Recovery Motivation After Relapse

When it comes to addiction, relapse is when a person returns to drugs or alcohol after having been in recovery or having been sober. Although relapse is not inevitable, it is common for people in the early stages of addiction recovery. It can occur for a variety of reasons, and when it does, it can make the individual feel as if they’ve failed. But this isn’t the case at all. Relapse does not mean failure. It simply means you have to make some changes. The addiction experts at our Palm Beach County rehab are sharing some tips for finding recovery motivation after relapse.

Why Is Motivation Important in Addiction Recovery?

Motivation plays a crucial role in addiction recovery for several reasons:

• Initiates change: Motivation serves as the driving force behind the decision to change. In addiction recovery, individuals often face significant challenges and must commit to making profound lifestyle changes. Motivation is the spark that propels them to take the first steps toward recovery.
• Supports commitment: Recovery is a long-term process that requires ongoing commitment and effort. Motivation acts as the sustaining force that keeps individuals engaged in their recovery journey, especially during challenging times or setbacks.
• Facilitates goal setting: Motivation helps people set and pursue meaningful goals. These goals can range from short-term milestones, such as staying sober for a specific period, to long-term objectives, such as rebuilding relationships or pursuing an education or career.
• Strengthens resilience: Recovery often involves overcoming obstacles and managing cravings, triggers, and stressors. Individuals who have motivation for recovery are more resilient in the face of challenges, using setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as reasons to give up.
• Enhances treatment effectiveness: Motivation is a key factor in the success of addiction treatment. When individuals are motivated to change, they are more likely to actively participate in therapy, counseling, and other treatment modalities, which can significantly enhance treatment outcomes.
• Promotes positive lifestyle changes: Addiction recovery often involves adopting a healthier lifestyle. Motivated individuals are more likely to make positive changes, such as engaging in regular exercise, improving nutrition, and cultivating habits that contribute to overall well-being.
• Strengthens support systems: Motivation can drive individuals to seek and maintain strong support systems. Whether through therapy, support groups, or connections with family and friends, motivated individuals are more likely to surround themselves with positive influences that reinforce their commitment to recovery.
• Increases self-efficacy: Motivation contributes to an individual’s belief in their ability to achieve and maintain recovery. As motivation grows, so does self-efficacy, empowering individuals to navigate challenges and build confidence in their capacity to stay sober.

Ultimately, the key to a successful addiction recovery is motivation. It gives the drive and resolve required to start and maintain positive changes, get past challenges, and create a meaningful life while in recovery. Identifying, nurturing, and preserving motivation is a cornerstone of all-encompassing addiction treatment programs.

Addiction Recovery Motivation Tips 

Summing up the motivation for sobriety can be tough, to say the least. Lacking this drive to progress can cause problems for anyone trying to stay sober. Staying motivated in sobriety can be even more difficult when you relapse. This is a momentary dip back into old and dangerous habits. 

Not only can this be physically harmful, but it can also disrupt all the progress you have made. However, relapse doesn’t mean you can’t be sober again. Even if you have to go back to rehab for more drug or alcohol addiction treatment, this is merely a different route in a long journey. 

Below are a few recovery motivation tips that can get you back on your feet after a relapse.

Read books about addiction recovery

While there’s an abundance of online resources and mobile apps to aid in your recovery, nothing beats a good old book. There are plenty of books about motivation in recovery and relapse prevention that can help you stay on track while recovering from a relapse. 

Some of the best books for people who have relapsed include:

• 12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery: Avoiding Relapse Through Self-Awareness and Right Action
• Natural Rest for Addiction: A Radical Approach to Recovery Through Mindfulness and Awareness
• Alcohol: Top Ten Cravings Busters
• Rewired: A Bold New Approach to Addiction and Recovery
• Staying Sober: A Guide for Relapse Prevention- Based Upon the CENAPS Model of Treatment

If you don’t like to read, there are also plenty of audiobooks and podcasts on addiction recovery you can listen to on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Set realistic goals

You may have a set of goals in mind that you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s finding a new job or being able to complete certain tasks on your own. Whatever the task may be, write down realistic goals that you want to accomplish in the next year of your recovery. Break these goals down however you like, but make sure to write them down and keep track of them. Be sure to offer yourself some fun rewards. For example, did you find a new job? Host a dinner to celebrate with friends and family. Setting recovery goals for the future puts you in the mindset that you will still be in recovery in the future.

Keep a journal

You may have heard this countless times before, but journaling helps. It’s easy to forget past achievements as time passes. Putting your greatest struggles and achievements in recovery and after relapse can remind you of your progress. Reading back on the struggles you were going through before your relapse can also help you realize any preventative measures you may have to set in place.

Make life easy for your future self

Chaos can be overwhelming and stress-inducing. Stress is one of the most common relapse triggers for people in addiction recovery. Avoid unnecessary stress by making some changes. For example, lay out your clothes for work or school the night before. This takes away from the stress of having to pick out something to wear in a rush. Avoid procrastinating with schoolwork or tasks at your job. Your future self will thank you. These small preparations can make a huge difference. There’s nothing more “unmotivating” than stress.

Practice self-care

Self-love refers to caring about your well-being and happiness. It’s about holding yourself in high esteem and making the effort to take care of yourself. There’s no motivation to stay sober than self-love. A great way to put this into practice is by creating a self-care routine. Enjoy some bubble baths, go out for a daily walk, get your nails or hair done, and incorporate small things into your daily routine that give you the time to relax and decompress from life’s challenges.

Get help if you’re struggling

Learning how to stay motivated after a relapse is a process. If you’re still struggling to stay sober after a relapse, do not try to get through it on your own. Our drug rehab in Palm Beach County offers relapse prevention support that aids individuals who have experienced a relapse in recovery. This, along with 12-step programs like AA and NA, are all available to individuals in addiction recovery. Take advantage of these resources, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If you’re suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call Behavioral Health of The Palm Beaches now at 561-220-3981 or contact us online for more information about our addiction treatment and detox in Palm Beach County.