Long-Term Recovery: The 5 Pillars of Recovery

What are the 5 Pillars of Recovery? They are 5 things you must have to insure successful long-term recovery. As a counselor specializing in co-occurring disorders, I use the 5 Pillars with all of my clients: eating disorders, chemical dependency, codependency, depression, grief and loss or stagnantion. They are beneficial for everyone.

In the field of recovery, I have found that they are vital. When I have had a client relapse, it was usually because they had not made all 5 of them part of their lives. When I have had a friend who slipped, it was because they stopped doing one or more of them. There is more to recovery than just these 5 things, but I have never seen someone who was actively applying them on a consistent basis relapse. That is how important they are!

The first pillar is the most important, a Higher Power. Your Higher Power is where you get strength, courage, hope, forgiveness and validation from. People use everything from Jesus Christ to Buddah to their recovery support group. Find what works for you.

The second pillar is a sponsor. Someone living their life as you want to live yours, who has struggles in their past you can relate to. They know how to deal with life because they have lived it. They guide you through the 12 steps and mentor you, building a strong foundation for a great life (Must have at least 2 years of recovery).

The third pillar is the 12 steps. They are a game plan to live a better life. By reading, meditating on what you have read, answering questions and the guidance of your sponsor you learn to overcome your past by working through it. By working through past issues, you begin living better today. You learn to focus on the present instead of dwelling on the past.

The fourth pillar is meetings. You find you’re not alone. You are no longer the black sheep. Instead, you find people who understand your struggles, because they have had them too. There are over 23.5 million people in long-term recovery in the United States. At meetings they share their strength, experience and hope with you and you share yours with them! There are lots of meetings to choose from: Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, etc. Find what works for you and go!   

The fifth pillar is accountability partners. The people you surround yourself with on purpose. You may not be able to choose who you work with. You can choose who you hang out with after work. You must surround yourself with positive, supportive people who have goals and want to see you accomplish yours. You give them permission to call you out, you can call them out. You support them and they support you.

In closing, here is the cliff note’s version.

The 5 Pillars

1. Higher Power
2. Sponsor
3. 12 Steps
4. Small Groups
5. Accountability Partners