Recovery can be a really complex and messy process, setbacks are expected, and every person's path is different. If you’re wondering whether drugs or alcohol are affecting your life, it can be hard to know where to begin.

You might be unsure what you want to change or what recovery could look like for you. In this video, we explore how an honest conversation can help you make sense of those questions and decide what you’d like to do next.

Recovery from drug or alcohol use can start with a conversation

If you’re wondering whether drugs or alcohol are affecting your life, it can be hard to know where to begin. You might be unsure what you want to change or what recovery could look like for you. In this video, we explore how an honest conversation can help you make sense of those questions and decide what you’d like to do next.

Finding the words for what you’re experiencing

You might start by taking some time to reflect on your own, talking to someone you trust or speaking with a professional. What role do drugs or alcohol play in your life? What do you get from using them? How does your use affect your relationships, your routines or the things you care about? What, if anything, would you like to be different?

You can talk about what you’ve noticed, even if you’re still working out how you feel about it. Saying it out loud can help you understand what matters to you and what kind of support might feel right.

How therapy can help

Therapy offers a supportive space to talk openly about your experiences without fear of judgement. A therapist can help you explore the role drugs or alcohol play in your life, clarify what you want to change and work with you to find a way forward that reflects your goals.

There can be setbacks and periods when things feel messy or uncertain. Therapy gives you somewhere to talk through what happened and consider what might help you move forward.

Recovery rarely begins with certainty. It often starts with a conversation about what’s happening now and what you’d like life to look like from here.