How do I get motivated after being through residential program?

I recently completed a residential recovery program. Now that I am home I am not motivated to begin to use the tools I learned. I plan a daily schedule but do not execute. Any tips suggestions are welcome.

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I commend you for reaching out here before you relapse. That’s something I almost never ever see. :+1:t2:

But you will relapse if you let this slide. Ofc the pull of normality, all the stressors and feelings of your life that you drank at will be right back there at home. The same pull to drink is still there. You haven’t changed yet. Now the work to slowly start to change yourself and your life around you must begin, slowly odaat.

However you do have the same motivation that made you go into rehab in the first place. Connect w your wishes that led you there and start putting in the work.

I surrounded myself w recovery 24/7 when I first got sober, listened and read every free minute of the day. There’s meetings and lots of stuff.

Here’s a comprehensive list of Resources for our recovery.

You have two options, the life you led or work for a better one. Get going!

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Welcome Nicole! :blush:
Glad you found us and you’re reaching out. Good for you for going through the residential program. Now put those tools into practice daily. I was told early on that if I wasn’t working on my recovery then I’m working on a relapse. What worked for me was forcing myself to do something recovery related every single day and it became natural. I’m 5 years in and still work it daily whether it’s a meeting, this forum or a podcast. Some days, I need all of it. I cannot stay sober today on yesterdays recovery.

Wishing you the best on your journey!

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Thanks for the kind words advice and encouragement. I have started to listen to podcasts since I posted. One day at a time is hard to wrap my head around since I’ve been home. I have an out patient program I am looking into tomorrow. I realized I need to continue to educate myself on what is happening. This is such a lifestyle change for me. Most days I am unsure of what to do. I get bursts of energy and try to take advantage of those moments. HALT is a tool that I will try to use. Saying this makes me feel like I will not do it. I will keep pushing through and care for myself.

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Great job realising you need to do more and stay connected to recovery. That what we all had to and have to do. It does not happen by itself or continue to run by itself after an initial effort.

How are you getting on now?

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Hello I appreciate the encouragement. I have been still struggling with my recovery and by the grace of God and I’m not sure how but I have managed to not drink. I have been starting to go to meetings again although I have only been to one since this post. I have been listening to podcast to get me through my day. I’ve been on here reading others stories which also seems to help
. feeling a sense of community which is important I realized to my recovery. I still feel like I am having some sort of problem with my identity. I’m sure of who I am as a sober person. I have not been sober this long since probably 2005. And that was because I was pregnant with my youngest son who is turning 30 20 this month. Thanks for checking in with me. It makes me feel validated and not alone. When someone understands how hard this is. I always hold back about sharing because I feel like I’m in this feeling sorry for myself stage. I just keep getting in my own way and find it difficult to stay positive at this time. Have a blessed the rest of your week.

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Really like hearing about the reading, the podcasts and the meeting (make that more meetings!). That is super good basis work, I did all these things.

About feeling sorry for yourself - so what? You’re allowed to feel sorry for yourself. Or not know who you are. Or feel angry or just about anything else. It’s all ok, it’s all not a problem. The only thing you’re not allowed to do is drink or give up on your recovery. You’re going to go through a lot of feelings and self discovery over the next few years if you stay sober, that’s your job now. It’s doesn’t make you drink, it’s not a danger in itself, but yeah, it’s often not comfortable. That’s why we say in recovery we gotta get comfortable being uncomfortable.

I’ve been sober and in psychotherapy since aug 19. I’ve come a long way and I’m still confronted w pain and sadness and disappointment at myself all the time. It’s normal. Life is complex. Learn to take the hard w the light. :slight_smile:

Keep going, you’re doing well. :zap:

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