National Recovery Month

Every September, National Recovery Month is observed to acknowledge and highlight how substance use treatment and mental health services have enabled individuals to live healthy and fulfilling lives. Just like we’d recognize physical health accomplishments such as someone completing cancer treatments or someone making significant lifestyle changes due to heart disease, National Recovery Month celebrates people who have battled with mental health challenges and have managed to find recovery through treatment. This is no small feat, which is why recognition is deserved.

The mind is a powerful tool. And most of can agree that when we find ourselves worrying about what someone said, or overthinking and overanalyzing situations, that we probably find ourselves feeling anxious. Perhaps we’ve gone down a rabbit hole that we have trouble finding our way out of because the mind has taken control. There are times we’ve been stricken with grief over divorces or the loss of a loved one – and this debilitating grief can even last for several weeks. There are days where the stress of work is just too much, and we find ourselves having a glass of wine (or two) to destress and relax. There are times where we are faced with breakups or job loss and we feel depressed, making it hard to think straight or do much of anything. The thing with each of these circumstances, is that these are often temporary for individuals who do not struggle with their mental health. While some of these situations can last for a while, we eventually find ourselves out of the overanalyzed rabbit hole, out of the grief, out of the stress, and out of the bed we previously couldn’t get out of. We can say, “I don’t need that glass of wine tonight,” and continue on with our evening. For people who do struggle with their mental health – these things linger. Anxiety, depression, substance use can’t easily be turned off and it’s often uncontrollable and crippling and can last a lifetime. It’s certainly not something that’s chosen, just like the aforementioned cancer – no one chooses that. Mental health illnesses are diseases that set up shop in the mind, and they will continue to live there until specialized treatment helps us overcome it. It can wreak havoc in their lives and affect relationships with others.

Eating disorders, addictions with drugs or alcohol, mood disorders, and other types of mental health diseases all require professional treatment. While recovery is absolutely possible, so is relapse. Recovery is similar to remission in some ways. The treatment took place and it was successful, but there is always a chance it could strike again. While considerable strides have been made over the last several years in reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health, we still have a long way to go. Organizations like Mental Health America (MHA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have made significant impacts through fundraising and advocacy efforts. Many celebrities have taken a stand advocating for mental health by sharing their own personal stories. The rise in social media has also played a role in bringing awareness to the issue with specific campaigns like the Body Positive Movement and the use of hashtags such as #BreakTheStigma and #MentalHealthMatters. It’s not easy to reach out for help, so continuing to normalize the importance of mental health is critical for those in need of services.

Now, in its 31st year, Recovery Month celebrates the strides those living in recovery have truly made. So for those of you who have fought the battle and are currently in recovery, we congratulate you. This month and every month we celebrate your journey and the steps you made to get here.

Contributed by Lauren Sterritt, Marketing & Community Relations for Focus Integrative Centers and Focus Treatment Centers

 

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Lauren Sterritt