Soberpotamus

Here is the link to the results of the four year study/project on "What Is Recovery" led by Lee Ann Kaskutas. Just received an email today that it's complete, and the article is now published. Over 9000 people answered the survey. I was one of them Anyway, some interesting results. Worth a look, if you're interested in this sort of thing.

SoberLeigh

Thanks, SJ. I agree - interesting (and seems to echo so much of what we read here on SR as our experiences).

Soberpotamus

Elements of Recovery % belongs

"Abstinence in recovery"

No use of alcohol 94
No abuse of prescribed medication 92
No use of non-prescribed drugs 88

"Essentials of Recovery”

Being honest with myself 99
Being able to enjoy life without drinking or using drugs like I used to 99
Handling negative feelings without using drugs or drinking like I used to 99
Changing the way I think through things 99
Not replacing one destructive dependency with another 99
Taking care of my mental health more than I did before 99
A realistic appraisal of my abilities & my limitations 99
Being able to deal with situations that used to stump me 99
Freedom from feeling physically sick because of my drinking or using 98
Striving to be consistent with my beliefs & values in activities that take up the major part of my time & energy 98
Being able to have relationships where I am not using people or being used 98
Having people around me who know how to get thru life without using alcohol or other drugs like they used to 98
Getting along with family or friends better than I did before 98
Trying to live in a place that is not overrun with alcohol or drugs 96

“Enriched recovery”

A process of growth & development 99
Taking responsibility for the things I can change 99
Reacting to life's ups & downs in a more balanced way than I used to 99
Living a life that contributes to society, to your family, or to your betterment 99
Having tools to try to feel inner peace when I need to 99
Developing inner strength 99
Improved self-esteem 99
Taking care of my physical health more than I did before 99
Learning how to get the kind of support from others that I need 99
Being the kind of person that people can count on 98

“Spirituality of Recovery”

Being grateful 99
About giving back 98
About helping other people to not drink or use drugs like they used to 98
Appreciating that I am part of the universe, something bigger than myself 97
Becoming more open-minded about spirituality than before 96
Feeling connected to a spiritual being or force that helps me deal with difficulties in life 95
Spiritual in nature & has nothing to do with religion 95

"Uncommon elements of recovery”

Physical & mental in nature & has nothing to do with spirituality or religion 65
No use of tobacco 64
Religious in nature 63
Non-problematic alcohol or drug use 43

Soberpotamus

There, I copied and pasted the meat of it. But do check out the site for the details. And the link to the survey respondents is especially interesting.

biminiblue

What are the little numbers in your list? Are those the percentages? Sounds too good to be true.

Soberpotamus

Of the 9000 survey respondents, that number represents the % of those respondents who chose that particular characteristic of their recovery as true for them, as experienced by them, in their recovery.

Soberpotamus

My guess is that sampling bias and hasty generalization are a possibility.