The Importance of Accountability
Accountability is understanding that your life decisions impact you and the people around you. You are responsible for your choices, every single one of them. However, substance use allows an escape from reality and responsibilities. Using drugs and alcohol to undermine responsibility can lead to feelings of depression and helplessness. It can also impact communication and social skills and create excuses related to self-denial. Maintaining accountability is a significant step in the process of recovery.
In recovery, accountability is directly related to responsibility. However, it is often more complicated than that because drugs or alcohol have created dysfunctional mental and physical patterns that may be difficult to break. Establishing accountability during recovery takes time and patience, as those in recovery may find it challenging to cultivate patience for themselves and keep their motivation on the benefits of recovery.
Create a Statement of Accountability
To help you learn accountability in recovery, you can create a statement of your accountability to yourself. Write it down so you may be reminded of it daily. A statement is a contract with yourself, in which you describe why you choose to be accountable, how you will be responsible for your actions, and what risks you may incur if you do not maintain this promise.
The decision to be accountable is a personal part of recovery that only the one struggling with addiction can make. Making a personal choice is an intimate and internal process. Keep your statement of accountability with you at all times, in your pocket, purse, or wallet, so you can refer to it in difficult times or share it with another in recovery.
Learn and Understand Your Triggers
Learning and understanding your triggers can help you create healthy coping strategies to handle them, should they arise. Triggers may include your moods, certain situations, or specific people; however, this does not mean you must avoid all situations–it is about recognizing the circumstances that may endanger your sobriety.
Utilize Technology
Using various apps or websites can help you maintain accountability. Smartphone applications and online support platforms create easy and economical ways to track your sobriety and stay connected to a support group. Online support groups and accountability circles become much easier to discover with the support of web-based applications and websites.
Find Someone Who Can Help
It is crucial to find someone to help you maintain accountability. This person can be a family member, close friend, or sponsor. Being responsible for your actions may require someone else to act as a sounding board or reflection of yourself. Having a sober support system with someone who supports your sobriety, your efforts to maintain recovery, who understands your story and struggles, and who is not an enabler is vital. When you feel triggered by a specific event, you should turn to this accountability partner rather than returning to substance use. They can help you deal with and overcome the harmful effects of isolation and secrecy during recovery.
You may also consider looking into professional help. At Hired Power, we can help you remain accountable in recovery. We can provide you with monitoring and an accountability partnership. Our monitoring program provides urine drug screening and breathalyzers to help you build accountability. We will also report to anyone on a release of information, such as parents, spouses, clinicians, doctors, or lawyers if requested.
Participate in Your Recovery
Whether it’s treatment or a 12-Step group, programs require consistent participation. Find individuals who you can relate to in these groups and who you trust will be honest with you. Along with an accountability partner, these people can be your sounding board as well. These people are most likely trying to discover accountability in their own recovery. By participating in support groups, you can meet new people and foster accountability together.
Celebrate Your Success
Even the small strides that you make on your road to recovery require celebration. If you use technology to monitor your progress, celebrate sobriety dates. Rejoice in your willpower of going to a social or work gathering and not drink alcohol. Having a tracking app in which you can physically see your progress can make your sobriety real and tangible while also allowing you to keep track of successes.
Share these successes with others, such as your accountability partner and your support system, whether speaking about your accomplishments at a -2 Step meeting or talking with a friend or family member. Sobriety and recovery is a lifelong process that requires continuous effort. Take pride in what you have accomplished and let other people celebrate you too!
Learning to be accountable in recovery from addiction is a valuable quality to have to help you maintain sobriety. No one can achieve success if they do not accept responsibility for their actions in that success. Establishing accountability during recovery takes time and patience. You may want to consider creating a statement of accountability, learning your triggers, using technology, finding someone to help, participating in support, and celebrating your success. However, if you are struggling with finding accountability in recovery, Hired Power can help. We can provide you with a Personal Recovery Assistant and monitoring program. Our monitoring program provides urine drug screening and breathalyzers to help you build accountability. Personal Recovery Assistants, known as sober companions, work with clients and their families to establish a daily living plan for continued sobriety and lasting recovery. Our Personal Recovery Assistants are encouraging and motivating; we positively reinforce healthy choices to build our clients’ confidence. For more information on our services, contact Hired Power today at (800) 910-9299.
