Recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is a journey. Celebrating victories in treatment increases self-confidence, keeps people motivated, and empowers individuals in early recovery. According to the Journal of Substance Use, “Feeling heard, understood, and humanized contributed to successfully maintaining treatment.” West Coast Recovery Centers encourages clients to share their successes with the care team and peers during treatment. Celebrating victories with the care team, peers, and loved ones allows clients to voice their hopes and concerns about long-term recovery.
Making Long-Lasting Changes
Treatment programs are designed to provide people with the tools and skills to make lifelong positive changes to routines, behaviors, and thought patterns. Clients are guided through the process using recovery goals to monitor and mark progress.
Lifestyle changes are necessary to reduce the risk of relapse and replace maladaptive behaviors. However, sometimes, it can be difficult for people to recognize what areas in their lives may need improvement. Clinicians help clients set and implement goals. The care team regularly checks in to ensure clients receive the level of support they need to maintain recovery. Finding ways to continue healing and growing allows people to stay motivated while recovering from substance abuse.
Celebrating Victories and Staying Motivated During Treatment
Staying motivated is often one of the hardest challenges for people in early recovery. Many individuals go through treatment multiple times before successfully maintaining sobriety. Staying motivated ensures people continue actively engaging in their recovery and avoiding relapse. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “Setting and working to achieve goals as part of that roadmap helps people feel happier and more accomplished.” In addition, “Goals also provide focus as well as a measuring tool for progress.”
Staying motivated during treatment helps clients experience the following:
- Optimism about the future
- Consistent progress in meeting personal and recovery goals
- Increased engagement in treatment
- Improved skill development
- More effective treatment outcomes
People are more likely to remain committed to positive lifestyle changes if they feel motivated and inspired to continue progressing in recovery. Achieving goals improves self-efficacy and encourages people to pursue self-improvement. Celebrating even minor successes with others reveals how far a person has come in their recovery. Goal achievements often feel more meaningful when shared with others. Celebrating victories with peers and loved ones gives each milestone in recovery a more profound meaning and encourages continued positive changes.
Recognizing Personal Growth and Positive Changes
People may have difficulty recognizing personal growth. Gradual changes make it hard for people to spot the many differences in how they think, feel, and behave during treatment. Sometimes, it requires an outside perspective for people in recovery to truly recognize the progress they have made in personal growth. Sharing successes with others validates feelings of accomplishment and creates a greater sense of purpose. According to Frontiers in Psychology, “Research has found that people who report a higher sense of purpose have greater wellbeing.”
Clinicians at West Coast Recovery Centers help clients track their progress through regular check-ins. Clients and their care team collaborate to create treatment goals and celebrate together when those goals are successfully achieved. Many people use therapeutic tools like journalling to track their progress in recovery.
Setting SMART Goals During Treatment and Long-Term Recovery
SMART goals set realistic expectations. The acronym SMART stands for:
- S: Specific
- M: Measurable
- A: Achievable
- R: Relevant
- T: Time-bound
Using SMART goal criteria allows people in recovery to track their progress more accurately using personalized goals. According to the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, “87% of individuals receiving community-based alcohol treatment reported a preference for having and choosing their own goals.” Practicing goal setting during treatment makes it easier for people to create and achieve goals during continuing care.
How Does West Coast Recovery Centers Help Clients Celebrate Victories?
West Coast Recovery Centers helps clients celebrate victories during early recovery by validating client experiences and showing support for the positive changes people make. Treatment programs are highly structured and provide people with a safe space to explore personal growth and skill development.
The care team gives clients the opportunity and resources to do the following:
- Build resilience
- Strengthen social supports
- Establish healthy coping skills
- Practice regular self-care
Achieving goals is easier when people have the skills, tools, and motivation to focus on healing.
Celebrating Victories During Ongoing Recovery
Treatment programs allow people to celebrate victories with a care team and peers. During ongoing recovery, after clients complete treatment, they often benefit from creating routines for identifying and celebrating the achievement of personal, professional, and recovery goals. Some people may share their successes with loved ones, sober peers, or other people they interact with in their day-to-day lives. Social media platforms are often used to mark special occasions (e.g., six months sober). People in recovery have many options to choose from when deciding where and how to celebrate the positive changes in their lives.
Recovery from substance use disorder is not a straight path, and there is no immediate “cure.” Instead, people face setbacks and unexpected challenges. Staying motivated is essential in the early stages of treatment and continuing care. Tracking progress and celebrating victories during treatment helps people remain inspired and engaged in the treatment process. Clients in treatment share their successes and recovery milestones with the care team, friends, family, and peers. West Coast Recovery Centers encourages people to find healthy ways to mark and celebrate recovery progress. The care team helps clients set achievable goals and expectations for long-term recovery. To learn more about our programs and services, call us today at (760) 492-6509.