Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent upon a variety of factors.   For example, it appears that attending daily NA or AA meetings and staying in communication with ones chosen sponsor will definitely assist an individual in successfully implementing his recovery plan.  Getting and staying committed to working the 12 Step Program also appears to increase the probability of the person staying abstinent from drugs and alcohol.  While the above-mentioned elements of a persons overall recovery plan are crucial to his recovery, another major factor that will greatly influence an individual’s continued abstinence is how he is able to handle the breakdowns that happen in life.

Knowing about breakdowns, what they are and how to manage them, is absolutely necessary for one to stay committed to his recovery plan.  Breakdowns are what brought an individual into treatment and eventually created the space for him to begin his recovery.  Breakdowns also happen while a person is in treatment and will continue to take place after he leaves.  Even after successfully completing a treatment program, breakdowns are almost certain to happen as one returns to the community from which he came.  In fact, both the client and his counselor should expect breakdowns to occur after treatment.  It is for this reason that knowledge of the structure of breakdowns and how to transform them is very important if not crucial for the individual wanting recovery.