Finding Motivation in Addiction Recovery
Substance abuse disorder has a negative public perception, but it is a medical issue and should be treated as such. This negative perception is something I had to come to terms with when deciding to start my recovery journey. Fortunately, I had support and was not alone in walking this path.
I wanted to have success in recovery, but I kept slipping backward. I couldn’t lose motivation based on the setbacks. The recovery journey will always have ups and downs. Finding recovery motivation and setting goals were crucial to my sustained recovery.
Purpose Healing Center has helped me tremendously with finding myself and my motivation. I have a lot of gratitude for PHC. The community support I received while overcoming obstacles in my recovery was invaluable. The PHC treatment program has helped me find motivation in recovery and keep it. I have learned to set realistic and achievable goals that motivate me.
If you seek change, call Purpose Healing Centers. They can help you find the motivation for change in recovery like they did for me.
Maintaining Momentum in Recovery
Maintaining momentum in recovery is important for long-term success. In my experience, my biggest hurdle was losing momentum at the 90-day mark. I would leave the treatment program and lose the internal motivation that I had in those first 90 days.
The longer I have been clean and sober, the more external motivation for staying in recovery I gain. When I obtain a new car and a new apartment and have stronger relationships with my loved ones, I am not as willing to lose those things by relapsing. The longer I am clean, the more rewards I will gather, making me less likely to be willing to give it all away.
I realized that going to an addiction treatment program gave me a much better chance statistically to stay sober. A return to substance misuse was far less likely, having completed treatment. The treatment gave me the tools I needed to live a productive life in recovery.
As explained by a study published by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), individuals who choose not to seek treatment have a higher risk of relapse than those who participate in professional treatment. This shows that people are statistically more likely to have success in recovery when they go to treatment. I would suggest giving yourself the best possible odds by attending a treatment program.
Purpose Healing Center was able to help me find intrinsic motivation for change in recovery that has become lasting. By helping me take a look at my mental health, the recovery process has been a whole new experience with professional treatment.
Internal Motivators for Change in Recovery
Recovery is a journey, and it takes work to maintain. Sometimes, it takes some discomfort for me to make a change in my recovery. I have learned that when I start to have mental health issues, it is usually because I am not taking care of myself in some way.
Once I start to take care of myself again, usually through things like meditation and getting outside of myself by helping others, I feel much better. My anxiety and depression symptoms decreased tremendously. I can credit much of my mental well-being to spiritual principles and meditation.
Another example of my internal motivation is the personal values I have gained since becoming sober. I continue to stay motivated in my addiction recovery by understanding that every setback I had came from actions that went against my personal values and led me to relapse. When I do things that don’t line up with my values, it disturbs my mental well-being. This internal addiction recovery motivation plays a large role in my daily recovery plan.
External Motivations for Change in Recovery
Life in active addiction was a lonely life. I was constantly straddling the line between legal and illegal in my daily activities. Because of my illegal behavior, I had run-ins with the criminal justice system that forced me to make drastic changes.
I had to enter treatment and start working on my life. Instead of incarceration, I was sent to an inpatient treatment center. Purpose Healing Center shined a light on my internal motivators. The external ones were glaringly obvious. Recovery motivation wasn’t easy to find. Once the positive effects became more noticeable, it was easier to maintain, especially with my mental health. I started to do the work that changed my life.
How Substance Abuse Affects Mental Health
All substances affect the brain’s neurotransmitters. These control our mood, decision-making, and all cognitive functions. Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are all examples of known neurotransmitters. They affect everything we think, do, and feel.
Stimulants like amphetamines produce a rush of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine controls the reward system in our mind by making us feel good. Natural production stops because of this synthetic rush produced by the stimulant.
Studies on the National Library of Medicine website explain, “Cocaine and amphetamines both increase intrasynaptic dopamine levels, which significantly contribute to the reinforcing effects of psychostimulants. Cocaine- and methamphetamine-induced increases in extrasynaptic dopamine positively correlates with self-reports of euphoria in humans.” This explains that this rush of dopamine from stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines feels euphoric, which can quickly get a person hooked.
Alcohol affects the central nervous system, causing intoxication and depression. According to the National Library of Health, “The central nervous system (CNS) is the major target for adverse effects of alcohol and extensively promotes the development of a significant number of neurological diseases…” They explain the risk of mental illness from central nervous system depressants like alcohol. For those who struggle with alcohol abuse, it can take time for their brain to heal and return to normal function.
I have co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression, and learned firsthand that it works better to treat the substance abuse disorder and the mental disorder at once. Withdrawal symptoms can masquerade as mental health disorders. As such, it is important to seek treatment in a professional setting, where doctors determine whether you have underlying mental health issues.
There are also the social and environmental stressors that come with substance abuse. The lifestyles often accompanying drug abuse can put people in situations where trauma and abuse are prevalent. Suffering abuse due to substance use can also cause major mental health issues that can lead to permanent symptoms if left untreated.
Medication-Assisted Treatment Program
I quit using opiates with a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program. My quality of life got much better after switching from heroin to methadone. I was able to build a life that was worth living. It may not be the answer for everyone, but for me, it was the proverbial last house on the block. Fentanyl was becoming more prevalent, taking hot shot injections of fentanyl and heroin. My risk of overdose as a heroin addict was skyrocketing. From the day I started methadone, I never did heroin again.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a cure for my substance use disorder entirely, as my drug of choice changed from opiates like heroin to benzodiazepines like Xanax. Benzodiazepines were harder to recover from than heroin due to the incredibly dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Like alcohol, withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be deadly due to seizures.
I went to Purpose Healing Center to quit benzodiazepines. They helped me find motivation for change in recovery after completing the detox portion of treatment. By providing a support system, they helped me build up my confidence. They also helped me make a daily routine and set realistic and achievable goals. This extrinsic motivation that I couldn’t find alone helped me change my life.
Self-Care and the Driving Forces of a Healthier Lifestyle
Self-care is a very important aspect of my recovery. Practicing self-care is easy, but finding time to actually do it can be challenging. Doing anything you enjoy can be an example of practicing self-care. Anything that takes away stress and helps you decompress. Addiction recovery is usually a mix of many things coming together to change a life.
I exercise as part of my self-care. It gets me in shape physically and helps my mental health. I was very unhealthy when I was suffering from my substance use disorder mentally and physically. Now that I am in recovery and taking care of myself, I can see the changes in my physique and my mood.
Recovery is an ongoing process, and my life has already improved so much. Making positive habits helps me find intrinsic motivation. Celebrating milestones is a way I can track my progress to give me even more drive to improve. I strive to make each day better than the last.
Setting Realistic Goals and Avoiding Potential Setbacks
Realistic goals are important in self-improvement. I like to keep track of my progress to see how I have improved. Keeping track of progress helps me stay motivated. I will give myself small rewards for completing goals as an incentive to continue working hard. Celebrating milestones gives me more motivation than looking at consequences, as positive reinforcement works much better than negative reinforcement.
Addiction treatment at Purpose Healing Center has taught me so much about sources of motivation. I am grateful to find motivation daily and continue to improve.
Addiction Recovery is Attainable to Anyone
For those seeking addiction treatment, help is out there. Seeking help can be a bit overwhelming, but there are many resources to guide you on your journey. The mental health services administration in your area will provide many resources. Call Purpose Healing Center and speak with their intake department to find out what treatment options best fit your situation.
My new life began at Purpose Healing Center and has continued to thrive with the motivation for change in recovery that they gave me. If you or a loved one have any questions about their treatment center, you can give them a call today.
480-579-3319