For the last 28 years, SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, joins forces with organizations around the country to celebrate National Recovery Month. The purpose of this month is to spread greater awareness about substance use disorders in addition to other mental health disorders. In addition to informing the public, National Recovery Month stands as a celebration for the millions of men and women who are actively living in recovery from either/both substance use disorders and mental health disorders. This year marks the 29th annual celebration of National Recovery Month.
“Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders,” the website for the celebration reads, “celebrates people in recovery, lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible.” Most importantly, the month seeks to spread “…the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.”
Why Recovery Should Be Celebrated
“…people can and do recover.” We hear and see the stories of addiction throughout mainstream media. Celebrities, for instance, will always get more coverage for their addiction, their downward spiral, their trips to rehab programs, and their relapses than they will for their recovery. More and more, the media is recognizing the importance of sharing recovery stories in addition to stories of suffering. Today, celebrities who have sober birthdays celebrate them publicly and share their strong, compelling tales of overcoming the difficulty of addiction and emphasize how important living in recovery is for them. What this change in narrative indicates is that the stigma and shame surrounding addiction is in fact starting to dwindle. Speaking openly about addiction is no longer a condemnation but truly a celebration for living in recovery from addiction is a magnificent feat.
Share Your Story This Month
The choice to share your story of addiction and recovery is an immensely intimate decision. Keep this in mind- at any time, there might be just one person who needs to hear what you have to say. Something about your story might touch them in a way which breaks through their barrier and encourages them to know that if you can do it, so can they. The shared power of recovery through sharing our recovery story is truly something to celebrate.
Transform your life, inside and out as you find freedom from addiction. At Tree House Recovery in Orange County, California, we’re helping men create the sustainable changes necessary to build a sustainable recovery. Call us today for information: (855) 202-2138
