Unlocking the Keys to Sobriety
4-minute read
Unlocking the Keys to Sobriety
4-minute read
How do Veterans recover, and stay in recovery, from addiction to drugs or alcohol? Many factors are involved, but many of the keys involve treatment for substance use disorder, motivation, support, self-help, and a recognition that recovery is an ongoing process.
Treatment
Recovery isn’t easy. But with treatment, it’s possible for everyone—like Nick, a U.S. Army Veteran who says his drinking escalated to 18 beers a night before he sought help.
“I got off active duty, and there was a huge hole missing in my life, and so I turned to alcohol to kind of fill that void,” he says. One day, feeling suicidal, Nick called a friend to help him. His friend took him to a VA hospital, where he was offered entry into a 28-day inpatient program. The program treated him for substance use disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression.
“If I hadn’t had that inpatient, I would still be drinking today,” Nick says. “My advice for other service members and Veterans: Don't wait to ask for help. We think that we can fix our problems ourselves, and you just have to accept that you might not be able to.”
VA offers evidence-based treatments for SUD that have proved to be effective for most people. These scientifically tested courses of treatment may include therapies, medication, or both. They help manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and prevent a return to use.
Motivation
Perhaps your motivation is to feel better physically and mentally or to be there for yourself or your family. Consider thinking about your whys and writing them down. You can add to the list over time and come back to it if your motivation dips.
For Nick, a big motivator for staying in recovery has been his young son. “I look at him, and I could not imagine going into the house drunk and him seeing that ever, just because I know how I was,” he says.
Allen, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, found motivation in a woman he met while both were in recovery. “We just lived an amazing life,” he says of his wife. “We both supported each other and worked into retirement.” But he also finds motivation in selflessness.
“I’m going to be there when someone reaches out,” he says. “I get better by helping others.”
Kris, who served in the U.S. Army and Indiana National Guard, says his initial treatment for alcohol misuse wasn’t really of his own choosing. Entering college after service, his misuse increased to the point where he began missing or cancelling important things so he could drink with friends instead. Rehabilitation for his alcohol misuse was spurred by multiple car wrecks.
“I had to do it all for legal recourse and trying to get a lessened sentence,” he says. But once he started listening to other people’s stories and seeing their vulnerability, he opened up too. “Being able to talk about it and process it, it’s been a huge help,” he says.
In recovery, he found a new passion when he started to cook for people at work. “They were like, ‘Oh man, this is awesome,’ and then that just kind of sparks the interest even more,” he says. “Just being able to provide food, my nutrition, my family’s nutrition, my community, doing my part as far as that goes, to bring the best to this world.”
Support and self-help
Finding sources of support outside of treatment providers, like family members, friends, faith leaders, or fellow Veterans, can be a big help. So can self-help practices, like getting enough rest, eating well, exercising, and finding new interests.
Kris credits the constant support he’s received from his parents, brother, and sister, and talks about practicing mindfulness techniques that help keep him grounded and calm.
Nick, as a member of the National Guard, says he finds support from within his unit: “NCOs that I work with and who I can call if I’m having a low moment.” He also finds an outlet through playing and composing music on his guitar.
Roslyn, a U.S. Army Veteran who lost her marriage and kids after she became addicted to heroin, found recovery through treatment. Then she found purpose through work, including a job helping other people with substance misuse challenges. Now retired and reunited with her mother, she stays grounded with a new source of support.
“I was able to find a community of other Vets, other women Vets, and I decided to volunteer here once or twice a week,” she says of her involvement in a Veterans nonprofit. “We also participate in outside activities, so it keeps me centered and focused. We get to share what we’re going through in our daily lives, and I love it.”
Trusting the process
Recovery can have its ups and downs. Progress isn’t always steady or constant. But it’s worth persistence.
“It’s a process,” Roslyn says. “Just like it was a process for me to hit rock bottom, it was a process for me to get recovered. I've been clean and sober 32 years, March 5, 1992. I always say give yourself a chance. Be teachable, be humble, and it’s going to be a process, but you can do it.”
