Recovery is a long, fulfilling journey that requires ongoing inspiration. In this blog you will learn some strategies to stay motivated in opioid addiction recovery.
Staying substance-free is a continuous journey filled with many ‘firsts’ and opportunities for personal growth. Each day in recovery, you are likely discovering new aspects of yourself and who you want to become. For many reasons, it is important to build strategies to stay motivated in addiction recovery. They will significantly aid in maintaining your focus on self-improvement and health. Such a foundation is crucial in keeping you on the path to recovery for the long term.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
— Walt Disney
How to Overcome Challenges During Long-Term Recovery
In the first year of recovery from opioid use disorder, you learn a lot of new things. Firstly, you discover much about yourself and your surroundings, including the best ways to interact with everything and everyone around you. You have probably learned to care for yourself in ways you may not have considered before. Things like focusing on finding balance in your life, self-care and future planning feel exciting.
Secondly, you have learned that recovery is not just about avoiding drugs. There will continually be recovery challenges that pop up. It is about making your life better as a whole and not having to use substances to deal with feelings. You can handle positive and negative feelings using the recovery tips you learned in counseling.
Overcoming challenges during your journey is an ongoing process. It will require learning strategies to stay motivated in addiction recovery for the long term. The first year is a fantastic milestone to celebrate! It is also a reminder that there will be many more years to come.
Top Strategies to Stay Motivated in Addiction Recovery
Those who stick to their recovery plan through the first year are more likely to stay the course. These individuals work every day to avoid relapse or the reoccurrence of substance misuse. Those most prone to relapse are those who have not built strong coping skills and a sense of self-efficacy. This is why the first year of recovery is crucial for many people after treatment. It is when you lay down the most important groundwork for your future. Here are some of our best recovery strategies:
Keep up with Recovery Maintenance
After a year in recovery, it is time to create an outline or a long-term plan for the future. Along with a written plan, speaking to your counselor is vital. They can advise on the best ways to continue setting recovery goals. The experienced and knowledgeable professionals at treatment centers understand long-term recovery and can refer you to someone who can help.
Continue to practice positive coping skills and exercises even a year into recovery. It is important to ensure you do not get too comfortable and start slipping into old habits and thought processes. This is essential to keeping relapse at bay. Continue to check in with yourself to ensure you are using all the tools you learned in counseling. Make it your goal to grow these skills and abilities.
Stay Active in the Recovery Community
After your first year of recovery, you may have returned to everyday life. You are maintaining a job and social life and may be participating in new hobbies. Be sure you are also still making time for therapy and support groups. You can make life-long friendships and connections with people in recovery.
The mutual support people in groups can provide for each other is essential to staying on the right path. These recovery peers are helpful because everyone in the group has a shared core goal: to succeed. Your friends outside of the recovery community can also uphold great support systems. Still, it always feels nice to have people who genuinely understand your previous struggles with addiction.
You have done the hard work in treatment by staying in recovery for the first year. Make sure you continue to thrive with the encouragement of others with whom you share a special bond. Sometimes, those people will be the best ones to give you solid advice when you need it most.
Keep a Journal
Writing down your thoughts, ideas, experiences, and anything else going through your head can be incredibly therapeutic. It is an essential habit for staying true to your recovery commitment. If you begin to think negatively or feel that you do not want to be alone with your thoughts, write them down! Not only will it feel good to get these thoughts out on paper, but it is helpful in overcoming triggers.
Journaling is also educational when you read previous entries from earlier in your recovery. This is a good way to notice patterns in your thought processes and see how far you have come. The journal is great for lists and writing down your daily schedule and your goals for the day.
Journaling your thoughts helps you use parts of your brain that may have been negatively affected by addiction. It is also helpful to learn more about yourself as you discover your new, drug-free self in recovery.
Continue Learning New Skills
One of the most impactful things to do during the first year of recovery is to begin challenging yourself! Learn a new life skill, hobby or talent. Now that you have done much self-exploration, it is time to continue and ramp up your self-improvement goals.
This could be something as simple as learning how to cook, or garden or something as fundamental as home maintenance. Everyone’s goals differ, but learning these life skills will help you feel accomplished and self-sufficient. Never again will you resort to feeling helpless or down on yourself. This phase of recovery is all about being your best self!
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
— C.S. Lewis
Stay Motivated in Addiction Recovery with MedMark Treatment Centers
The first year of treatment for opioid use disorder is often the most difficult. With commitment and a strong support system, long-term recovery is achievable. This milestone is something to be proud of, knowing it is just the beginning of your new life.
Should you need help starting or staying motivated in your addiction recovery journey, the caring professionals at MedMark are here for you. With individualized treatment plans, we provide the tools and support you need to take control of your life. Locate an office near you and contact us today to discuss your treatment options.
