The Healing Power Of Love In Addiction Recovery
Love is a powerful motivator to stay clean and sober because we care for our loved ones who were affected by our addiction the most.
While we were using there was nothing else that could keep us from getting our next fix. All our time and money were spent on our addiction. We had no time for family, friends not even ourselves. Our lives had no direction, no future; the life we once wished for ourselves was lost with that one hit, that one shot and it seemed hard to believe we could ever get it back. 
What is Substance Abuse?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a “relapsing” disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.
Love Helps People Stay SOBER
When we decide that we have had enough, no matter how long it takes, and are tired of being sick and tired, we finally take that first step and ask for help. We either enter into a detox facility and/or treatment program or join a support group. Whatever the steps we take to end our addiction, we have made the choice that we are ready for a life of recovery. Recovery from addiction or other mental illness can be a challenging process which is why motivation is needed to provide a boost on the journey. Many sources can serve up motivation including the nurturing love of friends, family, and other loved ones. The importance of love to a person’s motivation cannot be understated, especially when the challenges of recovery happen along the way.
The Power of Love in RECOVERY
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines four aspects of a successful recovery. Love is an important factor in all four of the pillars:
- Home: individuals who struggle with mental health conditions and addiction benefit from a stable living environment. The support of loved ones can provide a calm presence which aids in recovery. The home environment is likely the place an individual spends the most time and benefits greatly from having a caring, supportive space to cope with the ups and downs of addiction or mental health issues.
- Community: Outside the household, individuals in recovery need active, positive influences in life. Support from friends, neighbors, and others can provide warmth and a soothing presence in challenging times. Loyalty and other emotions can alleviate some of the burden recoveries brings. Being part of the community through volunteering, engaging with others, and having fun doing activities a person enjoys will help boost confidence and morale.
- Purpose: Persons with mental illness may feel useless in daily life and need direction in day-to-day routines. Some of the most worthwhile pursuits, such as volunteering or finding new friends, build on the power of love to motivate people in recovery.
- Health: Treatment of addiction is critical for recovery from underlying mental health conditions. Poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to psychological distress. Mental distress can negatively impact motivation for self-care but individuals in recovery must treat the mind, body, and soul with as much love as others provide.
Contact Evoke Waltham Center
We at Evoke Waltham can help you get your life back. The most important thing you can expect from your experience is that you will emerge from it transformed, stable, and ready to begin a lifetime of recovery. Every second in active addiction makes it more difficult to reach out for help. Break the barrier of substance abuse and begin healing from the underlying causes of your addiction. Contact Evoke Waltham and our admissions department today.
