The six stages that addicts must undergo for long-term recovery:

There are six stages that addicts must undergo for long-term recovery:



Transition – The period of time needed for the addict to realize that safe use of alcohol or other drugs for them is not possible.

Stabilization – The period of time in which the addict experiences physical withdrawal and other medical problems and learns how to separate from the people, places and things that promote drug abuse.

Early recovery – When an individual faces the need to establish a chemical-free lifestyle and builds relationships that support long-term recovery.

Middle recovery – The time for developing a balanced lifestyle where repairing past damage is critical.

Late recovery – The period of time in which the individual identifies and changes mistaken beliefs about oneself, others, and the world that causes or promotes irrational thinking.

Maintenance – The lifelong process of continued growth, development and management of routine life problems

[SophieShine]

Still  a long way to go.....

[narla]

I think I'm just starting to head into early recovery

[JG525]

I am also still in early recovery.

[avisg]

I am somewhere between middle&late recovery.

[dominosarah]

We had something like this quite awhile ago on the forum and we all chose where we were at....I am now in the middle to late myself.  

[ginsa]

I'm in early recovery. The road stretches out far ahead....

[ZJILLIAN]

hate to admit it but after all these years STILL, ONCE AGAIN, in early recovery. I don't think I have ever really made it too far out of early recovery.

[krashing_now]

Well I am working on being clean again .. second stage .. stabilization

[merrymaria]

i m probably between mid/late.....balancing life pretty well...handling stress in different ways by taking myself out of the situation that s stressful...i always have my guard up.   rounding 500 days real soon :)  maria

[leeisgettingclean]

i am still in early recovery at 99 days...

[desperatetostop]

I'm only 10 days...can I still be in here?

I think I'm still in the transition/stabilization stage...

[worried878]

agree...all those 6 stages happen for most I think...most I know who have done this addiction recovery stuff anyway....just wished there was a final stage where it was "cured"  Cant have everything tho I guess..at least the stages all move forward..in a positive direction...
maintenence to me means always being aware that when times get tough..I gotta be more careful than non-addicts...cos not only depression/anxiety will hit me..but an urge to use my old unhealthy coping mechanisms..I called it escape/well still do...using for me was a forrm of escape which really is not coping at all...it is a way to avoid coping..thing is...the problems do not goaway..only get worse while I was "escaping"

good group....many here need a long term discussion like this vs wd discussions..altho those help me to remember where I do not wanna go again..this is a good site for those who r not in wds...but addicts living life again

[stilltrying1965]

A you know me & Kim are 16 days HEROIN free.Kim is doing great bt is always doing things woman do house work ect i am now after the last two days scared to leave the house My own family have called us junkies & all the children know whats going on & started to say the same thins they also re startig to take itouton y daughter who has never touched a drug n her life .Could you help & tell me what stage of recovery am i at iv no worries about Kim as she is doing just grear its me avisg

[stilltrying1965]

I read the post again as i dont think i had read it right but i think im still in early recovery James                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I think i am still in early recovery too altough i seem to be moving a bit quicker than james but my mum didnt know so i dont have the same problems with my family kim

[dominosarah]

If your family is coming around and acting like that then you and Kim need to set some bounderies.  This is your life and your home and noone should be coming there to disrespect you 2.  If that is what they choose to do then they dont need to be coming around.  Stand your ground my friend....sara

[worried878]

setting boundaries is important..like domino said...for others and also for ourselves..often an addicts boundaries r not defined...there has to be things we will accept and things we will not tolerate..no more "go with the wind" by not caring...cos we r back in the real world now

[stilltrying1965]

I have now took the decision to stay away completely from my family as they were constantly treating us like this, even their kids wre getting away with it and my mum woudnt say anything. I mean we moved into a brand new built house and not one of them except my brother even have been to see it. To me that says it all. we moved to get away from dealers etc then we had to put up with this, but no more enough is enough. Its okay that my dad was an alcoholic and only stopped a few years ago because he had astroke. But thats okay coz it wasnt drugs they think. My mum etc shouldhave a good look at their own lives beore judging us. Its hard but i am doing it.Sometimes i used to leave the house with a bad craving and i think it was them going on about it all the time that made me think about H so i need to stay away for my own sanity .

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Very good info avisg - - - I have learned a lot from this Group - - -  Pleased with where I am today but I also wish that this wasnt an open ended disease!!  Oh well ......  If its worth fighting for its worth fighting for forever!  Aint no big thing........

[ajumbledmess]

What happens when there is an issue you have no desire to fix.  

[freenikita]

sorry for asking but what is an open ended disease?

[KEP0523]

Stabilization here :)

[fallenangel77]

im still on early recovery..day four its hard

[Bekah80]

I have been clean for 11 days now off of meth and Im having a very hard time not thinking about it craving it wanting it and its making me insane