The challenges presented by outpatient therapy are numerous, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Each phase has a number of hurdles to overcome, but every hurdle is an opportunity to gain a tangible sense of success. Structuring recovery not as a set of hurdles but instead as a set of opportunities for success can lead to a positive mindset about the process as a whole.
The change from inpatient to outpatient therapy also presents the best possible opportunity to begin reconstructing what real life will look like and can be a perfect portrait of how far someone has come with their path through recovery. Success is something to hold on to and remember, even when times seem grim or when new difficulties arise. Therefore, focusing on a number of different facets of real life – and what success looks like in each of them – is paramount in staying positive and motivated now that the agency is in the patient’s own hands.
A Chance to Put It All in Practice
Outpatient therapy is where learned life skills have an opportunity to be implemented in real life. Things like maintaining a safe and clean environment are up to each person as their living environment is now their own home. Keeping in contact with friends and support systems must be scheduled by the person themselves, and structuring life and balancing outpatient appointments also falls on the shoulders of the person attending. While it may seem like a towering wall of changes and uncertainty, there is a chance here to prove that these skills are learned and can be implemented effectively. Not only can this prove to loved ones the progress that has been made, but it can also prove to the individual that there is hope in their recovery. They are making a difference. Such an acknowledgment is a motivational tool that can be used to keep a positive outlook on the successes to come.
Success in Your Personal Life
Success in one’s personal life has many facets. For example, success can be meeting up with old friends while staying sober or getting through stressful situations without using drugs or alcohol. Success can also be acknowledging one’s own passions and goals and finding the path to achieve them in real life. In general terms, success is proving sobriety by living on one’s own without drinking or using for a set period of time or keeping up on the life skills that were instilled.
Personal life is one facet that is most malleable depending on the individual. Success on a personal level is inherently very internal, making it one of the most important areas to seek success. While personal success is the hardest to define, that’s because it is at the agency of each individual person. What does someone want out of their life? What makes them happy? And how can they achieve that goal without feeling the urge to drink or use drugs again? Personal success can be measured on a daily basis, or on a grand scale. Having a balance of daily goals, such as keeping to a schedule and accomplishing all chores and responsibilities that day, helps pave the way for the grander successes.
Success in Professional Life
Outpatient also allows someone to rejoin the workforce under their newfound sobriety. This can be a new job with a new mission or returning to a previously-decided career path. While personal success can be harder to identify, professional success is more easily measured. Proving success here is maintaining attendance at work on time, and doing the best that one can while they are there. Some people may be looking to change jobs to fit their new lives, and finding such employment is a huge success. Keeping sober is still key here, as going to work intoxicated or hungover is something that is undeniable. But it also provides the opportunity to express a newfound control and voice over workplace environments. Going to bars after work with colleagues is a common practice, and saying no to that kind of risk is something to be celebrated.
Positivity Begets Success
While defining success can be a difficult thing to do, developing the skills to see success in motion is very important. Creating a positive feeling about one’s own progress keeps them motivated to continue pursuing those personal goals they set for themselves and wanting to see their new jobs and social circles develop. Opportunities to prove the effectiveness of the strategies learned to one’s self and their loved ones are abound during outpatient therapy.If the challenges become tough, there is always still a support system that they helped develop themselves in meetings, group therapy, and individual therapy as well. Nobody is without help, nor is success a binary, graded as a pass-fail. Success is up to each person in what they want to do in life with their new sobriety – and it is up to them to decide what makes them happy.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and ready to take the first step, Lighthouse Recovery is available to help instill the skills and outlook necessary to begin a new, healthy life. A modernized take on the outpatient program champions the individual and uses each person’s own personal experiences, struggles, and success stories for the betterment of all. Working together, we can help you achieve lasting recovery. Call Lighthouse today at (214) 396-0259.
Learn more about our services or contact us below to discover how Lighthouse can help you on your road to recovery today. Thank you for your trust.
