Most people go through a period of decreased motivation at some point in their lifetime. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a sustained lack of motivation and increased use of substances can indicate the presence of a substance use disorder (SUD). For individuals with SUD, decreased motivation can interfere with their functioning. Therefore, if you feel ambivalent about treatment, you might need to find a new reason to change.
The healthy routines and skills you learn in treatment will not result in long-term recovery unless you feel compelled to follow through with them during continuing care. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Motivation is essential to substance use behavior change.” The dedicated care team at Newport Beach Recovery Center uses evidence-based therapies like motivational interviewing (MI) to help clients find healthy reasons to overcome ambivalence and embrace sobriety. Everyone has unique goals and motivations that help them engage in treatment. Your care team can assist you in identifying what works best for you.
How Motivation Impacts Long-Term Recovery
Healthy motivations allow you to heal and grow as a person. However, some people struggle to find reasons to change that last through long-term recovery. Setting realistic goals and using multiple incentives to strengthen your resolve will make it easier to overcome challenges. Strong motivation can affect long-term recovery in many ways, including:
- It provides a reason to work through difficult moments and maintain a positive attitude
- It gives you something specific to focus on during panic, anxiety, or depression episodes
- It lets you track your recovery progress, showing the many ways you have improved over time
Long-term recovery can feel overwhelming and pointless during moments of distress. However, finding a sustainable way to motivate yourself can make those difficult times more manageable by keeping your thoughts focused on moving forward.
The Effect of Motivation on Mental Health
Most individuals with SUD have co-occurring mental health disorders or symptoms like depression and anxiety that can interfere with their ability to cope with stressors. Your mental health will affect all areas of your life, including:
- Physical wellness
- Career, personal, and educational goals
- Emotional stability
- Peer relationships
- Ability to function day-to-day
A lack of motivation can lead to low self-esteem, clinical depression, and other mental health issues that will interfere with your ability to function. Newport Beach Recovery Center teaches essential coping skills to help clients gain self-confidence and build self-efficacy. As a result, we can help you find the motivation to engage you in treatment and long-term recovery.
Common Motivations for People in Recovery
Individuals in long-term recovery often choose to motivate themselves by thinking about how positive lifestyle changes will improve specific areas of their life. Some of the most common motivations for people in recovery include:
- The idea of reuniting with loved ones and repairing damaged relationships
- Making amends for past behaviors
- A desire to become more physically fit
- Specific career or education goals
- Wanting to become a better functioning member of society
Some motivations do not require you to achieve a particular goal and instead focus on things you already have and want to protect, including:
- A supportive and loving family
- A strong support system
- A respected and enjoyable job
Motivations are highly personalized and can change over time. The adaptability of most incentives makes them an excellent subject for individual and group therapy. The fluid nature of motivation allows you to adjust your focus as needed to achieve recovery goals. You can also benefit from having multiple motivations at one time. Individuals with a single all-encompassing reason for change may have difficulty adapting it to meet specific challenges. However, if you have several active motivations, you can switch between them as necessary during recovery.
How to Maintain Motivation
Every step forward you take in recovery adds to your successes and empowers further change. You can maintain the necessary motivation for ongoing recovery by doing the following:
- Conducting progress reviews to determine if you need to adjust your incentives and focus on achieving specific goals.
- Practicing regular self-care to stop yourself from experiencing “burnout.”
- Have realistic daily goals and celebrate each success to strengthen your motivation through positive reinforcement.
Do not be afraid to ask for help if you feel yourself falling back into old thought patterns or behaviors. Motivations require determination to continue moving forward. If your determination wavers, you can reach out for help by contacting someone in your support system, increasing the amount of time you spend in therapy, attending more support meetings, or using the alumni services offered at facilities like Newport Beach Recovery Center. We can help you continue to heal.
Most people in treatment go through a period where they feel uncertain or unmotivated to continue making progress in recovery. At Newport Beach Recovery Center, we use individual and group therapy to help clients create healthy incentives and realistic goals. Sustainable motivation makes it easier to make fundamental lifestyle changes during and after rehabilitation. Some people focus on their family, career, physical health, or education to keep them working through the challenges inherent in treatment. Knowing they have someone who believes in them or a specific reward they can achieve makes it easier for most people to feel confident about treatment and ongoing maintenance. We offer a wide range of therapeutic and alternative holistic methods to help clients overcome ambivalence and actively engage in healing. To learn more about the facility and programs we offer, call us today at (855) 316-8740 to speak with a representative.
