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14 = USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (Alcoholics, 2001; VandenBos, 2007). Based on the twelve-step principles recovery was started to be used in rehabilitation treatment setting to expand the reach of 12-steps to professionals in the treatment of addiction. It was believed that treatment could be more comprehensive than past treatment methods which focused only on detoxification (Cook, 1988). Reaching abstinence after a prolonged usage of alcohol or drugs meant a major challenge for biomedical services. The recovery approach could offer a proper way of reaching abstinence and an opportunity to improve one’s quality of life based on the own needs and strengths (Petke, 2018). The meaning of the word “recovery” gained various nuances: restoration of normal health and functioning, the challenge of not allowing a long-term condition to consume or dominate one’s life (Jacobson & Curtis, 2000). Application of recovery concepts to psychiatric disorders is recent and originate from ex-patient movement and self-help advocacy (Jacobson & Curtis, 2000). Terry and Cardwell (2015) conducted an essential review study on recovery approach. Studies concerning recovery were under examination from different areas: mental health recovery, desistance from crime and substance misuse recovery. The review study found many universal concepts that describe what characterized recovery. The study findings suggest that being in recovery from mental illness, substance addiction and desistance from crime take a considerable time and effort, because people in recovery have to maintain the decision in the face of stigma. Being in recovery from mental illness and addiction recovery involves building a meaningful life even with ongoing mental illness and addiction (without substance use). Thus, recovery is often described as an “ongoing journey” (the journey is a metaphor for the recovery process which is commonly used in literature. Metaphors are also the basis for construction of narratives. According to the conceptual metaphor theory of Lakoff & Johnson, 1980 the “journey” as a metaphor is could be considered as an extract of experiences of a recovering person.). The authors underline that this “journey” is highly subjective, it is about the lived realities of people's lives and not a prescribed intervention. That is why recovery often happens outside formal treatment settings. The role of professionals and helpers is to facilitate personal recovery journey. One of the most critical aspects of the journey is building a strong, coherent and positive personal identity. People in recovery has to be able to imagine themselves beyond being addicted, being an offender or a mental health patient. Overcoming the stigma of these identities emphasizes the importance of agency and empowerment and the capability to make decisions other than drug use, to take a legitimate job (over committing a crime). Another essential factor of recovery is finding the “meaning in life’, which reinforces new and positive identities and it makes people feel part of the “mainstream” and gives self-worth. There is often a spiritual dimension to this
