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14 = USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
(Alcoholics, 2001; VandenBos, 2007). Based on the twelve-step principles re¬
covery 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). Ap¬
plication 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, sub¬
stance 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. Accord¬
ing 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 recov¬
ering 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 them¬
selves 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