Balance Factory

To avoid relapse and remain sober, it’s important to develop healthy relationships. Some of the immediate changes you will need to make will be obvious—like not hanging around the people that you used with or obtained drugs from. After all, you can’t hang around your drug dealer or old drinking buddies and expect to remain sober for very long. The more tools you have for identifying triggers, coping with stress, and managing your new sober life, the easier you’ll prevent relapse.

Find a support group to attend

Being a part of a support group can be one of the best ways to stay sober. Having peer support as part of your support network is helpful because it connects you with people going through the same journey. Many different addiction treatment programs exist, including family therapy groups, outpatient programs, and inpatient substance abuse treatment centers. In a time of uncertainty, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ confusion, and chaos, being a person in recovery from alcohol abuse or someone who has been trying to quit drinking can be uniquely challenging. For many of us, our routines, regular in-person sober meetings, and ways of staying connected in our community have been compromised. These in-person interactions are often the foundational backbone to our sobriety.

Choose a Therapy

Having one or multiple positive influences on your life can make all the difference when it comes to alcohol abuse. You may find yourself in a situation like a family gathering or hanging out with friends and alcohol is present. Others may be encouraging you to drink and don’t realize that you are aiming to stay sober. If you are afraid of not fitting in because you are not drinking along with others, non-alcoholic beer or cocktails are a great option.

• A big part of getting sober is plugging you into a new environment, detached from your usual acquaintances, and receiving constant guidance from trained professionals.
• Some studies find that this structure, along with a start date for sobriety and milestones, is important to some people in recovery.
• One of the most important things you can do to achieve sobriety is to recognize what triggers your drinking or drug use.
• Be wary of anything or anyone who causes negative thoughts, wears on your emotional state or triggers you.
• Especially in the early stages of recovery, undesignated time can lead to trouble.

Celebrate Sobriety Milestones

Whether it’s for health, relationship, financial, or any number of reasons, consider creating a list on your phone of the reasons why you want to get and stay sober. Set a reminder once or twice a day to look through your list and share it with a supportive person in your life if you feel comfortable. There are common setbacks to getting and staying sober like withdrawal, craving, and pressure to use. Relapse rates for substance use addictions are around 40% to 60%. Setbacks don’t erase progress, though, and they don’t mean you’ve “failed” to stay sober. Remaining sober over time is about much more than willpower.

Understanding the Importance of Staying Sober

In addition, the rush of natural endorphins triggers positive feelings in your body, similar to that of morphine. Now, I must say that I’ve experienced this high, and before I got to that perfect spot, I felt like I was going to throw up. However, tips to stay sober I prefer a once-a-week journal entry using gratitude journaling prompts. This practice centers my focus on the act of appreciation. And I spend more time absorbing the experience versus jotting three quick things down before walking out the door.

Many people try to quit addiction without help and realize that willpower is not enough to overcome addiction. Addiction recovery is tough work, and it’s not uncommon to experience slip-ups before achieving complete sobriety. You can celebrate your milestones with items, trips, and activities that resonate with your new way of life.

Seek out support from those who understand what you’re going through, and prioritize your own well-being. Look for activities and events that don’t revolve around alcohol or drugs, and be open to trying new things that align with your recovery goals. Being Open with Friends and Family About Your Journey Honesty can serve as a powerful shield in your recovery journey.

Create Structure in Your Life

What can I drink instead of alcohol at parties?

• The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful.
• It’s important to acknowledge the effort it takes to stay sober.
• As you build on your success, you can celebrate months and years of sober milestones.
• There’s a variety of meetup groups online and plenty of free events.