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Addiction and Healing: Why It Takes Time and How Families Can Support the Process
The real reason healing is a long, winding road.
Healing Is Not a Race: The Truth Behind the Timeline
“Why is it taking so long for my daughter to get better?” This question hits hard. It carries fear, hope, and sometimes frustration. But healing isn’t a race to the finish line. It’s a winding path toward a new sense of wholeness.
The common narrative of addict and recovery falls short. Healing from behaviors like cocaine use is messy and complex. It’s not just about quitting — it’s about understanding the pain and survival strategies behind the behavior. It’s about rediscovering a sense of self that doesn’t rely on harmful patterns for safety.
What’s Really Going On: Trauma and Survival Strategies
Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW, reminds us that what looks like addiction often masks deeper survival strategies. Risk-taking, hyper-independence, and defiance? These are armor, shielding the vulnerability left by past wounds.
For many, these strategies saved their lives. They offered control when helplessness loomed. Yet, the paradox is this: what once kept them safe may now be holding…
