Buffering the affects of stress during recovery

Substance use disorder (SUD) recovery must be individualized according to the needs and resources of those affected by the SUD. I believe that a person must be assessed for the resources they have available to them. I also believe it is important to monitor a person's exposure to stressors and help the person to determine how these resources can be useful during times of stress.

Those affected by SUDs for an extended period have locked themselves in a world built around their substance use. This makes community re-integration of those in recovery a major concern. Re-integration of adults in recovery may possibly be made easier through community leaders providing avenues for those in recovery to gain resources and better cope with the stress of reintegration. I hope to help those taking steps toward recovery to maintain their recovery based on their available resources and self-identified needs.

The resources they have available can be social, human, physical, and cultural factors that offer strength for overcoming the challenges an individual may face. These resources can be both internal and external opportunities for strength based on the quantity and quality available during each recovery stage. Studies suggest that these resources are individualized and fluctuate throughout the recovery process. Stress is a part of life and cannot be avoided. The idea is that through the enhancement of available resources, those suffering from SUDs may be able to buffer the effects of that stress.

My goal is not to manage your recovery process or offer any type of therapy or medical treatment. The goal is to support you as you maintain your recover in order for you to self-identify your needs and strengths so that you can learn to buffer the effects of the stress of daily life. Why try to struggle through the recovery process alone when someone that has made the journey is available to help?