Don’t Get Discouraged by Setbacks in Recovery

Unfortunately, some may see a setback as a reason to give up hope. The “I can’t do it” attitude is something we’ve all felt when faced with a challenging task. Those who have tried an addiction treatment program in the past but did not have success may feel discouraged from trying again. In reality, failure is how we learn and grow.

According to Andrew Matthews, a case manager and alumni at Footprints to Recovery, setbacks in rehab can go a long way in helping you understand your addiction and the path you need to take to reach your goals.

“Initially, my string of unsuccessful attempts at recovery seemed to make me more and more hopeless about the prospect of attaining long-term sobriety. But I didn’t give up and kept coming back and trying again. Looking back, there was something that I learned each time in treatment that ended up proving valid or made sense later on. A lot of seeds will be planted with each unsuccessful attempt, but as long as you don’t give up and keep trying, those seeds will eventually grow and bear fruit,” Andrew said.

In Andrew’s experience, his first attempts in rehab didn’t seem to be helping, at least not in the moment. However, each time Andrew set his sights on turning things around, he would recall something from previous treatment programs that suddenly made more sense. He calls those nuggets of wisdom “seeds”.

Planting the Seeds for Success in Recovery

When growing a garden, you have to first start with a seed. When you plant the seed, it doesn’t grow right away. In fact, nothing happens at all. It may take days or weeks to start seeing growth and development. During that time, it’s easy to get discouraged, but when things start to grow, good things happen.

Rehab is similar in that even though it didn’t seem like a treatment program helped, it may still have planted a seed of wisdom with the potential to grow into something bigger. Each time Andrew attended a rehab program, it meant more seeds. Eventually, he found a source of recovery guidance and support at Footprints to Recovery that allowed all those seeds to finally bloom.  Even though he admits it was difficult to decide to try rehab again, it was always the right decision.

How To Find the Right Recovery Center

Addiction recovery comes in all forms. There are specialized programs for different communities, unique therapies for different substances, and a range of holistic treatment options that offer comprehensive healing. What’s the best way to find the right recovery center for your needs? According to Andrew, it depends on your situation.

“Being a veteran, my first time seeking treatment, I called a Veteran Crisis Line and was given some options that took my insurance. Other times I used Google or was referred to a treatment facility by the VA,” he explained.

As a veteran of our armed forces, Andrew had unique needs in recovery. He actively sought out programs designed for veterans and found options that accepted his insurance.

There are many different specialty addiction treatment programs to consider. Those in the Native American community, for example, may benefit from programs that take into account cultural heritage and traditional healing practices. Men and women may feel more comfortable attending a gender-specific program. No matter what your background or goals, there’s likely a treatment program that can help.