Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge. Communicate openly about your needs and set boundaries around alcohol-related topics and behaviors. Request support in keeping alcohol out of sight and minimize talk about alcohol to maintain a positive and supportive environment for your sobriety journey. All in all, the sounds inside your sober home can add a meaningful dimension to your alcohol-free lifestyle. You’ll actually remember how the story ends and will be able to incorporate it into your evolving mental landscape.
What is a Typical Day in Drug Rehab Like
If what you’re doing doesn’t work, then you have to take massive action to change. You can take advice and seek out support, but ultimately you tips to stay sober need to be responsible for your own recovery. For your first few months sober, your only goal each day is to make it through without a drink. Breathing is a great way to give yourself something to focus on instead of your rapid thoughts.
Develop Healthy Routines
More often than not, people aren’t “out to get us” — but even if they’re supportive, they might still say triggering things. While getting alcohol out of the way is important, saying goodbye to the equipment that goes with it — especially if you used it during your drinking days — is also important. At the very least, it’s a good idea to put items such as wine glasses or martini shakers away somewhere you won’t run into them on a daily basis. Leaving them where they are can send your brain a subconscious message that you’re keeping these items “just in case” you might need them in the future. But as much as you’ve been trying to banish booze from your life, you feel like it’s still rearing its head in the one place where you should feel the safest — your home.
- If you used to go home after work and drink, you’ll need to make a new plan to occupy yourself.
- But understandably, it may not feel like it initially.
Find Your Sober Support System
Animal shelters, aquariums, homeless shelters or even AA meetings. There are plenty of altruistic organizations that are looking for volunteers. Put your time to good use and do something you feel https://ecosoberhouse.com/ passionate about. I’m trying to take care of myself, and you want me to take care of an animal?
- Establishing a structured routine is fundamental in the journey of recovery from addiction.
- These are some of the ways you can help to make your recovery easier.
- All decent addiction treatment programs will offer psychotherapy like CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to help you with this.
- Whether it’s a hike or a nice park, heading into nature is a good way to watch the natural world moving and slow down your thinking.
What’s the Point of Staying Sober?
It stops you from fidgeting or thinking of scenarios where you’d end up drinking. Stay calm, play some relaxing ambient noise, and be still. Again, staying sober isn’t a punishment, it’s a reward. But understandably, it may not feel like it initially. This is one of the reasons, the I Am Sober app focuses on celebrate your milestones, so you see the immediate reward as you build to longer and longer milestones.
What is Mental Illness?
BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Many 12-step programs have mastered celebrating sobriety. People who reach certain sober milestones receive pins or chips, acknowledging their achievements.
- Everyday, write down 5 things you’re grateful for that day.
- Experts make sobriety more achievable by offering valuable advice, holding you accountable to your goals, and helping you feel less isolated.
- Plus, some people must also manage mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or even another underlying medical condition.
- We are more than happy to help with any problems you may have regarding addiction.
- Neither this site nor anyone who answers the call receives a commission or fee dependent upon which treatment provider a visitor may ultimately choose.
Create an accountability and tracking system.
Tell them that you can’t drink, and enlist them as bodyguard. It will make the event easier for you, and will keep you from winding up in a relapse. If you can’t take someone with you, arrange to text or video chat with someone throughout the evening.
Powerful Strategies to Prevent Relapse and Maintain Long-Term Sobriety
Befriending others committed to living substance-free lives provides mutual understanding and encouragement during challenging times. Having someone to lean on during times of struggle can make the journey more manageable. Check out AA or SMART Recovery for sober support groups near you.