Embracing Accountability as an Alumnus

Alumni in recovery have not only expressed a dedication to their sober goals but have also embraced many practices throughout dedicated treatment at Hawaii Island Recovery. However, there are always new stresses to face and challenges to overcome in sobriety. Recovery is an ongoing process and not something that is traditionally “completed,” but is instead a process from a person’s first step into inpatient alcohol treatment to continued outpatient support. Embracing accountability for each person’s actions in sobriety is paramount for continuing to focus on individual sober goals throughout continued recovery and taking pride in the accomplishments and milestones reached in sobriety. 

Embracing accountability is a crucial part of the recovery journey. Accountability encompasses a degree of responsibility for all of a person’s actions and behaviors throughout sobriety. Even alumni in recovery have to own the decisions they make and how they address any prevalent stresses, urges, cravings, and other challenges. While each individual may not be able to control how these stresses manifest, they are still accountable for how they react in the face of such stresses and how they employ various coping strategies as an alumnus. 

Embracing accountability is incredibly important throughout recovery. For some, adopting an accountability-focused mentality can inform how each person continues to develop sober coping strategies in outpatient care. If an individual does not feel accountable for their actions, it is possible that an individual may cease the development of new strategies, feel as if their own recovery journey is increasingly becoming more difficult to control, or feel as if they have a lack of agency over their continued success. These experiences can further inform feelings of depression and anxiety and can drastically increase the chance of relapse as an alumnus. 

Embracing accountability in recovery and the mindset that accompanies it is paramount throughout continued sober life, with each alumnus being able to better focus and overcome the challenges ahead. Some of the most beneficial elements of embracing accountability include:

Alumni, whether they have just graduated from a dedicated treatment program at Hawaii Island Recovery and are transitioning to outpatient care or who are continuing to celebrate their hard-earned sober life, can all benefit from effectively embracing accountability throughout their continued recovery journey. Finding personal strategies and techniques for focusing on this element of recovery can be paramount for an effective and sustainable sober journey. 

Goal-setting is a practiced skill for those continuing to navigate sober life. However, being able to set clear goals can be a massive boon for continued sober success. Utilizing the “SMART” goal-setting strategy can be a great approach to setting clear goals, with SMART being an acronym representing goals that are:

There are also strategies that each individual can use to better focus and structure their efforts in daily life. Using daily to-do lists, weekly goals, and more can all help those in recovery focus on immediate goals and needs that work towards a grander ambition. Likewise, these lists can empower those in recovery to measure what they are realistically capable of accomplishing, as well as recognize when certain goals were objectively not met and make personal adjustments to ensure they are able to accomplish such goals in the future. 

Supports are powerful allies along each step of the sober journey. However, they can also be great resources for embracing accountability in recovery. Maintaining effective communication with these supports can empower them to help by providing updates on a person’s progress. Having another person invested and keeping an individual accountable can prevent any self-destructive behaviors from impacting an otherwise successful and effective plan. It can also add new perspectives to overcome challenges and gauge actions.

Keeping a journal or other record of each stride made in each person’s sober efforts can be a truly transformative experience. For some, this can create a repository of motivational documents to see how far each person has come and the challenges already overcome, providing context and motivation to continue striving forward. 

Accountability and responsibility can feel intimidating, with many acting out of fear of the consequences of not accomplishing certain goals. However, accountability can also be the context for success and pride. Just as an individual is accountable for mistakes in their recovery journey, they are equally accountable for each milestone reached. Viewing accountability as a degree of agency and empowerment throughout recovery can recontextualize each step in sobriety and increase feelings of pride and accomplishment as an alumnus. 

Accountability is a crucial part of a truly effective and transformative recovery. Embracing accountability from the beginning of dedicated residential alcohol treatment in Hawaii to continuing to manage sobriety as an alumnus is crucial, both for increasing feelings of agency and honestly addressing and analyzing each individual’s needs and goals throughout recovery. We at Hawaii Island Recovery are committed to this kind of holistic change, championing the efforts of each alumnus to not only be accountable for their actions but also their successes and triumphs earned in their journey toward sober goals. Our approach to sustained sobriety involves not just proven therapeutic practices, but a community of healing and accountability. For more information, call us at (866) 390-5070.