The goal of obtaining and keeping motivation to recover is therefore linked to what intrinsically motivates you towards change. If you are seeking recovery because you personally want to obtain a better life and push through any mental health issues that have been holding you down, then you are intrinsically motivated. Once you find internal motivation, then the objective is learning how to hold on to this motivation even as the road gets rocky and your hope wavers. Furthermore, motivation gives a purpose and meaning in their journey. When someone knows why they want to stay sober, such as rebuilding relationships, achieving personal goals, or improving their health, they are more motivated.

• Also, recognizing the health effects of addiction can be a motivator.
• Intrinsic motivation, which stems from personal desires and a desire for positive change, is crucial in addiction recovery.
• Creating a reliable support system is vital when facing challenges and triggers.
• This knowledge can give individuals the tools they need to stay motivated.
• By taking the leap into recovery, you have already made the hardest move.

Psychological factors, such as the need for pleasure, stress relief, or coping with underlying emotional issues, can also contribute to the motivation for addiction. Additionally, social factors, such as peer pressure or environmental cues, can influence and reinforce addictive behaviors. One of the best things about getting sober is how quickly you start to see positive changes in your health and life,” Dr. Heinzerling says. Movement clearly has some potentially powerful impacts on recovery, but it's not uncommon for people to worry they're replacing one high with another, or becoming too reliant on exercise as a coping strategy.

What Is External Motivation?

Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) theorized that the change process is a journey through stages in which people typically think about behavior change, initiate behavior change, and maintain new behaviors. This model emerged from an examination of 18 psychological and behavioral theories about how change occurs, including components that compose a biopsychosocial recovery motivation framework for understanding addiction. In this sense, the model is “transtheoretical” (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1984). TTM is not the only SOC model, but it is the most widely researched (Connors et al., 2013). Many people with SUDs do not seek specialty addiction treatment but often enter the healthcare system through general medical settings.

Addiction can take a toll on physical and mental health, harming organs such as the brain, liver and lungs. It also increases the risk of chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease. Substance abuse weakens the immune system, making individuals more vulnerable to illnesses.

Quotes for finding strength during recovery

In many cases of substance use disorders, the abuse prolongs because of an inability to see a problem and to accept responsibility for any bad actions that come from this disorder. Having made that stride, the next step is finding the internal motivation to not quit and to keep fighting everyday for a better life. Feeling good and taking care of your mental health are huge factors in determining your motivation to recover. Once you begin to feel good in your own skin, your desire to steer back to substances will lessen overtime. Starting over is extremely scary and there will be times when you want nothing more than to go back to old habits.

This technique empowers individuals to discover their own reasons for change, enhancing their self-efficacy and confidence in the recovery process. While every individual is different, it is possible that some of your earlier associations were unhealthy or may have even compounded your substance use. In addition, your personal relationships with friends and loved ones likely suffered during your addiction. For example, addiction can be worsened by peer pressure (extrinsic motivation) or the need to pursue a pleasurable feeling (intrinsic motivation). Meanwhile, your success during recovery can be strengthened by developing relationships with others (extrinsic motivation) and by the desire to live a healthier, more productive life (intrinsic motivation). The key is to maintain the motivation to pursue recovery, outweighing your earlier motivations to remain dependent on your substance of choice.