Recovering from addiction: It's not just about giving up
- Gemma Nightingale, MBACP
- Jan 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 7
There are two different ways to recover from addiction. Giving up (or abstinence) is not the only option. Moderation (reducing intake) is another option to allow you to regain control, and the good news is that there are addiction recovery services out there that offer this alternative, so you can still benefit from support and advice from experts while trying to get your life back on track.
Both approaches have their pros and cons. Research has shown that some individuals are better suited to one approach than the other, suggesting that support to take either route should be made available and supported. My clinical experience supports this. For some clients, one drink inevitably leads to another, so they find abstinence more achievable than moderation. For others, the idea of not being allowed a drink even if they need one makes them anxious, starting a vicious circle of greater desire to drink to relax and greater anxiety about failing to stop. For these clients, the option of having some alcohol when they feel the need, helps to break the chain of anxiety. Moderation is more likely to lead to recovery for them.
For some people, signing up to an addiction recovery programme does not feel possible, for various reasons. But research shows that these programmes are not the only route to success in regaining control of addictive behaviour. Going it alone (or better still, with support from loved ones) is a viable option for some.
My personal view is that the key to long-term recovery lies not only in which route you choose, but in understanding the purpose of the addictive behaviour. What psychological need is it meeting? Exploring this question with a relational psychotherapeutic counsellor (such as me!) helps to address your difficulties and to discover alternative ways to meet those needs. You become aware of why addictive behaviour took hold and what other choices work for you and over time the addiction becomes less of a 'go-to' strategy. Resistance to it becomes easier - although complacency can now be dangerous too. Often therapy can facilitate a shift from feeling powerless to feeling capable, and under these conditions self-discipline has a much stronger chance of winning the struggle.
There's no easy, guaranteed path to recover from addiction. What works for one might not be suitable for another and it is hard work! But there are many people walking this path. And many succeeding, once they find the courage to take the first step.
If you'd like to know a bit more, click here to read an article I wrote on LinkedIn, with more detail about the complexity of deciding whether to give up or just limit your alcohol intake.