National Recovery Month is held every September to bring awareness and congratulate those who are recovering or have recovered from addictions. September is a month to promote and support new treatment and recovery practices.
To know if someone is going through an addiction, look out for these signs: difficulties at school or work, poor performances and low grades, changes in physical appearance, isolation, lack of energy, financial irresponsibility, and changes in appetite.
Addiction can start anywhere at any time. Teens are likely to start an addiction due to peer pressure, stress, a way to cope from mental illness, or to feel mature. Social media can make drinking and doing drugs seem like a cool thing to do, and teens might be influenced by it.
Ways to recover from addiction can include staying away from the substance or people who enable the use of it, reaching out for help from trusted family and friends, or creating a healthy routine and sticking with it. Routines are a great way to get in the habit of not partaking in the addiction.
To recover from addiction, there are steps that must be taken. First, break the cycle of addiction and build a routine. Next, make sure to address the problem and seek help. Finally, use coping skills and enhance relationships with those who want to help. Increasing self-esteem and self-awareness can lead to better outcomes towards recovery.
There are many ways to reach out for help. The SAMHSA (Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration) 24/7 helpline is 1-(800)662-4357. For an in person and local resource, the Salvation Army in downtown Indianapolis has a free substance abuse program that only lasts around 6 months. The phone number for them is (317)638-6585.
