Recovery is a lifelong process. Being able to monitor your progress is crucial for long-term maintenance. Just as treatment is an individual process, so is recovery. You will have to take the time to discover what works well for you and what does not. Such intentionality goes for relapse prevention techniques, continuing care options, and monitoring methods. Thankfully, possibilities are endless when it comes to recovery. If you are searching for ways to monitor your progress in recovery, we at NorthStar Transitions hope to offer you some good suggestions.
For individuals new to recovery, understand that treatment is the first step in a lifelong journey. Addiction is a treatable disorder. However, it is a chronic illness, and treatment is not a cure. That may be a hard pill for some people to swallow. Luckily, gathering a sober community and support system around you helps that pill go down more smoothly.
Additionally, relapse is sometimes a part of the recovery journey. The definition of relapse prevention has changed over time. So many people see relapse as a failure, but it does not have to be. How you handle relapse says more about your progress than the experience of relapse does.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), relapse is a “return to drug use after an attempt to stop.” NIDA states that relapse is common because of the chronic nature of addiction. More and more facilities are implementing relapse prevention into their treatment programs to combat the reality of this expectation. These programs focus on reducing the risk of relapse post-treatment. Effective monitoring techniques can also strengthen your relapse prevention program if implemented correctly.
In a sense, the way you handle a relapse is a way you can monitor your recovery progress. Relapse prevention looks different for everyone. Some people focus on specific activities to distract themselves from triggers, while others focus on implementing a specific regimen of weekly individual or group therapy sessions. The ability to assess, revise your prevention plan, and hop back on the recovery wagon after a relapse speaks volumes about how far you have come.
To effectively monitor your recovery progress, consider setting some goals. Setting goals is another common relapse prevention practice. In a nutshell, goals give you something to look forward to in your recovery. Additionally, they provide you with something to aim for and something to measure strides toward. For example, some may dream of starting their career. Others may want to go back to school. Still, others might want to start a family or be a better parent. There is no goal too big or too small. It is a goal worth having if it motivates you to maintain your recovery.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), goals should be “clear and rewarding.” Especially in early recovery, you do not want to set goals that are too difficult to achieve while you are still trying to get acquainted with your new life of recovery. Sometimes, it is the simple everyday goals that keep you moving forward. As you achieve these goals and move on to bigger ones, you will see the progress you are making. Not only does goal setting become a way to stay motivated in your recovery, but it also offers a method to monitor your progress as you continue.
In addition to relapse prevention techniques and setting goals, there are many other ways you can start monitoring your recovery progress.
It may seem cliché initially, but journaling is an excellent way to track your progress. For example, if you are exposed to a particular trigger, documenting how you responded to that trigger can either show your progress or indicate an opportunity for improvement. The more you journal, the more you can go back and recall how you were feeling in specific moments and see your progress unfold as you read.
Another way to monitor your progress is to check in regularly with your support network. For example, your family and friends should recognize your changes after treatment. They can then validate your progress. In addition, checking in with them may help you determine how well you are doing in recovery and whether or not there are additional relapse risks to consider.
Lastly, listening to your body is a great way to monitor your recovery progress. Have you started exercising or focusing on fitness since treatment? How have you been sleeping since being in recovery? Do you notice physical differences in your body when exposed to a trigger? Remember that being in recovery is new for your body. Adaptations in how it is affected can indicate your progress.
To monitor your recovery progress, you must first achieve sobriety. Treatment is possible. If you or someone you love needs addiction treatment, contact us today.
The more time spent in recovery, the easier it is to track your progress. Many challenges come with entering recovery. You have to reintegrate into everyday life and learn how to cope with a new set of challenges. These challenges can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, there are many ways to monitor your progress. You can set goals for yourself, try journaling, check in with your support network frequently, and learn to listen to your body. Just as your addiction journey is unique, so is your recovery journey. Find a monitoring method that works best for you. To learn more about monitoring your recovery progress, or to seek treatment, call (303) 558-6400 today.
