Just recently, the new REAL ID requirements went into effect (sort of) after years of delay. Under the new rules, you now need a REAL ID—rather than just a driver’s license—to board a domestic flight.
Many people rushed to get REAL IDs as the deadline was approaching—just as many people rush to make their flights on time every day in a busy airport.
Thinking about all this got us reflecting on the ways in which the treatment process for a substance use disorder resembles a trip to the airport. No, really.
Grab your metaphorical carry-on bag and come along as we explain what we mean.
Detoxification Is Like Checking Your Bags
Think of a substance use disorder as a huge, ungainly suitcase you have to carry with you all of the time. It is exhausting to haul it around, and it disrupts your life in various ways as you try to manage it throughout the day.
But when you arrive at the airport, you get to take that enormous bag and check it. That is, take your bag to someone from the airline who can take care of it for you. You do not have to worry about it for the rest of your trip.
The detoxification process is like checking your bag. A medical professional monitors you as drugs or alcohol leave your system—ensuring that you are safe and are not around any temptations.
Rehabilitation is Like the Security Line
The next step at the airport is the security line. They check your ID. They X-ray your carry-on bag and your shoes. They scan your body.
The security folks do all of this to keep you and everyone else safe. During the process, you might find that you have inadvertently brought along some things that are not allowed. You might have to be scanned a couple of times. You might have to take electronics out of your bag.
Believe it or not, that process is a lot like rehabilitation. During the rehab process—in group and individual therapy sessions—you will likely discover that you are holding on to some ideas or habits, or mental health issues that will not serve you well in recovery. Addressing those things here at the beginning of your recovery makes the ongoing journey more secure.
Your Recovery Community is Like the Flight Crew
At last, you have made it onto the plane! And when you get there, you will be greeted by the flight crew—a team of people who will help you have a pleasant and safe journey. That is good news because, of course, you would not be able to fly the plane on your own.
In recovery, the folks who attend the same recovery meetings as you do, your sponsor, your close friends, your supportive family, and others serve as your flight crew. These are the people who will see you through challenges with good humor and empathy—the folks you can always rely on.
Your Lost Baggage is Actually a Good Thing
Okay, we acknowledge that our carefully constructed metaphor runs into a bit of a problem when it comes to the baggage claim at the end of your imagined flight. After all, we argued that checking your bags is a lot like detoxification because someone helps you take care of something you cannot handle on your own. If your checked bags represent drugs or alcohol for the purpose of the story we are telling, you certainly do not want to pick them up again!
To save the metaphor, indulge us here as we suggest that this imaginary trip is the one time you really do hope your bags get lost.
That said, if you were to experience a relapse—that is, if you picked up those heavy bags representing drugs and alcohol again—the best thing you can do is to start your whole treatment journey over again. You can count on the people who helped you before to help you again.
Should Your Next Trip Be to The Aviary?
When you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, it can certainly feel like you are going nowhere fast. Or at the very least, nowhere good. A substance order can upend everything from your health to your finances to your relationships. When you realize you need to make a change, you might find it very difficult to do so as withdrawal symptoms—including intense cravings—keep you stuck right where you are.
Fortunately, a trip to The Aviary Recovery Center—located near St. Louis, Missouri—can help you change the path you are traveling. Via medically supervised detoxification and a rehabilitation program grounded in group and individual therapy, we can help you put drugs and alcohol behind you and start your recovery journey with confidence. We also provide ongoing support and resources to every person we serve, as well as an outpatient program that can serve as an excellent follow-up to residential treatment.
The Aviary Recovery Center is consistently recognized as one of the top substance use disorder treatment facilities in the country. We can help you chart a course to life that does not include drugs or alcohol.
