Simple Tips for Post-treatment Success

Recovery is an ongoing process with many milestones for people recovering from addiction. Sometimes it’s tough to know how to stay on the path to recovery and what steps to take when you feel like your progress has plateaued. Here are some tips for recovery that will help you stay on track and move forward even in those difficult times.

Stay Motivated

It is essential to stay motivated during your recovery process because you will better accept the ups and downs of the journey. If you find yourself struggling with motivation:

• Celebrate small victories: Celebrate your progress by focusing on milestones and accomplishments. Tracking your progress even weekly will help fuel your motivation.
• Attend recovery meetings: Recovery meetings provide support and accountability to those looking to remain sober. People share their experiences of strength and hope. Seeing and hearing others living sober will motivate and inspire you to do the same.
• Remember your purpose: As you progress in recovery, having a goal in mind makes all difference. If you feel discouraged, remember your ‘Why.’ What do you want to accomplish in life? Who or what matters in your life? Some find purpose in their relationships, volunteering or their career, or making a difference in their community. When you find your purpose, it helps you understand that you have the power to change things for the better. It also makes staying on the path to recovery much more plausible because your purpose will help you stay motivated and focused on what’s important to you.

Stay Consistent

Consistency is the key to achieving long-term results with any goal. Keep setting aside time and energy to focus on your progress. Relapses usually occur when people stop going to meetings, therapy, or actively working on recovery. However, it’s crucial to stay committed and keep moving forward with your treatment plan. Your treatment plan has to take center stage to maintain long-term recovery. Sobriety allows you to show up for yourself, your loved ones, and most importantly, your life.

We recommend putting yourself on a schedule for working on your recovery. That may mean meeting every day or working with a sponsor at least once a week. Setting something concrete will help keep you remain consistent and committed.

Stay Connected With Your Treatment Facility

One way to stay on the path of recovery is to keep yourself involved with your treatment facility. Participating in alumni events, aftercare programs, volunteering, and donating can help you maintain a connection to your treatment center and the people who helped you get sober.

If you feel like your progress has stalled, it can be helpful to return to them for help and guidance.

Adhere to the Relapse Prevention Plan

The relapse prevention plan is a life-long strategy that helps people maintain sobriety by avoiding triggers and taking preventive action in times of stress. A good plan includes:

• Identifying warning signs like triggers that may result in relapse.
• Making healthy choices like taking care of your physical needs, including sleep and nutrition.
• Staying connected with support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
• Following through on commitments made during treatment and after it has ended.
• Regularly checking in with sponsors or advisors.
• Avoiding engagement in risky behaviors.
• Managing any thoughts or feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness that may develop as you recover from addiction.

Learn More About Your Triggers

People struggling with SUD often experience triggers involving substances, locations, emotions, or others. Failure to manage triggers can lead to relapse. Subsequently, we suggest pinpointing your triggers early in your recovery. Have a plan ready to deal with a trigger. For instance, you could talk to someone you trust about your feelings and process the information to avoid a relapse.

Understand the Importance of Self-Care

Recovery takes time, energy, and commitment. Self-care provides the fuel to remain committed to this journey by offering the clarity and health to deal with recovery’s occasional stresses and challenges. With self-care practices like yoga or meditation, you’ll be able to start feeling more confident about yourself and the steps you are making in your recovery process. Here are some simple self-care practices:

• Take a break from social media (or limit how much time you spend on it).
• Plan out one day at a time to stay motivated.
• Exercise regularly.
• Practice mindfulness, such as meditating, yoga, praying, or journaling.
• Take care of your body by staying hydrated, practicing good hygiene, eating well, and getting plenty of sleep.
• Have fun with a hobby, spending time with friends, or another venture.

Affirmations for Recovery

Another way to keep yourself engaged in recovery is through affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that help support your thoughts and feelings by focusing on them instead of negative ones. They can also help give you clarity during the tough times with addiction and recovery. Examples of affirmations for recovery include: “I am proud of who I am” or “I am grateful for my progress.”

Find a Post-treatment Program That’s Right for You

Many treatment facilities provide a post-treatment or aftercare program to help you stay on track and keep your recovery moving forward. These programs often offer addiction counseling, relapse prevention, support groups, and therapy.

A good post-treatment program will help you immediately after treatment and your everyday life. The goal is to make sure that you can function at home, at work, and with your friends without significant risk of slipping back into old patterns or relapsing.

Reclaiming your life and living a sober lifestyle is an ongoing process. There will be setbacks and challenging moments, but you will find the strength to keep moving forward with these suggestions. You may feel overwhelmed or like giving up at times. Still, it’s important not to give in because there are so many good things waiting for you on the other side of sobriety that it will be worth all the hard work! Don’t give up on yourself; stay accountable; find support from people who have been through similar experiences as you; push yourself every day. People need a life that is supportive and encouraging to grow. For those struggling with SUD, Restoration Recovery Center offers a variety of treatment options to empower and support you through the recovery process. If you are ready to commit, see us at Restoration Recovery Center! Call 888-290-0925 for more information about our treatment program today.