Motivation!! How are you motivated to get and stay clean??

[JVegas50]

Hello everyone.  I wanted to post this because I think it will help everyone, especially the new people that are trying to beat their addiction.  I believe it will also help someone that has beat the initial part of the detox or recovery and maybe need some kind of motivation to keep going.  Motivation!!...That’s the theme of this question \ post.  As you know, I am in the middle of opiate detox and the only way I am going to beat it is by being motivated to be clean and healthy.  I’m  also personally really motivated by the money that I will be saving.  If you know my story, you know that my addiction is Oxycondone.  I purchased all of my pills off the street and it cost me on average $120 a day = $3600 a month = $43,200 a year.  So I have put a few numbers in front of me for motivation.  On my desk at work I have the number that I have spent on pills which is about $80,000.  Also, every single day that I’m clean I add $120 to the list and total it up.  In the past 3 weeks, I have already saved $1680.  These are tools for me to stay motivated to quit.  Another thing I have done to motivate myself... I made a list of all the reasons why my life will be better without pills or alcohol or whatever.  I made a list of about 15 things.  The first one for me is: I do not want to die from pills. Second: I will have a ton of extra cash, etc.  
Motivation is one of the main factors of getting clean and beating your addiction…even more so, actually staying clean.   I would appreciate it if everyone would share what worked for them. If you had a system or some tools that worked or if you have any ideas of things that will help people get and stay motivated.  

I think this can really help a lot of people.  Maybe something that helped you will be the thing that gets someone through detox or maybe it gets someone like myself to quit forever. It could make a huge impact on someones life.
Thank you to everyone that responds.

[BarbRTR]

I got mine from a dr for legit pain, so I can't claim money. But my reason is, they robbed me of me. Prior to pills, I was an emotional, passionate person, very social, did a lot for my kids, and I think I was a good friend to people. Well, I used three years, and that last year, I was depressed, withdrew from friends, simply read or did social networking, but not much outside the house. I lost all my motivation. The month before I quit was December. I love Christmas, and decorate excessively. This past year, I didn't even put up a tree. I have always been one to cry or laugh very hard at movies; etc.
Well, I was watching one I always cry, and it went off, and my kids said Mom, you're not crying, you always cry at this ending, what's wrong with you?

It hit me. I was emotionless. The pills stole my personality. And I found out, everyone had noticed, except me. I truly didn't see I was changing. And looking back, it truly did sneak up on me. My first two years using I was doing ok. They hadn't changed me. But them bam, almost overnight, they turned on me.

I wasn't living, I was exsisting. My kids were living with a stranger.. Me.
I decided I didn't want to quit living at 42. I'm not nessasrily talking about physical death. Just the death of me, of who I am. So, I wanted that girl back. I wrote down all the feelings of self loathing and self pity. I put post it notes up everywhere reminding me of good times I had prior to using. Trying to remember the days of natural happiness.

And when I started getting me back for myself; I was also able to give my kids back their Mom, and my friends back their friend.

Great post!!

[JVegas50]

Wendall.  I made it to day 4,  2 times in the past 3 weeks.  Each time, failing on day 4. This is my 3rd time trying to get thru the 1st week.  It is easier then the 1st week, that's for sure.  I think 3rd time is a charm and I'm confident that I'm going to beat this addiction down!  Thanks for asking.

[JVegas50]

Thanks for sharing.  100 days is great,,, I wish I was on day 100.  Good job!  It sounds like you have done it all.  At least you are coming out on the other side and not looking back.  You have plenty of clean years ahead of you!  

I need to find some NA meetings myself.  That is a proven method and people have been using it for years.  Thanks again for sharing.

[OxyTired]

One of my main motivations is that I do not want to go through detox again. I am 60 years old now, and I want to fully be awake for my remaining years. I have suffered through countless alcohol hangovers over the years, spent two years "coming back" from benzos and finally graduated to opiates for my finale.
I am sick to death of having substances rule my life. Each now day holds new promise for me, and part of my motivation is I want to clearly feel and see what is going without needing a substance to "make it better"
Each day I am clean motivates me to make the next day a clean day. I do not want to go back and start my recovery all over again. I think that going through that last crummy first week of detox is enough. The waves of panic, the nausea, the stomach cramps, etc.
I think about that week from time to time to remember why I do not want to go backwards.
My motivation is twofold. The joy of sobriety and freedom.
Secondly, my fear of losing that joy.
The demon has been with me since I first guzzled my dad's wine to get a buzz in the 8th grade. And though I am not afraid of him now, I want to maintain a healthy respect for the power of this demon.
Some people relapse and never make it back. That scares me and motivates me to use proven strategies-cutting sources, aftercare, daily program-in my personal battle.
Finally I feel motivated to win. Whatever it takes. 100 days or so clean. After a lifetime like mine, that seems like nothing. But these clean days are so precious. I want more of them.
That motivates me.

[WAwantsherlifeback]

Yes, my last pills were Wednesday afternoon and I took Thursday and Friday off cuz I thought I would need 4 or 5 days cuz I have weekends off too.. So today is day 6.. :):) And I am actually feeling VERY STRONG.. I pray this feeling stays cuz I NEVER want to go through those first 4 days ever ever ever ever ever again

[wendall2840]

I'm about where you were and I used to be such a great saver......now I have no savings.  Always out of money.  How long have you been clean.  I thought I remembered you detoxing this last weekend.  Are u feeling better.  You sure sound better.   Great job.  Thanks for the motivation.