Motivation For Change: The Stages Of Change Model

Motivation must be understood as a collection of factors that influence change and behavior. Firstly, it’s important to see that we only truly require motivation when the objective is to change. It takes more energy to do something differently than it does to follow the status quo – mentally-speaking, motivation is a reason for us to deviate from https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the norm. During addiction, the continued use of drugs is the status quo – despite its destructiveness, the drug use itself allows a person to ignore the damage it does and focus on the chemical high it provides. The goal of obtaining and keeping motivation to recover is therefore linked to what intrinsically motivates you towards change.

For any endeavor to work, there must be some motivation behind the effort, and a recovery program is no different. Without motivation in the equation, you will feel labored and directionless. Although getting sober was probably not on your agenda, once you channel the inspiration you need to remain sober, you will set yourself on the path of recovery. Motivation is essential for long-term sobriety, and here is what will happen with motivation as your guiding force in recovery. If you are looking for recovery support to help you on this journey, the team at Central Coast Treatment Center is here for you.

Ways to Stay Inspired on a Recovery Journey

Engaging in aftercare services is a critical component to recovery because 40 to 60 percent of people who complete treatment experience relapse. Finding motivation to achieve and maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol is a critical first step to getting sober. The inspiration to live a sober lifestyle can come from loved ones, from people in similar situations or simply from thinking about the consequences of substance use. Before entering treatment, individuals must commit to getting sober.

  • Motivation is often a great bonus that stays consistent as a result of building a disciplined mindset.
  • Thanks to the internet, you can find different videos and discussions hosted by former addicts who successfully conquered their battle with substance abuse.
  • Anything that comes before your recovery will be subject to be taken away again and again.
  • Setting goals and having “checkpoints” can keep you on track and give you rewarding feelings of accomplishment and progress toward a goal.
  • Individuals have more clarity, sleep improves, relationships begin to heal, and the days seem to get easier.

That is why we at SARC provide customizable residential and outpatient treatment programs tailored to ensure that every client has a safe, welcoming, and comfortable experience. In fact, we offer both evidence-based and holistic therapies, along with a 12-step program, paying close attention to the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. From detox to aftercare, our caring staff helps every client find motivation for addiction recovery. No matter how serious the condition, lifelong recovery from addiction is possible for everyone. However, finding motivation for change can be tough, especially when overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, and real-life obligations. So, if you or a loved one is struggling with finding motivation for addiction recovery, San Antonio Recovery Center’s motivational enhancement therapy can work wonders for your mental and physical health.

How a Growth Mindset Can Help You Beat Addiction

If you have unhealthy people in your life, your schedule can also help you to maintain your personal boundaries. It’s vital that you attend to what’s important and avoid putting your needs on the back burner for the sake of “helping” others. A schedule will ensure that you avoid distractions, meet your daily responsibilities, and remain focused on your sobriety. One can find meaning in spirituality through organized religions, AA/ NA groups, nature, music, groups of people, or an understanding of a higher power. Feeling connected to something bigger than yourself can help keep you motivated and accountable to continue your recovery journey. The motivation to enter treatment stems from a number of different places depending on the circumstances.

What may feel like a bad day, bad week, or bad month does not mean you have lost all the progress you’ve made. Every day in recovery is a step forward, no matter how small. It’s often said that recovery from addiction is a marathon, not a sprint. There is no easy trick to staying motivated, but some of the following strategies might help. To achieve satisfaction with our lives we must develop a sense of meaning and purpose.

The Importance of Motivation in Recovery

Motivational interviewing may be a beneficial tool to help these folks. These individuals will greatly benefit from professional and/or non-professional help. Every morning or evening, make the effort to write a list of five things you are grateful for during your new life of sobriety, or even just five positive things you can name about the day. Staying focused on the reasons sobriety is preferable to the alternative can help you reinvigorate your motivation to stay sober. Better yet, you’ll begin to see over time that even during the challenging times, there is always something to be thankful for during recovery. There are two distinct types of motivation— intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.

Where do we get the willpower to make a lasting life change when we’re struggling with substance abuse, depression, or other mental health issues? Finding and keeping the self-motivation to enter into and stay in recovery is vital to success. Carolina Center for Recovery is a state-licensed and CARF accredited substance abuse treatment facility. We are a dual-diagnosis facility with a primary focus on substance abuse, offering individualized, extended-term treatment in an intimate setting. Taking a holistic approach to treating addiction, our compassionate team at Carolina Center for Recovery understands how difficult recovery can be. That’s why our experienced team of addiction professionals offers our clients the best treatment, therapy, family programs, and alumni services possible.

It helps reduce stress because there are people who will listen without judgment and who can offer advice and support. You have more resources to deal with any problems that arise and you feel a greater sense of accountability. The last thing you’ll want to do is go to your 12-Step meeting and admit that you slipped up. That can be a powerful incentive to stay sober even when you don’t feel like it. This may be one reason people new to recovery are often advised to attend Step meetings in 90 days.

At what point do most people relapse?

An article in Psychology Today cites studies that show most relapses happen within the first 90 days of abstinence, which is why attending a rehab program lasting at least 3 months may be most beneficial.

Think about what you want to achieve and then plan ways to make it happen. Motivation can help people to strive to achieve their goals. For many individuals with drug or alcohol problems, motivational factors such as religion can inspire them to change their lives and avoid substance use. Substance abuse has a number of social, financial and health consequences. Drug or alcohol use can damage many aspects of life, causing people to feel hopeless and dejected.

Every different person you meet will provide you with their own tips for staying motivated. To combat these feelings, try to remove yourself from the triggering situation. If a song is playing, turn the radio off, if you get a text from an old motivation for sobriety friend with whom you used to use substances, consider blocking the number. Of course, not every trigger can be avoided but coping with your life being different can help you build a new life filled with less painful reminders from the past.

Is it normal to feel depressed in recovery?

In recovery, the depression may be a residual effect if it emerged second, or it may be the core disorder that needs to be managed with targeted long-term treatment. Being depressed after rehab can also be the natural result of having made a significant change in lifestyle.

Often an event, like a drug-induced temporary psychosis (i.e. bad trip), an overdose, or a severe hangover will motivate you to seek help. When the disease progresses, the pain of addiction itself and the subsequent suffering it causes can be determining factors for an individual entering rehab. Many factors can trigger relapse among people in recovery, including cravings, memories and stress. Purchasing drugs from a dealer or alcohol from a nearby store can become a financial burden over time. Spending money on these substances could cut into paying for rent or bills. -Don’t get overly discouraged on the days you want to give into disordered thoughts and behaviors.

Motivation Gives You the Desire to Change.

For example, the more I exercise because I know it is good for me, the more likely I am to feel motivated to do so because of the positive effects. Would you pair the word “discipline” with the words “controlling” or “intense”? As a self-identified Type B individual, my concern regarding the practice of healthy discipline in my life has been non-existent. That is, until I started working in substance use and mental health. Now I understand the need for small, impactful activities that build onto and into my values and goals.