The process of recovery is an enigma unto itself. It can be very fickle. The individual in recovery may have a solid plan to go forward and stay sober, and yet will find that sometimes they are stuck. There is no way forward. This could be because they are caught in the daily grind, or bogged down with obligations and responsibilities. And it can happen regardless of how long the individual has been sober.
When the individual finds themselves to be stuck, they may start thinking about their substance abuse and how they miss the effects it provided. This is when there is a high chance of relapse. Going to the 12 Step support group can be a huge help at this time. The support group is a great motivator and has many tools for individuals in recovery, including motivational sayings. Let’s look at some of them here.
One Day At A Time
Easily the most well known and most common recovery quote, it is heard in support group meetings everywhere. Individuals in the early stages of recovery can find themselves overwhelmed and even frightened at the thought of never using alcohol or drugs again. This may divert their focus and the saying ‘one day at a time’ is meant for just these sorts of situations. It is to remind the individual that they only need to focus on and get through the present day.
HALT
Standing for Hunger, Anger, Loneliness and Tired, HALT is a familiar acronym for those individuals in recovery. These are four very powerful states of being, and can be the triggers that cause the individual to relapse. When the individual feels any of those emotions or states, they most likely feel the urge to use substances again to cope with what they’re feeling. Asking themselves questions like why do they feel the urge to use again, why are they angry and why they are reacting the way they are, will uncover the underlying reasons. Understanding the reasons is the key for the individual to be aware of their actions and stop harmful behavior.
Progress Not Perfection
Often individuals in recovery feel the need to be perfect. No matter how far they may have come in their journey to lasting sobriety, it may never be good enough. As a result, they set themselves up for failure, because of unrealistic expectations. Reminding themselves that recovery is a journey and not a race, and that small victories should be enjoyed can bring the individual back to their path, and continue taking small steps forward.
These are just a few of the motivational sayings the individual can repeat to themselves to stay focused on the path to sobriety.
Sustain Recovery offers gender separate, extended stay programs for adolescents. Contact us to find out how we can help your transition to sober living.
