Setting Goals and Achieving Them in During Drug Treatment
A major portion of the therapy and counseling that is received in drug treatment programs is focused on setting achievable recovery goals and actually working towards achieving those goals. Unfortunately, addiction can make it difficult to achieve goals and likewise, setting unrealistic goals makes achieving the goals virtually impossible which leads to constant feelings of failure. Luckily, drug treatment centers and the qualified staff at these facilities are available to help you set goals and make sure you are on the correct path to achieve those goals throughout your drug treatment program.
Setting Goals in Drug Treatment
When you first get into drug treatment you may have very high expectations for yourself and there’s a chance that you will want to set goals that are unrealistic—this is not because you want to fail but because you want to succeed at recovery. Unfortunately, the high expectations can result in difficulty setting goals that are actually achievable and it may also result in your setting goals that are in the quite distant future. When setting goals in drug treatment you will learn how to set goals that are:
- realistic
- achievable
- short term
- long term
Your short term goals are those which you expect to achieve in the very near future and the long term goals are those which are likely to be achieved in a year, 2 years, 5 years or more. Short term goals should all lead up to the long term goal—it’s like taking baby steps. You’ve gotta learn to crawl before you learn to walk—this holds true in recovery too. Your counselor will help you to set achievable goals and make sure that those goals are on track for the long term purpose of your recovery.
When You Fall Off Track
Many recovering addicts think that if they fall off track or relapse along the way that all is lost. This is not true. When you are working toward your goals for recovery, make sure that you stick to your plan as best you can and, in the event that you should fall off track, pick up where you left off, analyze the goals to assure they are still on target for your long term goals and keep moving forward. Just because you relapse or have a problem along the way, minor setbacks are common when you are trying to achieve long term and short term goals and they do not mean that you can’t still reach your goal.
For more information about goal setting in drug treatment or for help finding a local drug treatment center that can provide you with the help and support you need to make a full recovery from addiction, call 1-888-461-2155 to speak with a Treatment Centers specialist today.