Every September, we celebrate National Recovery Month, a time to encourage and educate others on the incredible possibilities that come with recovery from substance use and mental health disorders. This is a time to participate, celebrate, and get recognition for all you have accomplished.

During National Recovery Month, the goal is to communicate that recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and mental health disorders is possible and worthwhile. One of the core topics discussed is health.

Striving for a Healthy Future and Knowing It’s Possible

At the heart of addiction recovery is the focus on improving your health. Drugs and alcohol damage the body, especially when used at high doses or over a long period of time. However, you may see significant health improvement when you stop using substances. 

For someone who is looking into the world of recovery, the pain, lack of mental clarity, and feeling of impossibility often limit them from moving forward. They have lung, heart, and digestion issues as well as other illnesses. It doesn’t seem like “healthy” is a word they can use to describe themselves.

During National Recovery Month, you can encourage others by making healthy choices and talking about how well that works for you. Here are some messages you might want to convey:

• You Can Overcome Challenges That Relate to Mental Health and Substance Use

Take the time to consider how much your health has improved since you stopped using drugs or alcohol or received the mental health care you needed. Tell someone how you felt when you were struggling and did not feel things would improve.

Communicate with others about what you continue to do to support your health. That may include one-on-one communication with a friend struggling with hospital stays or long periods of illness. Or it may take the form of a post on social media.

• It is Okay to Reach Out for Help

Let others know that reaching out for help is one of the bravest things they can do. Encourage others by telling your story about why you took the step to get help. What did you experience when you reached out?

By breaking down some of the stigma about getting help for substance use or mental health challenges, you give people the push they need to seek treatment. Far too many people believe they just cannot get better or that they are weak for not doing so. Let’s change that in a social media post or a visit to the local recovery group.

• Making Informed Healthy Choices Supports Your Well-Being

Educate others on how to start making better choices. A person with addiction may have no idea how they will be able to make good decisions. Their mind doesn’t let them decide to be healthy. You can talk about your journey through that process.

Discuss what mindfulness is and how it has helped you get through those really hard times with a better outcome. Making informed, healthy choices that support your health transformed your life. How can you motivate others to change their patterns as well? 

• Getting Help For Addiction or Mental Health Is Possible

Another important message to communicate during National Recovery Month is the importance of reaching out for help now. Talk to your friend about what you see and what you can do to help them take the step toward treatment. Provide examples of how you see their substance use or mental health disorder affecting their relationships, work, and day-to-day life.

Sometimes, it is really hard to see what addiction is doing to your life until someone shows it to you. This month, show your friends and family what change can do. Knowing how to help a friend struggling with addiction is a powerful skill to have.

Get the Support You Need to Make Your Own Transformation Possible

At Victory Addiction Recovery Center, our focus is on empowering people to get the support they need. With years of experience and a dedication to supporting our clients through the most challenging times of their lives, we can be here for you, too. If you are starting your journey, contact us now to learn how we can help you.

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