Getting sober is a huge deal, especially in the beginning. Often for the first weeks, months, and even years, sobriety is at the forefront of our minds. However, life goes on and we can become distracted. Recovery is always important though, even if you’ve been in it for a long time.
You don’t have to think about your sobriety every waking moment, but it’s good to feel connected to your recovery program. When you find yourself losing interest in the things you do for your recovery, that doesn’t always mean you’re heading for a relapse—noticing it is a good first step. Then you can reevaluate your recovery plan and see if anything needs refining. We change a lot in recovery, and that can mean that what worked before can feel stale later.
Tips for Reconnecting to Recovery
Some people find it helpful to write sobriety-specific gratitude lists every so often. This can remind you why you’re sober, which can then motivate you to reconnect to your recovery program. You can also journal about the reasons you got sober in the first place—the negative things drinking or drug use brought to your life—and that can also be a motivator.
No matter what your recovery program looks like, interpersonal connection and support is important. Wherever you find that, whether it’s in support groups or through individual friendships, make sure you’re reaching out. The people who have seen you through sobriety are a helpful reminder of how far you’ve come, and feeling connected to others always helps your recovery.
If you don’t have a recovery community, you can look for local support groups or find sober community online. Even following sobriety accounts gives you little reminders on your feed that you’re part of a larger network of sober people. This can reinvigorate your recovery.
Setting goals has always helped me feel connected to my recovery in times when I’m stuck. It gives me something to work towards, which provides more forward momentum. Also, the things a lot of us want are difficult to achieve during active addiction; striving for those goals can help us feel thankful for our sobriety.
Above all, make sure you are taking care of yourself; when we are burnt out, exhausted or just feeling crappy from lack of self-care, it’s hard to feel motivated or excited about anything—including recovery. When we feel connected to our recovery program, we can really thrive.
If you are struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder, there is help and hope. TruHealing Centers offers high-quality treatment for addiction and mental health disorders in facilities across the country. Our staff—many of whom are in recovery themselves—will help you find the recovery plan that works best for you. Call an admissions specialist at 410-593-0005.