You have courageously taken the initial steps and stopped abusing drugs or alcohol. Now what? Everything has now changed. You might even think that your life will never be how it used to be before. Moreover, you might also be tempted to hide inside your house and avoid all kinds of social contact.
The new you will be extra super sensitive. However, instead of punishing yourself, you should take stock of this wreckage and look towards the future and what life will hold for you. That said, there will come times when you will fall off the ladder, and getting back on it might seem challenging. After all, staying sober isn’t an easy feat to achieve.
In the end, early recovery is a time of transition for you. And your chances of maintaining sobriety rest on your honesty and willingness to be open to different ideas. So, if you’ve recently given up an addictive behavior and want to stay on the course of recovery, then you have come to the right place. We’ll discuss some tips that will help you stay sober for the foreseeable future.
Table of Contents
Find support
Addiction, be it to drugs, alcohol, or prescription medicine, is a highly damaging habit. So, to rid yourself of this disease and stay sober, you will need constant support from recovery coaches, mentors, and support groups. However, a viable option is to seek out professional help on your path to sobriety.
Fortunately, outpatient programs are available for individuals who cannot commit to recovery in an inpatient or residential setting. You can carry out other responsibilities while ensuring that you don’t give in to this deteriorating habit again. Ultimately, it is all about finding something that works for you and allows you to stay away from addiction as best as you can.
Keep away from risky situations
Well, it is a no-brainer for an individual in recovery to stay ten feet away from someone who is known to abuse drugs or alcohol. Even if it requires taking a new route to work or keeping away from friends from your pre-recovery life. Cutting ties with your old life is key to staying sober.
Sure, you might get an urge sometimes to contact your old friends and catch up with them. It is understandable. However, it isn’t wise to do such a thing as peer pressure can hinder your pathway to recovery.
Manage your urges
While most urges will only last ten to thirty minutes, it can be a significant challenge to fight them off when you are in recovery. That said, you can always do a few things to counter your urges. For instance, whenever you desire to fall by the wayside, you can try a substitute like chewing gum.
Eventually, it is all about staying busy to distract yourself. Furthermore, you can also keep a journal and write down things that you’re grateful for or stuff that brings you joy and happiness. Then, when you experience tough times, you can revisit them, which will allow you to feel better.
Ensure that you stay physically active
Usually, during the recovery phase, you will go through a ton of emotions. Someday you will feel energized, while on others, you will feel sad, depressed, or anxious. Post-acute withdrawal typically lasts for a few months after quitting your drug of choice. Your dopamine levels will be at an all-time low during this stage. Consequently, it will take some time to get them back to optimum levels.
However, to speed up the process, you can always perform physical activities that you like. For instance, exercise can increase your dopamine levels and make you feel good, whether by hitting the gymnasium or going for a stroll in the park. Moreover, exercise also helps you sleep better at night. Not to mention, it gives your self-esteem a welcoming boost and reduces stress and anxiety.
Give back to the community
Doing whatever you can to be an influential part of your community is an easy way to rid yourself of your addiction and feel important. After all, there will always be that little noise in your mind that will keep on saying that you’re worthless.
So, giving back will allow you to harness feelings of value, belongings, and connection, ultimately increasing your self-worth and stimulating the feel-good chemistry inside your mind. Sharing your recovery story with others will be a perfect way to maintain sobriety.
Conclusion
The path to sobriety is a valuable endeavor that one must not give up on in any circumstances. However, it requires commitment, resilience, dedication, and honesty.
That said, the benefits you gain outweigh the work that is involved in maintaining it. Once you put in the work, your mind and body will thank you. Moreover, being sober will allow you to do what you always wanted to do and not resort to substances to solve your problems.
