Overcoming substance abuse is a process that takes time. How long a person’s recovery journey is depends on their individual needs and circumstances. Addiction develops over a period of time and there is no overnight cure. Here we take a look at the five stages a person experiences as they heal from substance abuse in recovery.

There comes a point in all our lives when we experience the loss of someone we love and care about deeply. For some, the overwhelming feelings of grief and loss that follow bereavement can trigger a return to destructive addictive behaviors. An inability to express clearly what someone is thinking and feeling, particularly when they’re not able to process those thoughts and feelings themselves, can result in a need to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs.