Drug Alcohol Recovery Internal Motivation Stay Sober in Springfield, VA

For example, you can keep pictures of your family around, so whenever you feel frustrated or lose motivation, these images can be the jump start you need. If your core values include health or kindness, remember how you feel and act when you’re not clean and sober. You might also read inspirational quotes about self-care and health to feed inner motivation. Participants were not able to explain potential reasons for factors that moderated benefits (size of the social network and level of involvement in 12-step groups). However, there were general comments about how the size of one’s social network changed over time. They felt early in recovery a large number persons in 12-step recovery meetings were considered to be part of one’s social network.

• You can, however, make new friends or connect with old ones who are also in recovery.
• Call Eudaimonia Sober Living Homes at (888) 424 – 4029 for more information on the sober living process and current room availability.
• We also need information about destructive peer interactions that hinder motivation.
• Still other people have difficulty with both the decision to change, and how to make that change occur.
• Having decided to change, we need to figure out how to make that change happen.

These people that were being studied wanted to heal without the help of rehabilitation centers or 12-step groups. In the contemplation stage, an individual has recognized the need for change and is considering it but not yet taking action. They had just weighed the pros and cons of changing their behavior and, by doing so, have left the precontemplation stage. However, it is still too early for them to decide whether to move forward with addiction recovery or change their mind and return to their current habits and lifestyle. One common mistake for those who are new to alcohol and drug recovery is substituting a new compulsive behavior for their old one. People new to recovery can find themselves approaching their new diet, exercise program, job, and even participation in support groups with a compulsion that echoes addiction.

Alcohol Abuse and Mood Swings

When you face cravings, temptation, or bleak thoughts, remind yourself of all that you have to lose. You might break trust in relationships that you just started to make progress in, or lose the job that is sustaining you financially. One key component to assist with this, SAMSHA says, is an empathetic counselor who can help you not only remain in treatment but lower your substance use. Studies show that a counselor or treatment program that helps patients in strengthening their own motivation will increase their likelihood of commitment to a specific behavioral change plan. Internal motivators include our own feelings, desires, values, and goals for ourselves and our lives. Asking yourself questions like these helps to motivate you internally.

Some people suffering from addiction decide to enter recovery so they can live long enough to see their children grow up or make their parents proud. Some individuals just tire of living empty lives, hustling for their next fixes and hurting the people they love. Still others wake up to the realization that the visions they had of themselves are very different than the lives they’re living. This journey is solely yours and despite the fact that you may meet others who are battling with the same disorder, their experience is not your experience.

Opioid Use Disorder

For example, if you commit to a short-term plan of exercising for 30 minutes every day for seven days, by the end of the week, you’ll feel that much better emotionally and physically. You may have even lost some weight, if that’s one of your personal goals. In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Jen, a remarkable individual who, since May 15, 2022, has bravely battled her way out of the clutches of self-destruction. From a harrowing journey of drinking herself to the edge, Jen found the strength within to embark on a path of sobriety.

The people you reach out to might be able to help re-spark your motivation, but they’ll never be able to help if you don’t speak up when you’re in need. When you start your recovery with unrealistic or unreasonable expectations, you are bound to be disappointed. You didn’t destroy your life overnight, so you’re not going to be able to clean it up overnight, either. You took a meaningful step by putting down the substance, but there is still much work to be done. By doing these things, you are also creating a reward system for yourself.

How Do I Stay Motivated in the Difficult Phases of Early Recovery?

Addiction is a cunning disease that lures in its victims when they least expect it. One minute you think you have control over your life and the next minute you find yourself lying to the people you love the most – including yourself. Most of the time, addicts will start to struggle in their work-life, relationships, and all other responsibilities. A lot of people insist that the only way to participate and benefit from a community is to be physically involved in person. But we live in a post-covid world where online communities are thriving now more than ever before. Reddit, Discord, and Zoom all provide excellent platforms for communities to gather and support each other.

In response to the general question about motivation for maintaining sobriety, focus group participants emphasized many factors based on benefits and costs. For example, implementation of random and targeted urine screening, which could lead to eviction if positive for drug use, was viewed as an important motivator for keeping one’s sobriety. Many individuals enter https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/10-major-physical-signs-of-alcoholism-to-watch-out-for/ the SLH with few if any other viable housing options. Participants also noted that costs related to substance use prior to entering the SLH were important motivators. Comments included, “I think one of the big motivators too is when most got here [they were] broken up. “I’ve literally seen people come in here that look like they’re about two inches from dying”.

Accomplishing important goals, such as addiction recovery, is usually a lot easier when you have a support system in place. This can manifest differently for everyone, but in general, your support system should be a person or a group that you can rely on to provide encouragement as you work toward sobriety. With this in mind, it’s also important to set boundaries with people or situations that can pull you back into old, unhealthy habits. If you find it difficult to make new, sober friends, try joining a support group.

The main reason this aspect plays such a significant part in the recovery journeys of any recovering addict is that it helps fuel the change that must take place before other measures are set. Having the right mindset and drive is responsible for ensuring that every stage of recovery goes according to plan. From bringing oneself into the treatment center to staying clean after the final session, making a positive change to avoid substance abuse will always be paramount.

Early in your recovery and as you go along, you might find that one of the hardest things in your healing is the drive to stay sober, despite all of the motivators we’ve already discussed so far. Remember that addiction is a disease and a disorder, and healing doesn’t come overnight. Knowing this, mental health  professionals use motivational interviewing as a way to help you get ready for change by helping you overcome your fears about that change, and to help increase your motivation. This is probably the toughest thing you will ever have to do. But imagine how great you’ll feel every day that you’re successful. Consistent with studies of treatment entry for substance abuse problems,13 motivation to enter recovery homes was often viewed as a response to external pressure.

• But imagine how great you’ll feel every day that you’re successful.
• Make sure goals are measurable (How do you know how close you are to achieving it?) and specific (Can you clearly define when your goal will be met?).
• Accomplishing important goals, such as addiction recovery, is usually a lot easier when you have a support system in place.

Many factors can trigger relapse among people in recovery, including cravings, memories and stress. Fix your eyes on the prize—all the benefits of sobriety and health. You can end financial struggles, repair relationships with family members, get back to work, or simply regain self-confidence about yourself.

It can be easy to get caught up in everyday life’s busy routines, but if we don’t center ourselves and do things we enjoy, we can easily get overwhelmed and stressed out. Something as simple as reading, motivation for sobriety journaling, meditating, praying, or exercise can give you relief and meaning during your journey to recovery. Keeping a personal record of your thoughts and feelings can be inspiring in many ways.