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Warnock Personal Recovery Plan
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Personal Recovery Plan

Name: Murray Warnock                                                Date of RW Completion: 6/1/20

Current Phone #: 215.520.7016                        Email: murray.warnock@gmail.com

Please remember to check in with business office to complete Payment Agreement

 prior to completion of the program

  1.  What I Learned During Treatment
  1. Describe three areas of growth you have noticed or significant changes you have achieved while in treatment:


1. Better understanding of neurological basis for addiction and how that affects behavior, e.g. cravings (survival level brain function) able to overpower rational thinking, values, morals, promises (higher level brain function.)

2. Importance of involving others in my own recovery; importance of becoming involved in others’ recovery. I now recognize that on a neurological level my judgement regarding my own behavior has been impaired, perhaps permanently. It is important to develop trustworthy and intimate friendships in and out of recovery in which I can both reality-check my own thinking and to BE A FRIEND.

3. I have deeper understanding of the fact that with help, AND ONLY WITH HELP, I can avoid the first drink. However, once I have had a drink, it is entirely unpredictable where that will lead. My experience, especially after the past two years is that it will continue, without continued intervention, until my health literally fails. The last time I drank, within two weeks I could not eat or hold down water; I was too weak to walk. Just sitting up was an extreme effort and caused my respiration and heartbeat to skyrocket.

I have a relapse prevention plan to recognize thoughts and behaviors that have led to relapse in the past. I have identified interventions involving my sponsor, friends in recovery, and family that can halt this progression.

  1. What Insight have you gained regarding the reasons you used substances?
    Never “comfortable in own skin.” Intoxication initially removes discomfort, then removes self.
  2.  At this stage in recovery, what do you identify as “triggers”?

  1. Danger signs I’ve experienced that have pushed me onto “thin ice”?
  1. When I recognize these danger signs, what will I do differently than I have done in the past?
  1. Building Healthy Relationships and a Safe Environment
  1. How will I handle it if people I respect tell me they are concerned about my sobriety?


I recognize that my own judgement is impaired in this regard. I will take others’ assessment of my actions and plans with that in mind. I will share others’ concerns with sponsor, in meetings.

  1. What changes have I made in my personal relationships?  

I am less critical of others; concentrating on “keeping my side of the street clean.” I recognize that often, the things I find most objectionable in other people are things that I dislike about myself. I recognize that whenever I feel resentful or wronged, I have to examine my own role in the situation more closely.

  1. What changes do I still need to make?

I am no longer in contact with people who do not respect  my sobriety. I will be on guard for similar situations in the future.

  1. How am I going to handle social situations if I am around substances?

    This has never been a problem or trigger in the past. I don’t enjoy drinking socially. It’s very easy to say, “I don’t drink.” This was not a problem even as an active alcoholic. Even then, it was more pleasant to be sober than to drink a couple of beers or a glass of wine and than deal with the ensuing craving and obsession.
  2. What person(s) are actively engaged in your recovery?

    My parents in SLC, my brother in Denver, father in Idaho. My new Philadelphia sponsor (old AA friend.) My home group in Philadelphia, where I was active for years. Recovery Works current and former participants (both patients and therapists), some of whom I speak to nearly every day.
  3. In what ways am I going to improve myself?  How will I develop my positive qualities as well as gaining new ones?

How do I plan to use my spare time now that I am no longer being monitored?

How will I have fun? What are some of the things I use to do that I stopped during because of my substance use?

Contingent on physical recovery:

  1.  Living In Recovery
  1. What strategies might I use when struggles and obstacles come up?
  1. What are some of the ways I have managed/experienced with strong emotions that was constructive?
  1.  What are ways that I can increase my self-care?
  1.  What are signs that I need to take better care of myself?
  1. One of the hardest feelings for me to handle is, and this is how I plan to deal with it now:

Hopelessness

I have a way out of the life I was in. I have a plan to abandon my destructive life in Philadelphia and to restart nearer to family. The main challenge will be taking charge of the logistics of

disposing of my belongings and selling my condo. I have to let go of things that I value and, with clear eyes,  weigh what I am losing against the INEVITABLE AND PROVEN CERTAINTY of failing.  And then weigh both of these against the true hope and complete possibility of a simple, happy, sober, healthy  life.

  1. Aftercare Plans
  1. When do I plan to attend Aftercare?
  1. What additional outside groups do I plan to attend?

When back in SLC:

  1. How do I plan to strengthen my recovery plan as I transition into Aftercare?

  1. Medications
  1. My current Medications-