There are a lot of theories about addiction and the recovery process, but one of the most enduring and accurate is the transtheoretical or stages of change model. If you or a loved one is about to start your journey on the road to recovery, it can be a helpful tool for assessing where you’re at. It can also apply to other mental health conditions that may occur alongside alcohol and drug abuse, such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
New Day Recovery is an addiction treatment center that offers detoxification, rehabilitation and sober living services in Youngstown, Ohio. Call us today at 330-953-3300 to start your recovery journey.
Who Invented the Five Stages of Addiction Recovery Model?
Prochaska and DiClemente came up with the original theory to describe the process many people go through during early recovery. Initially, there were only four stages but Norcross added the maintenance stage in 1992 to describe what happens once people have overcome the main struggle.
Intentional behavior change is something that seems as if it should be intuitive, but the way our brains develop means some patterns of behavior are much harder to change than others. For example, if you’ve spent years viewing drug or alcohol use as a positive part of your life or something you depend upon, turning that perception around won’t happen overnight.
The stages of change model describes what happens as your subconscious mind moves away from relying upon addictive behaviors as coping mechanisms. It takes into consideration the fact that many people who are in substance abuse treatment don’t truly comprehend how damaging and unhelpful alcohol or drug use are for them. There’s a process involved in helping people change their perceptions so that they’re actually ready to take action and change.
What Are the Five Stages of Change in Recovery?
Not everyone goes through the stages in the same order or at the same pace. In some instances, people sail through them one by one, by the book. In many cases, however, individuals jump backwards and forwards from stage to stage, sometimes skipping ahead and sometimes falling back. In general, provided the addicted person continues to put effort into recovery and doesn’t give up on themselves, it’s possible to reach maintenance for everyone.
Rehab is the first step on the recovery journey, and it will introduce you to many tools and techniques to help you overcome addiction. Aftercare, mental health services and 12-step programs are important following treatment to ensure you stay on the right path and address any underlying issues.
The five stages in the transtheoretical model of change are:
1. Pre-Contemplation Stage
During pre-contemplation, the individual is completely unaware of any problems related to their drug of choice and can’t find any compelling reasons to stop. While people are in this stage, they might suggest that their behavior is completely normal — they have the right to unwind and have a good time, or something similar. While this might be frustrating for family members, it’s vital that loved ones understand that people in the first stage are usually in denial, lying to themselves as well as those around them.
2. Contemplation Stage
Contemplation describes when the addicted person starts to concede that there are problems in their lives that are a direct result of alcohol or drug addiction. They are unlikely to be enthusiastic about treatment options at this point, but they might express remorse and yearn for a drug-free life. They’ll be more open to carefully presented information to controlling or reducing their intake but won’t make any commitment to change. People can remain in this stage for many years and jump back and forth between this and pre-contemplation.
3. Preparation Stage
While the contemplation stage was very much about learning how to overcome addiction, preparation is when they show the first sign of moving forward with change. They might start planning to cut down gradually or begin counting units, in addition to finding concrete ways to make the necessary alterations.
4. Action Stage
Getting from preparation to action can be one of the hardest jumps, and most people will regress back to preparation at least once before returning to action. This is the part of the process that requires the most self-discipline and patience, but provided you have a solid support network and a plan of action, it can be very exciting.
For most people, action takes place in an addiction treatment facility that provides all the tools and therapy necessary to gain the resilience and know-how to abstain from substances long term. Don’t forget that life without your substance of choice will feel strange and a little empty at first. However, with the right coping mechanisms, a support network and hard work finding exciting new ways to fill your time, you’ll be able to build a more stable, happier life for yourself.
5. Maintenance Stage
The final stage in this model is maintenance, which is characterized by continued maintenance of a substance use disorder. As a chronic disease, there are no one-off cures or quick fixes. So for success in this last phase, it’s vital you continue to resist temptation, find new ways of getting what you need out of life and don’t get complacent.
It’s easy to think that one lapse in judgment won’t hurt once you’ve been substance-free for a while, but it’s all too easy to slip back into old habits. Having reached maintenance means you can battle through challenging feelings, meet triggers head-on and resist temptation. It’s not easy, but it’s 100% possible for everyone.
Get Help for Substance Abuse Today
Addiction treatment programs can help you turn your life around and overcome the challenges that may have contributed to the onset of your substance use disorder. New Day Recovery offers detox and rehab programs at our state-of-the-art addiction treatment facilities in Ohio.
Call us today at 330-953-3300 to find out how to get started on one of our treatment plans.
