Milestones in addiction recovery are achievements that mark your progress on the journey to sobriety. Identifying these milestones can be important because it can help you stay motivated, enhance self-esteem, and, overall, see how far you’ve come. Anything from your first 24 hours sober to 30 days or a specific event could be a milestone. So, what are 3 key milestones in recovery most people look out for? Let’s talk about it. At Entera Sober Living, we play an active role in your recovery journey. Our team is here to help you reach recovery milestones that pave the way for the rest of your life.
3 Key Milestones in Recovery
In reality, there are far more than three notable milestones in addiction recovery that are worth thinking about. Still, understanding some common examples of milestones people achieve during the recovery process can help you celebrate your own sobriety and how far you’ve come. Here are 3 key milestones in recovery to consider.
Acknowledging a Problem With Drugs and Alcohol
Often, acknowledging a problem with drugs and alcohol will be what marks the start of a person’s recovery journey. If you are in recovery, you can most likely look back and distinguish a point in time, or multiple points in time, where you became aware that substances were having a negative impact on your life. For example, you may have noticed health effects, problems at work, school, or at home, or other challenges, like legal and financial issues resulting from substance abuse.
Getting Sober (Initial Sobriety)
Getting sober (initial sobriety) is another major milestone that usually comes with a distinct timeframe. Often, this milestone is characterized by events such as going to an inpatient medical detox program to get through withdrawal symptoms. Alternatively, some people go through detox on an outpatient basis. After that, the early days of sobriety may be spent in an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab program, going to support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or accessing other recovery resources.
Maintaining Sobriety
Maintaining sobriety might not be marked by a specific date. Although, some people do have certain days or belongings that solidify this milestone. For example, if you’re in a 12-step program, you might get a one-year sobriety coin chip to commemorate a year of sustained abstinence.
How Sober Living Helps Clients Reach Recovery Milestones
Sober housing can help to support goals such as improvements in substance use, employment, and income. As for how sober living can help clients reach recovery milestones, here are just some of what Entera offers.
Life Coaching in Palm Springs
Life coaching in Palm Springs is a standout offering at Entera. Life-coaching sessions help our residents set and meet a wide range of goals. These can include, but aren’t limited to, goals related to work, confidence, interpersonal relationships, and navigating sobriety.
Holistically Integrated Program
Alongside life coaching, our holistically integrated program offers a range of resources that can help you reach recovery milestones, stay on a path that you are proud of, and find peace and healing as you overcome addiction. For example, nutritionist appointments, yoga, tai chi, and connections to outpatient partnerships in the area.
A Strong Community
In addiction recovery, social support is associated with positive outcomes such as increased treatment retention and a decreased likelihood of returning to drug use. Entera helps residents create a strong community through activities, events, and house meetings.
Alumni Program
Recovery doesn’t end when you leave sober housing. It’s essential to have continued support when challenges arise. Entera’s alumni program helps former residents by providing opportunities to stay in touch with other previous program participants and staff members.
Does Insurance Cover Sober Living?
Does insurance cover sober living? It can. Unlike many other sober living homes in the area, Entera accepts health insurance and other modes of payment. You can verify your insurance coverage for sober housing in California by calling our admissions line.
Call Entera to Reach Recovery Milestones in a Supportive Living Space
Entera is a luxury sober living facility in Palm Springs, California. We help people learn how to enjoy life in addiction recovery while gaining the skills they need to achieve lasting success as they heal from drug and alcohol abuse. Call Entera to reach recovery milestones in a supportive living space today at (760) 906-8327.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some other examples of key milestones in recovery?
Every person will have different addiction recovery milestones that stand out to them. With that in mind, other examples of key milestones in recovery might include:
- Moving into sober housing.
- Moving out of sober housing.
- Starting a new job or returning to work after getting sober.
- Celebrating your birthday, or a loved one’s (e.g., your child’s) birthday, for the first time after getting sober.
- Using a healthy coping skill instead of turning to drugs and alcohol when met with triggers.
All wins, no matter how small or large, matter.
How do AA and NA celebrate recovery milestones?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) members often celebrate recovery milestones through sobriety tokens. Every local group works differently. However, people in these programs may get chips for recovery milestones such as thirty days sober, sixty days sober, and ninety days sober. Chips are also available for every year of sobriety.
How does addiction therapy help with milestones in recovery?
Our outpatient partners provide evidence-based therapy for addiction. In therapy for addiction, you will meet and set goals with a mental health professional’s help. The goals you meet in therapy can often act as examples of possible recovery milestones. For example, if you are working on boundary setting in addiction recovery and you set or reinforce a boundary successfully, this could be considered a recovery milestone.
Therapists will often help you acknowledge the progress that you make as sessions continue. Additionally, if there is anything holding you back from meeting a specific goal or milestone, a therapist can help you explore why and find solutions.
What are some examples of ways to celebrate sobriety milestones?
People can commemorate sobriety milestones in various ways. Sober celebrations, spending time with family members and friends, setting aside time to self-reflect and take pride in your progress, or making a keepsake are some examples of how you might celebrate sobriety milestones.
