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
