The Language of Addiction and Recovery

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What is Recovery?

An essay on the subject of “What is Recovery” raises, for me, the question of what is Addiction. Since everyone of us has an idea, our own idea, of what Addiction is, we'll also have our own answer to “What is Recovery?”

Since we don’t have agreement in our field on what Addiction is, I doubt that we can come up with an easy agreement on what recovery is. I could just tell you my definition of both but my goal is not for us to have a debate over which we can come to a resolution. My goal is that we all look at ourselves and how we got to this question. It may be, that after examining ourselves, we may choose to change the question we ask.

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The Language of Addiction and Recovery

Written by Thomas M. Greaney, M.Ed., LADC, LCDP

Tuesday, 22 July 2008 08:11

There is the The Language of Love (Smalley and Trent, Pocket Books, NY, NY, 1988), The Language of Letting Go, (Beattie, Hazelden Foundation, 1999) and, I propose, the “Language of Addiction and Recovery.” This is an important consideration, since we use words and concepts to discuss the disease of addiction and the blessings of recovery with those who are afflicted. This is a continuum full of promise for those we serve who recover and fraught with potentially deadly consequences for those who stumble. We can instill hope in our clients with the information we provide, our nurturing tone, positive outlook and the language we use to describe the challenges and opportunities that recovery presents.

During a decade of facilitating individual and group substance abuse counseling sessions, I’ve endeavored to encourage clients to speak of themselves in positive words and phrases. Pointing out the self-defeating and disempowering veil of negativity that so often punctuates the discourse of those in the early recovery process encourages this positive approach during the course of treatment. A clearer consciousness of the words we use — constructive, condemning, encouraging and provocative — and the reason we use them, calls us to listen more closely to our dialogue with others. Perhaps, more important is an awareness of the self-talk, which so often colors the way we see and experience the world around us.

Let’s get specific about language of addiction and recovery. For proponents of 12-Step recovery, there is another word useful in the depiction of the disease of addiction besides being cunning, baffling, and powerful: insidious. According to the Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, Inc.), insidious means, “awaiting a chance to entrap: TREACHEROUS,” and “harmful but enticing: SEDUCTIVE (~drugs that destroy the young).” In other words, the bonds of an addiction are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

A counterbalance to the insidious nature of the disease is the human capacity of resilience, defined by Webster’s as “the capability of a strained body to recover…and adjust easily to misfortune or change” (p. 1003). I help clients express and acknowledge that their resilience is part of the human yearning to be whole, to bounce back from adversity “a condition of suffering…or disastrous experience” (p. 59) and initiate the wonderful process of individuation. I’ve come to define this inspiring concept as the process of becoming the person I was always meant to be but couldn’t become while in the throes “a hard or painful struggle” (p. 1229) of addiction or other maladaptive, dysfunctional behavior.

Though pernicious “highly injurious or destructive: DEADLY,” (p. 876), the disease of addiction does not have to be fatal if one is pragmatic. This capacity to be “practical as opposed to idealistic <the problem solving mentality>,” (p. 923), is the key to overcoming adversity over a lifespan of coping with the isms of the disease “abnormal state or condition resulting from excess of a <specified> thing <alcoholism>,” (p. 641) and being subject to the vicissitudes “a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance” (p. 1314) of life.

Much of my time working with individuals in early recovery is spent discussing, envisioning, and creating the network of support that will benefit them in challenging and prosperous times. Twelve-step recovery is not a panacea and there is no “silver bullet” that is going to dramatically and single-handedly alter one’s life. However, many will experience catharsis “a purification…that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension” (p. 216) by understanding and incorporating the 12 steps in their lives. Taking time for introspection and a re-evaluation of purpose and priorities leads to healthier choices and meaningful life experiences.

So when faced with the ambivalence “simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings toward an object, person, or action” (p.77) of clients, pick up a dictionary and inspire them with the power of words to help them communicate more positively and live life with élan “vigorous spirit or enthusiasm” (p. 399)! After all a fundamental aspect of our job is to instill hope as the client learns their particular language and terms of love, which will nurture them and engender the art of acceptance and letting go.

References

Beattie, Melody (1999). The Language of Letting Go. Hazelden Foundation.
Merriam-Webster, Inc. (1986). Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, Mass.
Smalley & Trent (1988). The Language of Love. Pocket Books. New York, NY.

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