. There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence which suggests that anyone who attends 90 meetings in 90 days will, sooner or later, hear their own story.
Hi All,
Have just had an email from Sean thanking people for their kind comments and saying that of course the Addiciton Tree should be used whenever needed.
I have been so impressed and moved by the people who have gotten involved with this series - thank you all very much - you are all amazing, strong and inspirational people.xx
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