Drug abuse and alcohol addiction have caused over 932,000 deaths since 1999. Thankfully, there have been extensive efforts to make rehabilitation services more accessible in an attempt to reduce dependence in the US. A significant part of achieving this goal lies in preventing addiction and relapses. There are several guides on avoiding drugs, but we want to provide tips on how to stay sober.
The key to sobriety lies in conviction. You need to want to remain sober firmly. That doesn’t mean you won’t feel tempted because temptations will exist. It just means that you need to be vigilant in using the tools you’ve learned until drugs and alcohol no longer have the same pull on you.
This blog will provide some tips on staying sober after the initial recovery. Keep in mind, these tips are in addition to going to meetings, getting a sponsor, finding a home group, working the steps, and ultimately helping others in their recovery. These tips are NOT a replacement for the essentials just mentioned.
Tips for Staying Sober
The important thing is to remember that each person is different and responds to addiction differently. Some of the following tips might not be as effective as the rest, and that’s okay. As long as some tips are helpful, you have the foundation for resistance.
Below are the most effective tips on how to stay sober:
1. Create a Support Circle
You need a close-knit circle of team members to be with you through your challenges. They can be your friends or family or anyone you trust immensely. They will motivate and monitor you until you recover enough not to need their supervision.
Choose the people who know you and understand how to communicate with you. They shouldn’t be too overbearing, nor should they be so relaxed that they don’t detect changes in you. Thus, your circle needs to be reliable and full of people who care deeply about you.
2. Temporarily Avoid Friends you Drink With
We know cutting off from people you have enjoyed good times with is difficult, but this step is necessary. Make the difficult decision to stay away from the friends you usually drank alcohol with to avoid their presence triggering you.
This step is especially critical for people who have recently recovered because they are more sensitive to external stimuli. By extension, this step also means you must avoid parties with excessive focus on alcohol.
3. Build New Connections
Your social circle will require some obvious adjustments due to drinking restrictions, but treat this time as an opportunity. Make an effort to build new connections based on hobbies and interests outside drinking and substance use. Try getting into some entertaining activities with your new circles, too, to ensure you enjoy yourself.
The new friendships will encourage your healing, so always care for them and lean on them to keep your boredom at bay.
4. Organize Your Finances
Most recovering addicts face the same problem; their finances are severely out of place. So, track your savings and cash flow, and make plans to continue moving towards your betterment.
It might require some expertise if there are debt complications, so don’t hesitate to consult experts to get the best possible ideas.
5. Get a Job With Work-Life Balance
Getting a job should be top of your list because you will need income to support yourself. However, try to choose something that provides adequate responsibilities for money management.
Your goal should be to seek a place with a work-life balance. Stress is a major element you must avoid because it erodes your ability to withstand differing views. Recent recovery patients should especially avoid looking at pictures that may scare them.
6. Continue Therapy
Therapy isn’t a rehab-only solution. It extends well into routine life, providing the tools and guidance to help your mental health. You will have the option to go to the facility for treatment, but that might be further away from your town.
You can search for the best therapists near you, read reviews, ask within your circle, etc. Discussing your concerns can help you understand where the emotions come from.
7. Change Your Diet
Diet has a significant impact on your overall physical and mental health. Please change it to include more salads and similar foods. Add nutritious foods to your meal times to compensate for the food deficiencies during the matches.
The more nutritiously balanced a meal is, the better, and things might get even better now.
8. Become More Active
Exercising is a good way to remain entertained and remove boredom from your life. It will also help you improve your general health and boost your confidence, helping you take more responsibility.
9. Establish Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
Having a series of written down short-term goals is a critical part of how to stay sober. These goals will be a guiding light and help you stay occupied. Use the short-term goals for immediate validation, and keep you on a day-to-day basis.
Long-term goals are more complex and require more work for completion. They are advanced and can help you get the services you deserve.
10. Start Journaling
Journaling is an excellent way to keep track of your emotions and help you create a record of your sobriety. You can add motivational quotes and images with your friends and family. On a bad day, you can refer to the journal entries and remind yourself that you can keep up.
11. Celebrate Little Victories
Not every achievement has to be incredible in scale. Some people value the little things and create a culture of celebrating new achievements, big or small. It is a positive celebration approach, and we hope it will carry the spirit of the crowds.
Wrapping Up
Overall, the tips and tricks on how to stay sober include some pertinent data that will be helpful. Please consider this guide when making plans and adjustments after your initial recovery.
We would love to help you as much as possible and offer our services to make it happen.
