The Many Faces of Addiction Recovery: Why Understanding Matters

What Addiction Recovery Really Looks Like

Many people imagine someone in recovery from addiction as looking broken or unstable, as if recovery has one specific “look”. However, long-term recovery (LTR) does not follow one path. A recent study found five distinct paths of LTR, each with their own identities, goals, and ways of coping. Understanding this helps us see those in LTR as individuals, not stereotypes.

What the Study Did

To learn what recovery really looks like, the researchers interviewed people in LTR, along with their family members, and therapists. From these stories, they identified five LTR paths. These include the Fighter, Avoidant, Wanderer, Devout, and Comrade. Fighters see LTR as a battle that they keep fighting. Avoidants stay away from triggers and reminders of the past to avoid relapse. However, therapists and families sometimes see this approach as “not progressing”. Wanderers see LTR as an opportunity for growth and learning. Devouts rely on routine, which helps them feel in control. Finally, Comrades focus on building connection and belonging.

What These Five Paths Teach Us

Together, these five paths show that addiction LTR is far more diverse than many people think. The study also demonstrates that misunderstanding someone’s LTR path can make them isolated. For example, Avoidants used distance to cope, yet many therapists and family members viewed this negatively. These perceptions can make LTR more challenging because it is not just about coping, but also about feeling seen. This is also why it is important that we view those in LTR as individuals rather than stereotypes.

LTR can be compared to renovating the inside of a house. Some people knock down the walls and rebuild everything (Fighter). Some repaint or rearrange each room (Wanderers). Some keep the layout the same because it feels safest (Devouts). Some invite others in to bring life into the home (Comrades). Finally, some keep certain doors closed because they are not ready to enter those rooms yet (Avoidants). From the outside, the house may look the same, but inside, every renovation is different and personal. When we expect everyone to “renovate” their lives in the same way, we create expectations that can harm rather than help.

Why This Matters for All of Us

If there is a lesson that readers should take from this study, it is that we are more like those in LTR than we think. Wanderers seek growth, Fighters rebuild identity after hardship, Comrades search for belonging, Devouts find comfort in routine, and Avoidants shield themselves from painful memories.

Outside of addiction, we all go through our own forms of recovery when we rethink who we are, overcome challenges, or reshape our identities after life lessons. Addiction LTR is simply a more intense form of something that is part of being human. When we see those in LTR as individuals, we reduce stigma. More importantly, we respond with empathy instead of judgement. When we challenge our assumptions about what LTR “should” look like, we begin to meet people where they are at, not where we expect them to be. We also make recovery less lonely. While every LTR story is different, the desire for connection, understanding, and identity is something that we all share. This study reminds us that behind every LTR story is a person "renovating" their life in a way that makes the most sense to them. When we truly understand this, we help create communities where people feel supported, not judged.