4 Obstacles Keeping You From Addiction Recovery
Oftentimes, we want to make a change but there is something holding us back. Many times, we blame those forces on something outside our control which sets us back.
We might blame our environment, our friends, or even something completely random.
For many, the last place to look is within.
Many gyms have a sign posted on mirrors that says “your biggest competitor is the person looking back at you.” That can also be the same in recovery. We are often our own barrier, detractor, and competitor.
When it comes to making lasting change, what are those inner obstacles that often hold us back?
Trying to Make Everyone Happy
It’s impossible to make everyone happy. Even if you hosted a free pizza party, there’d likely be someone that complained about the type of pizza you bought or where you bought it from.
C’mon, it’s free pizza.
During recovery, people often try to make sure that their recovery is meeting the standards or vision of acquaintances, friends, or family.
That’s a huge mistake.
While it’s great to try and please others and not be selfish, everyone is going to have varying opinions about what should be done and how it should be done. When you’re looking to make a change, you should be going about it by the way you believe is best. Don’t try to accomplish the impossible and fulfill what everyone should think to happen.
Waiting Until Everything is Perfect
One of the easiest excuses to make is saying that not everything is perfect. Either you’re not in the right spot or something else is interfering with your ideal timeline.
Sometimes, that’s OK, but more often than not those are just little excuses that keep you from achieving your ultimate goal of making a lasting change.
Or, you might be looking for something that will give you a guaranteed outcome of success. Don’t hold your breath, those instances rarely come!
Instead, take action now and be proactive on your own accord. Nothing is ever perfect so it’s best not to sit around waiting for the storybook ending to come around.
Not Seeking Support
At this point, you might be used to support. You have a group or a friend who’s been helping keep you accountable and on the right path.
It can be tempting to try to move away from your support area maybe say community the further along you get with your recovery and making a change.
Instead, make sure you’re keeping them involved in your life. You never know when or where you may face temptation and having a circle around you is the ideal way to keep everything focused.
Lack of Self-Confidence
This one is kind of a double-edged sword because for many, building up self-confidence isn’t exactly like flipping a switch on and off.
But lacking confidence is something that can immediately take you down at the beginning.
When your confidence drops, so does your self-esteem. Then,? You’re OK feeling sorry for yourself and have little motivation to get yourself out of your current situation.
This ties back into finding a support group. While self-confidence is much about the “self”, having others around you can definitely give you a boost of confidence and esteem to keep you on the right path.
Conclusion
You might be struggling with just one of these obstacles or all four. Whatever it is, know that you’ve made it this far, and conquering some of those obstacles is just part of the journey.
If you need help in your journey, reach out to us here at The Walker Center, and we can help you on your recovery journey.
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