Alcoholisim And Drug Addiction Recovery, The Critical Roles Of Compliance Vs. Acceptance

In order to lay the foundation for successful long-term drug addiction and alcoholism recovery the two key concepts of compliance vs. acceptance  need to be discussed and defined. One will keep you sober, the other will not.

Let’s start with compliance versus acceptance.

Compliance, within the framework of addiction recovery is a pretty tricky term to define. Compliance is the act of conforming, acquiescing, or yielding; the dictionary further adds “in a weak and subservient way”. One can comply with not drinking or drugging for a time, but still not wholeheartedly accept the need to do so.

Compliance often means going along with things, but often it can be “forced” by family, the legal system, and by treatment centers. In that case, one may go along with things but be less than wholehearted, enthusiastic, and entirely happy. Compliance is a start, but it is not generally sufficient to maintain addiction recovery over the long term.

Acceptance is a bit different. It is often discussed in drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs and 12 step programs. Sometimes it is discussed as almost like achieving a nirvana-like state, “I have achieved the ultimate if I have gained acceptance.” I don’t know if I would go that far, but acceptance really is a state of mind. But what does this mean? Well, acceptance is the act of assenting or believing without reservation; but there is a further component in that there is lack of resistance or rejection.
What are we being asked to accept? At a very basic level, we must accept the fact that we have lost our ability to control drug or alcohol use, is causing trouble in our lives, and that the ultimate solution is to stop using. That is a pretty tall order and very difficult for many people. Without acceptance of a lease these basic facts recovery will be very difficult, if not impossible.

A little test I suggest is this: Go into the bathroom, shut the door behind you and look in the mirror. Look yourself right in the eyes and don’t flinch. Ask yourself ‘Is it over? Am I done, really done using?’ If the answer is yes, ask a second question, ‘Am I willing to do whatever it takes to stop and stay stopped?’ If the answer, from your heart is yes, I would venture to say you have moved into acceptance.

Acceptance by itself is vital but not enough. Now you must move into action.

Welcome back!

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Tagged as: acceptance in recovery, compliance in recovery