Recovery can seem like a lonely process, but for it to be truly successful, it should be anything but lonely. Rather, a recovering addict should work to surround themselves with a strong support network of friends, family and other recovering addicts who can help them resist cravings, overcome triggers, avoid relapse and, overall, show accountability for their actions. The importance of accountability in recovery cannot be overstated for a successful recovery journey.
Accountability as a whole
Accountability is important on multiple fronts. You can hold yourself accountable, of course — keeping track of your own actions, holding them up to your own expectations and working to keep yourself honest on important matters in your recovery journey.
But we’re all quite good at lying to ourselves and ignoring inconvenient facts when they get in the way of something we want. Personal accountability is a powerful tool when used well, especially if you’re good at actually sticking to it, but it’s often not enough, particularly with a troubling concern like addiction.
That’s why having others to hold you accountable is also important on your recovery journey. A dependable group of people who know what you’re dealing with, know the struggles you’ve faced and continue to face and know the expectations you have for yourself and your recovery can mean the difference between sobriety and relapse at times.
Accountability during recovery
How this accountability works can vary, not only for each recovering addict, but also for each addict’s various social groups. Your friends and family each know you in different ways, and each has different levels of intimacy and connections with you that can apply in different scenarios.
But there are others who can help keep you accountable, too, and support groups are one of the best ways to find that level of connection and accountability you need.
A recovering addict can usually find a support group in their local area with a little bit of searching and such groups can provide help in many ways. The recovering addict will find others who have struggle with substance abuse there who can offer their own experiences, give advice and moral support and help keep each accountable by sharing stories of success and failure alike.
Such groups often pair newly recovering addicts with more experienced ones, too, as a mentor figure who can share their own time and wisdom with the younger person. This mentor can be called on when the recovering addict feels most at risk due to cravings or other triggers and needs help remaining sober in the face of serious temptation. Calling on such a relationship can prove especially vital as a form of accountability.
How Good Landing can help
At Good Landing Recovery, accountability is an important concept that is emphasized as part of treatment and the early recovery process. Patients are impressed with the need for accountability in keeping them healthy and sober during their recovery journey.
With accountability in place, the recovering addict has a better chance of maintaining their sobriety and continuing their recovery journey. The importance of accountability in recovery is important and Good Landing can help you implement it in your own recovery process. Give them a call today.
