Often, the stages of treatment are defined as the following:
- Pre-contemplation: A stage of denial when people don’t accept the fact that they need treatment, but may go to appease their loved ones.
- Contemplation: The individual acknowledges the need for help and is open to stopping, but may still feel resistance.
- Preparation: A stage involving preparation for change, where support is critical and a longer-term treatment plan is created, usually, more therapy is added.
- Action: The hardest and most stressful stage where patients actually make changes in their life and change their thought patterns to end the negative cycles of addiction.
- Maintenance: Occurs during the final weeks or months of treatment where lifestyles have been adjusted and mental tools are working, but are still new and not yet as comfortable as drugs or alcohol were.