Recovery can be an amazing time, often filled with immense growth and discovery. It is also a time when making the right choices and being diligent becomes essential. Relapse is a very real and potentially dangerous possibility. Many people experience relapse as a part of their recovery journey. However, remaining diligent can help you work through rough and challenging days to help you avoid relapse. You are capable of a healthy and successful recovery. Here are a few ideas for remaining diligent throughout your recovery.
Stay Connected to Loved Ones
Staying connected to your loved ones can be an essential part of your recovery journey. Everyone faces tough days. You will have days where you doubt your ability to not drink or use, question your purpose, and wonder if you can make it through a lifetime of recovery. It is at those moments and days where your support system can be extremely helpful to you. They will help you remember your worth, your goals, and how strong you are.
Maintain Your Goals
Always keep your goals in mind. Focus on what you are striving for. Some people may even consider making vision boards or writing their goals on posters and hanging them around their bedroom or another location where they will be visible. When you can keep your goals in your mind, you can consciously move towards achieving them.
Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal can help you remain diligent and focused on your mental health. Understanding your behavioral patterns, your triggers, and the boundaries you have in place will all help you to stay diligent and focused on your recovery. Write about how you feel every day, who you spend time with, or what has not been going well. Journaling creates a safe outlet where you can write about everything impacting you.
You may also find it beneficial to use your journal as a tool during therapy sessions. The more information you can talk to your therapist about, the better they will be able to help you. Talk to your therapist about what you are struggling with. Recovery is a lifelong process.
Know When to Ask For Help
Asking for help is essential, and knowing when you need support is critical to a successful recovery. You have not failed if you need help. On the contrary, asking for help is one way to put your mental health first.
Asking for help can look different for everyone. Take time to understand what helps you the most. Some may benefit from talking with a loved one. Others could benefit more from going and doing an activity with a friend. Use your therapist for support as well. They are there and ready to help you face your challenges.
Put Your Mental Health First
Being diligent means putting your mental health first. Addiction is incredibly powerful. You did the hard work of recognizing that you needed help, attending treatment, and working through your challenges. Now that you are in recovery, you need to be diligent about safeguarding your sobriety and your health, both physical and mental. You have to ensure your safety by making smart and healthy choices. Work with your therapist to learn the best skills and tools for your recovery journey.
Manage Your Triggers
Managing your triggers is a significant part of staying diligent in your recovery. As you grow and change, so will your triggers. What triggers you immediately after treatment will probably differ from what triggers you a year later or even ten years later. You will constantly need to analyze your triggers and understand how to manage them. Consider role-playing or practicing different scenarios. Feeling in control of your triggers is something you will want to master regardless of where you are in your recovery.
Share Your Story
For some people, sharing their recovery journey can help them remain diligent regarding their sobriety. Sharing your recovery journey can be beneficial in many different ways. Sharing your story can help you see how far you have come since entering treatment. Acknowledging your growth can help with self-esteem and confidence. Sharing your story can also help you to help others.
As you move through recovery, you can probably clearly remember how it felt to enter treatment. Think about what would have helped you to know. What do you wish someone had said to you? You have the opportunity now to share your story and help another person feel more hopeful or less scared. Consider sharing both the good and the bad. What came easy for you, and what was a complete struggle? When you share your entire experience, others will get to see what recovery looks like.
Remaining diligent through recovery is essential. Recovery is an amazing time filled with growth and exploration. However, it can also be filled with challenges and temptation. Learning to be diligent is key to success. Work on maintaining your sobriety and moving forward towards your goals. You may find that journaling helps you track your progress and look for behavioral patterns. Others may benefit from putting their mental health first and managing their triggers. Learn what helps you the most. Here at The Guest House, we understand that everyone is working through a unique journey of recovery. Your challenges are individual to you, and you will need to learn skills and tools to manage those struggles in a healthy way. We are here to help you learn more about your mental health. Call us today to learn more about how we can support you on your recovery journey at (855) 483-7800.