Don’t try to be a Perfectionist in your Recovery Journey

by Sam Walton Sr. Business Analyst

Many people in recovery keep putting off decisions to make change and this can happen throughout the recovery process, especially if you are aiming for perfectionism. For example, the 4^th step of the 12-step program may feel like a very big decision and you may begin to ask people how they began that step. This delay may keep you stuck at the previous step because there is no “right way” to begin the next step.

Fortunately, most people realize the only right time to begin is ‘now’. As mentioned earlier, there is no “exactly the right time” to change behaviors that are causing problems. You need to get out of your own way when you realize that the best time is ‘now’. It means you have moved from not excuses to acknowledgement and action.

Change requires action

Awareness is not equal to change. All the information and education alone can’t create change.

Change requires action.

You may recognize the need to change a behavior, such replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, as part of your treatment plan. This means they need to acknowledge the current thoughts, receive information about how negative thoughts may be contributing toyour problem, identify the thinking pattern, and decide to change your behavior. In addition to this, you need a plan with actionable steps to actually begin to replace each negative thought with a positive one, and then practice these thoughts until they become as automatic as the old self-defeating ones were.

Excuses

A person with an unwanted diagnosis may continue to look for ways to escape implementation of the plan. This may come as finding faults with the treatment team, or the treatment plan. The person may believe that if the treatment is wrong, the diagnosis could be wrong too.

If this person can find a “reason” to leave treatment, then the effort to change behaviors won’t be needed. For example, leaving treatment because the room temperature was, in their opinion, too warm. To continue the old behaviors, any “reason” will do. This may include issues with a group member, issues at home, or distractions.

When the person truly decides to change and becomes ready to act, these excuses are seen for what they really are. This is why recovery needs each person to keep an open mind and remain willing to change.

Perfectionism prevents change

Many people stop before they are able to make a change because they want to be able to do it perfectly. Remember that the only way to learn a new behavior is to practice it. It includes making a few mistakes, learning from that and doing it over.

Perfectionism is unreasonable. Patterns of behaviors, thoughts, reactions, and feelings need continuous practice if you want to change them.

If you are looking for one of the most trusted medical detox or drug and alcohol rehabs in San Diego, call Pacific Bay Recovery at 858-263-9700 right away and begin the path towards healing and taking charge of your life again.