By LYLE R. FRIED, CAP, ICADC, CHC In Addiction Recovery
Posted March 2, 2016
Are you finding yourself with extra time on your hands during the early stages of addiction recovery? Inspirational movies are a good way to spend some of that time while providing your mind with positive input and encouragement.
Here are a few of our favorite recovery based movies.
Inspiring Addiction Recovery Movies
- Thanks for Sharing (2012)
Although not themed around drug addiction, Thanks for Sharing provides a candid look into the life of recovery, and what it takes to be successful. A recovering sex addict (Mark Ruffalo) with 5 years sober tries not to lose his bearings while venturing into a new relationship with his sexually charged girlfriend (Gwyneth Paltrow).
- Burnt (2015)
Based around a chef’s mission for redemption, Burnt tells an invigorating story of addiction recovery, relapse, and triumph. A top chef (Bradley Cooper) in Paris spirals into drug and alcohol addiction causing his career to be put on hold. After turning his life around, the pursuit of achieving the top review a chef can receive brings him to London where he’s faced with adversities and challenges.
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Recovery comes in many different forms. Silver Linings Playbook depicts the life of a man (Bradley Cooper) who lost his wife and job, and was recently released from a mental institution who’s trying to right his wrongs. The story takes a twist upon meeting a girl (Jennifer Lawrence) with some baggage of her own.
- 28 Days (2000)
Admitting addiction exists is always one of the hardest steps but healing can only begin once this realization has been made. 28 Days takes us on a journey with a woman (Sandra Bullock) who is forced into rehab after getting into a car accident while intoxicated. Initially she’s in denial about her addiction, but eventually comes to terms with its prevalence in her life and the road to recovery ensues.
- Clean and Sober (1988)
Clean and Sober tells an intense story of a real estate agent (Michael Keaton) who is a high functioning addict. Living life recklessly works for a while until one morning when he wakes up with more problems than he knows what to do with. In order to escape his troubles, he hides under the anonymity of a rehabilitation center only to find himself facing his demons and learning from the program.
- Half Nelson (2006)
Putting on the mask of normalcy is second nature to those functioning while in addiction. Though, the façade can only last so long before it begins to slip out of our control. Half Nelson tells the story of a history teacher (Ryan Gosling) with a coke addiction. Although his ability to engage with his students is amazing, his personal life is falling apart. The constant battle between being a good person and struggling with addiction is relatable on a level many other films can’t achieve.
- Flight (2012)
Flight, a movie about an airline pilot named Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) with a drug and alcohol addiction, reveals the heaviness of the negative impact of using. As trouble strikes during a flight Whip manages to save his passengers, but as the investigation of the accident begins his addiction is uncovered.
- The Anonymous People (2013)
The Anonymous People is a documentary focusing on the millions of Americans living in long-term addiction recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. It’s time to stop focusing on the problems, and start focusing on the solutions.
Use your extra time in early recovery to build yourself up with encouragement and and insights from the lives of people who have been where you are. Inspiring movies that focus on the up side of addiction recovery are a good way to spend some of your down time in the evenings or before bed. Our male and female PHP equipped with Smart TVs and you can usually find at least a couple of these titles on Netflix. If you’re thinking about treatment today could be the first day of the rest of your life. Give us a call at The Shores Treatment and Recovery, we are excited to hear from you.
