The Journey of Recovery: Insights from Mental Health Experts
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Although the chronic disease of addiction can grip people in different ways despite age, educational background or race, recovery is possible.Getting needed treatment, establishing a support system, maintaining hope, embracing resilience, and staying determined to grow are five important components of recovery. Mental health experts, Najamah Davis, owner of Najamah Davis Counseling Services, and Casondra Burkley, owner of Conquering the obstacles of Painful Experiences, provide professional insight into recovery in a second part of a National Recovery Month series.
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About Recovery
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Management (SAMHSA) reported that 50.2 million American adults considered themselves to be in recovery from their substance use and/or mental health problems. additionally, this includes 2 in 3 adults who ever had a mental health problem and 7 in 10 adults who ever had a substance use problem.
What is a lesser-known fact about recovery?
Davis, MSW, LCSW, and LCADC notes that recovery is not only about stopping substance use- it is also about rebuilding a sense of connection, purpose, and identity.
“For many, healing relationships and learning healthier coping strategies are just as critically important as sobriety itself,” she said.
Recovery is a process, not a finish line.
The length of recovery depends on several factors, including the type of substance, how long it was used, and how deeply it became a coping mechanism, Burkley, LCSW-S, M.Div, LSSGB, ADS-CEO, explained.
She added, “For some, recovery involves weeks or months of treatment. For others, it becomes a lifelong journey of learning to live beyond the pain and trauma that fueled the addiction in the first place. Even if someone stops using,the impact can remain,like liver damage from alcohol use or the ongoing emotional triggers tied to trauma. Recovery is about progress, not perfection. It is a commitment to healing, one day at a time.”
Families and friends can support loved ones who struggle with addiction.
Burkley stated th