It’s the last day of 2020. Tonight lots of people put their lives into perspective and they try to figure out how they can improve in the New Year. A resolution is more of psychological thing for people. The turning of the calendar represents a fresh start and a fresh timeline. It allows people in the future to look back and say—I haven’t done (fill in the blank) since the end of last year. It also gives people strength when fighting their cravings because they haven’t ‘given in’.

For those who are fighting substance abuse and addiction, now is an excellent time to set goals for yourself. It’s important for addicts to remember that a lifestyle change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s important to use your support system and professional help. The treatment team at Seabrook can help anyone struggling with addiction to come up with a new year’s resolution and plan that will translate into real change.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that change happens in stages. To effectively move your plan into action, you have to be mentally prepared to commit yourself to the stages of the process and figure out how you’re going to accomplish your plan step by step. It’s also important to understand that relapse is common. Don’t just give up after the first slip because you’ll never change with that kind of attitude. Recovering from addiction on your own is very rare. It is highly suggested to go into a detoxification, rehabilitation, or therapy program. 

Finally, it’s important to reward yourself and keep your eye on the prize. Attach some kind of reward for each week or month that you’re sober or substance free. A reward system can help inspire you to stay relapse free and stick to your plan for recovery. If you need help with your plan, then Seabrook is here to help.