Families in Recovery: A Family Education Video

Introduction

• Produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
• Focuses on the "wall" stage, also known as "protracted abstinence."

Wall Stage (Protracted Abstinence)

• Occurs 6 weeks to 5 months into recovery; lasts 12 to 16 weeks.
• Characterized by negative thoughts and feelings.
• Hardest stage of recovery.
• Symptoms include:
  • Irritability
  • Low energy
  • Depression
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Lack of enthusiasm
• Brain chemistry changes as the brain heals from substance damage.
• High risk of relapse during this stage.

Coping and Treatment

• Continuing treatment, exercising, and attending mutual-help meetings are beneficial.
• Goals include:
  • Repairing relationships with family and friends who do not use drugs.
  • Developing new support networks with non-using individuals.
  • Engaging in new interests and staying active.
• Accomplishing this stage is significant for recovery.

Personal Experiences

• Matrix Family Group:
  • Discussion of "the wall" between 60 days and 4 months of sobriety.
  • Personal account of supporting a loved one through the wall.
• Importance of Social Connections:
  • Maintaining communication with friends, especially when feeling isolated.
  • Engaging in recovery activities like softball, canoe trips, campouts, dances.
• Lifestyle Adjustments:
  • Quitting cigarettes and starting to exercise.
  • Joining a health club.

Managing Dangerous Emotions and Thoughts

• Emotions and thoughts that trigger relapse:
  • Feeling lonely, stressed, or angry.
  • Glamourizing past substance use.
• Personal Management:
  • Avoiding stress and overwhelming situations.
  • Changing value systems from negative influences to productive behaviors.

Relapse Prevention Techniques

• Thought-stopping
• Identifying triggers
• Maintaining a daily schedule
• Relaxation techniques
• Participating in mutual-help meetings
• Reaching out to abstinent friends and family

Avoiding Euphoric Recall

• Recognizing the tendency to glamorize past drug use.
• Mental exercise "playing the tape":
  • Considering consequences over glamorizing the past.
  • Avoiding the exchange of temporary feelings for negative outcomes like jail or death.