Nowcovery and Principle Two

Principle two, “Each person’s Nowcovery can look different from another’s. We each define our success according to our abilities. Certain measures should be used, but they should be flexible.”  

Nowcovery principle two has been developed from observing multitudes of people overcome obstacles and barriers to live a life that they feel happy about living. It is not the business of outsiders to judge someone else’s life to determine if it has improved to an “acceptable” level. We don’t know another’s story, nor do we know what they are going through internally.  Nowcovery empowers us to determine if changes need to be made in our own lives, as well as determine whether we want to make those changes. However, we must be willing to conduct an honest inventory of our situations and behaviors.

Please note, that this does not include people in active addiction. Generally, people with the disease of addiction will not have the ability to take an accurate assessment of their lives to determine if a change needs to happen. Often, the motivation to make changes will need to come from someplace outside of themselves. They need help breaking through their denial due to the hijacking of the brain's reward system from substance abuse.

As principle number two states, there are measures to be used for our inventory. Some to be most mindful of are:

1.       Am I abstinent from alcohol and other drugs?

2.       Am I doing what I need to do to treat my substance abuse disorder?

3.       Am I doing what I need to do to address my mental health?

4.       Am I doing what I need to do to take care of my physical health?

5.       Am I doing anything illegal?

6.       Do I have guilt, remorse, or shame that I am aware of? If so, what am I doing to resolve this?

7.       Am I taking care of my social/personal/financial responsibilities?

8.       Am I cooperating with my higher power? Do I have daily time with my higher power?

In this blog we will explore measures one, two, and three. Others will be covered in future blogs.

Measure number one, complete abstinence, is always the goal for people who practice Nowcovery who have a moderate to severe substance use disorder or addiction. People who practice Nowcovery for other purposes (instead of substance abuse) such as depression or anxiety can also practice measure number one for good mental health. Everyone can benefit from living a substance-free life. Some of us need to or we won’t have a life to live.

It’s important to recognize relapse can happen. If relapse happens it doesn’t mean that our lives are total rubbish and that we are losers. What it means is that we are lucky to have Nowcovery principles that remind us to be kind to ourselves so we can get back on the right path to health and life.

Measure number 2, “Am I doing what I need to do to treat my substance use disorder?” can be highly individualized.  As discussed in the blog article “Am I an Alcoholic?”, a medical assessment is a necessary first step when entering the detox phase from substances. Withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines can be potentially fatal. Other substances can cause terrible physical and mental effects. There are medications available that can ease these effects, but a doctor needs to prescribe them.

  After treatment for the initial acute withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs, further treatment is required for moderate to severe substance abuse. Severe substance abuse (addiction) is a life-threatening disease that never goes away. Once a person has it, lifelong maintenance is required to keep it in remission. Treatment for substance use disorder should include education on the stages of the disorder, triggers, cravings, relapse prevention, stress management, communication skills, and emotional regulation. How one goes about this will be a personal choice. For example, someone might choose a substance abuse counselor, AA meetings, exercise, and bible study. While another person may choose an addiction recovery coach, a counselor, prayer, and Celebrate Recovery. Even people with mild substance use disorder can greatly benefit from treatment.

I recommend you include someone trained in substance abuse/addiction in your treatment plan. Providers who do not have education in substance abuse/addiction will not understand your disease/disorder and might provide you with treatment that will not be effective. They also may not be trained in recognizing certain signs, symptoms, and behaviors in people with the disease.

Measure number three is about taking care of your mental health. When someone has a substance use disorder along with a mental health disorder it is called “dual diagnosis”.  According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in 2022, 1 out of 12 Americans had both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition. ADHD, Bipolar, autism, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and personality disorders are all included.

Just as moderate to severe substance use disorders need treatment, so do mental health conditions. Nowcovery strongly supports that people should use psychiatrists, counselors, therapists, support groups, and doctors to manage their conditions. This will also be highly personalized according to what individuals need, and what works best for them. Managing mental health may include various treatment providers, support groups, sleep management, diet, exercise, prayer, meditation, social outings, time in nature, work-life balance, and family time. As you can see, there will be many combinations created by people when they start to determine what works best for them in all these categories.

In time and with practice people can find what works best for them and experience freedom and a happier life.