Will Addiction Last Forever?

Those that have struggled with addiction in the past know how difficult it can be to find sobriety. Even after years of recovery, many know that they still risk relapsing and returning to their old habits. It can be disheartening to see that you can put in years of work and still be at risk of returning to the rabbit hole of addiction. 

Addiction is a chronic disease, and those who have struggled will need to constantly prevent relapse throughout their lives. While knowing this fact can lead you to question recovery, it is crucial to remember one thing: addiction may last a lifetime, but recovery lasts forever. Understanding this concept is what will give you a fulfilling life.

Addiction: A Chronic Disease

Chronic diseases are conditions that last one or more years and require ongoing medical attention. They may also limit daily activities. Like other chronic diseases such as diabetes or cancer, it will always be possible for those with addiction to relapse even after time in recovery. Addiction also shares similar characteristics with these diseases. The disease of addiction can run in families, be influenced by environmental conditions and behavior, and respond to treatment involving long-term lifestyle modifications. 

Chronic diseases like addiction cannot be cured through treatment, vaccines, or medication. Instead, they require ongoing treatment to manage symptoms. A person is considered to have a successful recovery when they can manage their symptoms and keep themselves happy and healthy.

Why Should I Recover if Addiction Is Chronic?

Learning that addiction is a chronic disease can be disheartening, just as learning one has cancer can lead to hopelessness. Due to there being no cure, many individuals wonder what the point of recovery is. Some wonder if they should just give up. However, it is crucial to remember that while recovery is challenging, not recovering has many dire consequences. 

Not recovering and staying in the cycle of addiction will cost you your health, well-being, and livelihood. It will sacrifice your relationships with friends and family, cost you your job, your home, and can even cause you to have legal trouble. 

Your health will also be affected, with significant issues that you could avoid by seeking recovery. Your respiratory system can be compromised, causing breathing problems, and it can damage your cardiovascular system, resulting in potential heart failure. Other organs can also fail, which can prove to be fatal. For these reasons, recovery is crucial to living a happy, healthy, and functioning life. You cannot expect to be healthy or find happiness without proper treatment and long-term recovery.

Why You Should Recover

There are numerous reasons why you should recover from addiction. Instead of focusing on the negatives, examining the positives can be a fantastic motivation for recovery. Next time you are considering the point of recovery, remember these reminders to keep you on track:

1. Nothing changes if nothing changes. When you are feeling down, it can be challenging to change your actions because you may not have the energy or not see the point. However, making positive changes in your life will ultimately make you feel better. You can’t expect things to change without taking action. Even starting with small changes can turn your life around. Once you see the progress, you won’t want to stop.
2. Rebuilding relationships. Addiction is known to tear apart friendships and familial relationships. Maintaining the cycle of addiction will do nothing to repair these bonds and keep you alienated from the people you care about most. When you recover, you can rebuild these connections and understand why they are essential. Your relationships with others may even grow deeper, allowing you new opportunities to know the ones you love.
3. A better future ahead. Struggling with active addiction can steal away your positive notions about the future. You may think you have nothing to live for or that your life will never go anywhere, but recovery can turn these thoughts around. Instead of viewing the future as something full of more pain, you will begin to view it as something to look forward to. Throughout recovery, you can create new opportunities for yourself and shape your future. This new perspective will give you the motivation to keep going.
4. You deserve to recover. If for no other reason, you should recover because you deserve to. As a human, you have the right to a life that you enjoy living and are proud of. You are worth a better life, and recovery is the journey that will show you what you are capable of. Continue working toward a better future because you deserve it. You matter.

Knowing that addiction is chronic can lead to disappointment and hopelessness about the future. You may even question what the point of recovery is if there is no cure. However, examining the benefits of recovery versus the adverse outcomes of not recovering can show you the importance of the process. If you need help finding motivation and having proper support during your recovery journey, NorthStar Transitions is here to help. Our facility in Boulder, CO, is dedicated to providing the best possible services for our clients. By using evidence-based clinical practices, we have helped hundreds of patients find their purpose in recovery. Our boutique recovery experience allows small client groups to connect in treatment and support each other. We offer therapy programs, holistic support, life-skills training, and nutritious meal planning to help you live a sober life. Find your purpose today with NorthStar Transitions. Call (303) 558-6400 today to start your healing journey.