Recovery vs. Recovered: Is There a Difference? by Dr. Kimberly Dennis/Psychiatrist: at DailyStrength Doctors and Advisors

Dr. Kimberly Dennis is the Medical Director at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center. She maintains a holistic perspective in the practice of psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social and spiritual approaches…

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Recovery vs. Recovered: Is There a Difference?

Posted in Eating Disorder... by Dr. Kimberly Dennis on Jan 31, 2012

Recovery Defined. Professionals in the behavioral health field have discussed these two terms for decades. They debate such questions as “What does it mean to be fully recovered?” and “Can recovery ever be fully quantified?”

Certain clinicians define recovery according to the DSM-IV, meaning that recovery is achieved when the individual no longer meets the criteria for the mental illness. This means the person no longer struggles with alcohol, drugs, food, or body image to the extent required by psychiatrists to make a formal diagnosis of substance abuse, eating disorder, or major depressive disorder.

At Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, we concur with the “no longer struggling” aspect of this viewpoint; yet we believe real recovery transcends this strict definition. We want every woman and adolescent in our care to go on to live an abundant life, complete with ongoing personal, spiritual and emotional growth. We believe the essence of a life in recovery is a woman’s continual growth towards her higher power’s objective for her life, which equals her full potential.

As proponents of 12-step treatment, part of a healthy, rich life often includes regular attendance at 12-step meetings, such as AA, OA, Al-anon, etc. Those who balk at this concept maintain that such meetings should no longer be attended if the person is truly recovered. But, we think differently.

Consider church attendance. When a woman becomes a committed believer, does she stop going to church? Certainly not. She continues to show up every Sunday for years because the service and environment feeds her soul, comforts her heart and nurtures her spirit. Believers attend because church has intrinsic value. The same holds true with the 12-step program. “Must” recovered alcoholics go to AA meetings? No, they go because the message, interaction and environment remain an important component of their lives and spiritual growth.

Additionally, many professionals contend that once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic, once an anorexic always an anorexic, etc. This viewpoint has validity in one regard: the genetic predisposition is a permanent part of a person’s physical makeup. Therefore, if a woman has an “allergic” reaction to alcohol, meaning she simply cannot stop drinking once she starts, that will remain unchanged. However, what will change dramatically is the emotional/spiritual piece of who she is … and that is a life-altering and extremely profound experience.

- Dr. Kim Dennis

I also didn't know if this is considered part of an eating disorder. I am going to bring it up with my therapist tomorrow but other that that I ahave never talked to any one else about the eating thing Posted on 01/24/12 04:49:21 am

recognizing you have a problem is the first step to recovery. sounds like you've come a long way. i believe that-at least for me-there are several "levels" to rock bottom. Posted on 07/27/11 07:33:30 pm

I do need meetings. Meetings and service to the fellowship are integral to MY program. This is the way I have chosen to live MY recovery. In the program meetings are where I get to learn from other addicts in recovery. I DO NOT nor wish to know it all and Posted on 01/28/12 04:59:14 pm

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CATEGORIES: Overview

CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITIES: Alcoholism • Anxiety • Cocaine Addiction & Recovery • Codependency • Depression • Depression - Teen • Depression in Children • Depression Supporters • Eating Disorders • Families & Friends Of Addicts • Food Addiction • Gambling Addiction & Recovery • Health Insurance • Healthy Eating • Healthy Relationships • Heroin Addiction & Recovery • Inhalant Abuse & Recovery • Internet Addiction • Life After Divorce • Loneliness • Marijuana Addiction & Recovery • Meth Addiction & Recovery • Nutrition • Obesity • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Physical & Emotional Abuse • Prescription and Synthetic Drug Abuse • Shopping Addiction • Smoking Addiction & Recovery • Stress Management • Time Management • Video Game Addiction • Bipolar Disorder • Bipolar Disorder - Teen • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Self-Injury • Sex / Pornography Addiction

TAGS: Symptoms • Therapies • Strange Tuesday

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Dr. Dennis in the Big Book there is a key thing that I remember reading in the "keys to the kingdom" that reminds me that this is a day at a time, step at at time, in the now program of Recovery. I hear alot of people saying that they are recovered and that is a choice they make. I am a person in recovery living in the present moment with a choice to surrender my thinking, my way, my knowledge over to the care of a higher power because it was those things that got me here to begin with. I surrender me is what brought me victory several 24 hours ago. This is a suggested one moment at a time recovery process for me with my higher power. What I do know is that toxic recovery=return to bondage.

By shabbotshalom Jul 19, 2012

I agree with you that difference between recovery and recovered. Thanks for sharing!!

By johnlasseter Mar 13, 2012

Is it necessary to label a person's journey? Whatever works is my motto. For some, this means abstinence and regular meetings, for others, it can mean moderation. It all depends on the person and really, what they choose to call themselves.

By ladyla Feb 02, 2012

This is a rather simple issue for me. Just as the treatment for a mental condition depends on the cause, so must the "recovering vs recovered" aspect.

One important question for me remains though, if an addiction was "caused" by some event (such as trauma) then how can the person be sure that a repeat of the trauma will not cause a return of the addiction?

By ThePepperMan Jan 31, 2012

This always trips me up. When I worked with Substance Abuse patients we always debated this issue. Some would say you are in recovery for the rest of your life, others believed you could stop AA or NA and be recovered. I am not one to tell them if they were wrong or right.

I do know that recovery requires a consistent and constant maintenance of your needs. In order to diffuse maladaptive behaviors and patterns we have to be self-aware and be open to insight as it comes. This isn't always easy and we often can fall back due to rushing the process.

Its up to you whether you are recovered or in recovery. I know that I will always be learning, growing, and experiencing anew from the traumas of my own life. Therefor, in order to evolve I have to consistently be maintaining my self aware-ness in order to grow.

Is that recovery or recovered? Whats the difference, really?

-Brian
http://www.progressivetransformatio...

By BSPollack Jan 31, 2012

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