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A Heroic Journey Toward Addiction Recovery

By Meghan Vivo

Throughout history, young people have taken part in traditional rites of passage to mark their transition from childhood to adulthood. According to Joseph Campbell, author of the book Hero with a Thousand Faces, most of these transformations follow a predictable structure and series of stages, which he dubbed the “Hero’s Journey.”

The Stages of the Hero’s Journey

In most renderings, the Hero’s Journey begins with an ordinary person in an ordinary environment who receives a call to enter an unfamiliar, and often frightening, world. The hero begrudgingly accepts the call to embark on this new adventure and must face a series of obstacles along the way, often with help from a few allies. The reward for his efforts is the discovery of a great gift.

Next, the hero has to decide whether he will return to his previous life to bestow this gift on others. If he decides to return, he will face another series of challenges along the way.

The Hero’s Journey has 17 basic steps, some of which can occur out of sequence or not at all, depending on the story’s interpretation:

1. The Call to Adventure – The hero receives a call to leave his comfortable life for a world of unknowns

2. Refusal of the Call – The hero’s fears and insecurities convince him to refuse the call and maintain his familiar life

3. Supernatural Aid – Some magical guide or essential item appears to help the hero accept the call

4. The Crossing of the First Threshold – The hero leaves his comfortable life and ventures into the unknown

5. The Belly of the Whale – The frightening reality sets in that the hero is leaving behind the life he has known, never to be the same again

6. The Road of Trials – A series of trials the person must overcome in order to begin his transformation

7. The Meeting with the Goddess – The point when the hero experiences unconditional love, often by beginning to see himself in a new way

8. Woman as the Temptress – The physical or material temptations the hero faces that threaten his progress along his spiritual journey

9. Atonement with the Father – A pivotal moment when the hero confronts someone or something that has supreme power over his life

10. Apotheosis – Having overcome a series of challenges, this is a blissful time for the hero to rest up for his return journey

11. The Ultimate Boon – The hero achieves his goal and receives or discovers the ultimate gift

12. Refusal of the Return – Having experienced a profound transformation and adapted to a new world, the hero resists the call to return to his ordinary life

13. The Magic Flight – The hero guards his gift during a series of adventures

14. Rescue from Without – A parade of helpers keep watch over a tired and weary hero and help him realize the need to return

15. The Crossing of the Return Threshold – The person must figure out how to retain the wisdom gained during his quest and integrate it into everyday life

16. Master of the Two Worlds – After having a spiritual awakening and forsaking material riches, the hero learns how to balance his inner and outer worlds

17. Freedom to Live – The hero learns to be present in his life, living in the moment rather than focusing on regrets from the past

Parallels Between the Hero’s Journey and the 12 Steps

The Hero’s Journey can be used as a metaphor in various types of situations. In many ways, it mirrors the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, as young adults battle their addictions and become the heroes of their own recovery.

At Passages to Recovery, a 12-Step addiction treatment program for young men set in the wilderness of Utah, recovery is viewed as a heroic journey toward sobriety. The recovering addict is challenged to overcome his perceived limitations so that he can lead a richer life and use his gifts to make contributions to his family and community.

Answering the Call, Admitting Our Powerlessness

Step 1 of the 12 Steps is, “We admitted we were powerless over drugs or alcohol, and that our lives had become unmanageable.” The call to adventure for young adults is often the realization that life has become unmanageable and that change is needed before they cause irreparable damage to themselves or others.

At Passages to Recovery, this call may come in the form of an invitation to attend the wilderness rehab program. “Mother Nature does a great job of reinforcing that we don’t dictate everything that happens in our lives,” says Ken Murphy, a therapist at Passages to Recovery. “Seeing the larger forces at work in the world helps young people accept their powerlessness and feel connected to more than just themselves.”

As described in the Hero’s Journey, many young adults initially refuse the call and develop a lot of resentment toward their parents or others for encouraging them to face their substance abuse.

“It’s a knee-jerk response many young people have – they want to get sober but they don’t know if they have what it takes to transform their lives,” says Murphy.

Crossing the Threshold, Turning to a Higher Power

Steps 2 and 3 of the 12 Steps ask recovering addicts to turn their lives over to a higher power. Over time, and with the help of their higher power (the “supernatural aid” described in the Hero’s Journey), young people are able to answer the call, “cross the threshold” and embark on the quest to overcome their addiction.

“At this stage, we’re asking young men in recovery to take a leap of faith and engage in the recovery process, whether they believe they have what it takes or not,” says Murphy.

In order for young people to achieve personal growth, they have to overcome obstacles certain along the way. In the words of Joseph Campbell, “Where you stumble and fall, there you will find gold.”

As young people face a “road of trials” that test their character during wilderness rehab, such as a long, cold night in the field or a disagreement with their peers, they are stripped of their old coping mechanisms like drugs and alcohol and are humbled by the forces at work around them.

Like the hero on the Hero’s Journey, young people in addiction treatment are not left alone to face their demons. The field instructors, therapists and peer mentors at Passages to Recovery help each individual embrace the 12-Step principles and work through the challenges of recovery. According to Murphy, other allies can be as simple as a beautiful sunset or a warm, sunny day.

Reluctance to Return, Seeking Fellowship

The return to everyday life is one of the most difficult stages of the Hero’s Journey. By the end of their stay at Passages to Recovery, the young men have adjusted to life in the wilderness and feel confident in their ability to tackle challenges and maintain their sobriety.

Because of the progress they’ve made during treatment, they are often reluctant to return home to face the challenges of everyday life, such as drug cravings and triggers to use. Weary from undergoing a series of emotional ups and downs during addiction treatment, they are uneasy about facing yet another set of obstacles.

One of the most important aspects of AA is the idea of fellowship. Young people participating in addiction treatment at Passages to Recovery receive support and encouragement as they transition on to the next stage of their journey. Twelve-Step meetings provide another source of fellowship with people who understand addiction and can help young people in early recovery face the challenges awaiting them at home.

Finding Purpose, Conducting a Moral Inventory

The fourth of the 12 Steps asks recovering addicts to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of themselves. As part of the Hero’s Journey, young people at Passages to Recovery explore their talents and shortcomings and in the process discover their unique “gift.” As part of the 12th Step, individuals are then asked to share their story, practice recovery principles in their daily lives and use their gift for the benefit of others.

“Over the course of treatment, young people find out enough about themselves that the thing they didn’t think they had at the start of their journey shows up,” says Murphy. “Because our goal is not only getting young people off drugs, but also helping them live with meaning and purpose, we strive to help every individual figure out what they were put on this planet for and how they can use their gifts to help others.”

An Ongoing Journey of Self-Discovery

For many people in early recovery, the end of one heroic journey marks the beginning of another.

“Addiction is a chronic disease, which makes recovery an ongoing process,” explains Murphy. “Young people can start a heroic journey any time they like. Figuring out how to use their gift upon returning from the wilderness is a process that unfolds over time.”