motivation

Willingness

November 30, 2017 // by Aton Center

“Willingness” is an integral part of recovery. “Willingness” means that you are willing to open up, let go and try something you’ve never tried before. “Willingness” means going to meetings when you don’t feel like it. It means putting yourself to the side and trusting those who have your best interests at heart!

At AToN, we often ask our residents to try things they’ve never considered. This could be a support session with a loved one, trying an anti-craving medication, or even moving into a Sober Living Facility as the next step after discharge from AToN! We have found that residents who develop the characteristic of “willingness” become amazed by how things quickly change in their lives. Their outlook brightens and they become excited about recovery!

In your path on recovery, think about the ways you have been “willing”, and how did it serve you? In what ways have you been “unwilling?” How has that hindered you? I invite us all to examine ourselves in an effort to become more “willing” in or own lives.

Cassandra Cannon, Ph.D.
Clinical Director
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Maintaining Motivation

November 8, 2017 // by Aton Center

Residents at AToN Center are making major lifestyle changes. They “reset” their lives in a way – they stop drinking and using.

They learn new ways of communicating, thinking and caring for themselves. By the time they stand at their AToN Ceremony, they are essentially a new person! So how do you maintain those positive changes that you worked so hard for? Here are some helpful tips:

1. Remember the reasons you changed your life! They likely include your well being, health, family, educational/career aspirations and more! Check out the CBAs you completed within the first few days of your admission at AToN. You could probably add to them! Review and update these lists often!

2. Review your AToN Workbook and AToN Binder periodically. You will find new insights as you progress through your recovery, which will help you maintain motivation!

3. Make future plans – plans that you can only achieve while in recovery. I believe that joy comes from personal growth and progression. Sign up for a class, take up a new hobby – SMART Recovery’s Vital Absorbing Creative Interest (VACI) tool can assist you!

4. Share you goals and your progress with someone! That person can keep you accountable and cheer you on when you need it.

5. Play the tape through – this not only works as a relapse prevention tactic, but as a motivation builder. Think about what you will gain by maintaining your active recovery plan!

6. Be gentle with yourself! We all have ups and downs. Turn to your support group and reset goals if you need to. Look at what you learned as a way to rebuild and maintain momentum.

Remember to ask yourself these three questions: What do I want for my future? What am I currently doing to achieve that? How do I feel about what I’m currently doing? SMART Recovery’s “Three Questions” exercise can always assist in maintaining motivation. These questions will help you evaluate your goals and your progress.

Dr. Cassandra Cannon
Clinical Director

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Motivation for Sobriety

July 29, 2017 // by Aton Center

In the early stages of recovery it can be difficult to sort out your motivation for treatment. Your addiction may be like many others where social relationships have been severely affected and you are getting negative feedback from every direction. Your parents could be upset. Your spouse could be mad. Your kids could be sick of seeing you distant and hurting.

These relationships can be the start of your desire for sobriety. However, it is often very difficult to sustain this kind of external motivation over the long run. Being sober for friends and family is a noble pursuit but there is very likely to be the moment when you are by yourself, away from those relationships, and your addiction will start to call out to you.

It will say, “They will never find out. You’re not hurting anyone else. It will be just a few drinks. You deserve something for yourself.” My advice to fight back against these messages is to see the positive relationships as an extension of your internal dedication to recovery.

The ultimate battleground is between your two ears and the benefits of sobriety will come from focusing on strengthening your resolve and motivation to do the work that is necessary.

Chad K. Cox PsyD
AToN Center 888-535-1516

AToN Center’s 6 Foundations of Recovery

January 8, 2017 // by Aton Center

In an effort to eliminate the presence of self-destructive and maladaptive behaviors, we subscribe to these basic principles:

AToN Center’s 6 Foundations of Recovery:

1. Maintain motivation: AToN Center believes that motivation can be built rather than it needing to already exist prior to entering treatment. Building motivation makes a significant difference when facing the temptations to leave treatment, discontinue IOP, or cease going to meetings. Having the motivation to adhere to structure can assist in the prevention of relapse.

2. Cope with craving: Cravings will only last for a period of time and therefore, developing the capacity to wait through them contributes to experiencing cravings less frequently and less intensely.

3. Manage emotions: Emotional flooding is a trigger for relapse. Applying CBT principles like thought records assist clients in identifying irrational thought patterns and emotional responses. Utilizing these tools can assist clients in developing the ability to manage their emotions effectively.

4. Nurture healthy relationships: Assertiveness training and developing communication skills are important components of the recovery process. AToN Center encourages the building of relationships that will aide in our client’s recovery, while taking a hard look at the ones that aren’t. Solid relationships are helpful to a clients’ overall recovery.

5. Balance your life: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual components assist in maintaining recovery. Being out of balance contributes to relapse, and therefore it is important that clients recognize how to care for themselves in each of these areas.

6. Live with a higher purpose: Being of service and getting “out of self” allows clients the opportunity to give back, while also developing a sense of purpose and esteem.

AToN Center Addiction Treatment Center San Diego 888-535-1516

Keeping Up Motivation for Recovery

November 18, 2016 // by Aton Center

This weekend we at AToN Center participated in the Hero’s in Recovery 6K. It was amazing to see such great support from people in or who care about recovery. Working towards Breaking The Stigma is a passion of mine and I believe that extinguishing shame about being in recovery and having addiction is imperative to remaining sober.

Participating in the 6K allowed me to see it is not about competition for many of us, it is about keeping motivation. There really is no finish line and Recovery is a journey meant to keep the momentum as to enjoy long lasting freedom from addictive behaviors. I plan to continue moving forward for a better life, the healthy life I am privileged to foster, and the purpose of holding my head high with belief that another day of recovery is possible so long as I am willing to participate in what it takes!

Kristin Colton CATC II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Building Motivation for Continued Care

May 14, 2016 // by Aton Center

At AToN Center we begin building motivation the moment one enters the program. We look at many different circumstances of each individual in order to incorporate not only a unique individualized treatment plan but a solid discharge plan as well. As residents are here for only 30 days we need to begin right away to see what would be most helpful to sustain early recovery as they leave AToN Center and enter back into the world.

We understand that the first 90 days of sobriety is crucial and delicate and needs much attention in order to have success in recovery. We also work closely with resources for referrals in and out of the area to properly navigate a plan that will best fit an individual. We work hard at empowering our residents to explore and research options to develop a solid plan.

As our residents are getting ready to leave our program they have a better understanding of their needs as well as what is available for them to support their recovery. We also continue to work with our residents in our Aftercare program and are available when needed to help navigate some of the challenges as well as celebrate the successes along the way.

I am proud to be a part of such an amazing team that works so closely together with our residents to build motivation for continued maintenance of the hard work they put in here at AToN Center.

Kristin Colton CATC II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

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