My Tips for Staying Sober in Early Recovery: Lessons Learned from St Patricks Day: Matthew Goldenberg, D.O.: Psychiatrist

Research shows that toxic relationships are damaging to recovery. Purge yourself of these, and don’t feel guilty about it. As you transition back into daily life from either inpatient or outpatient rehab, creating a solid network around you is key. Familiarizing yourself with the warning signs of a relapse can improve your chances of avoiding a slip-up. The editorial staff of DrugAbuse.com is comprised of addiction content experts from American Addiction Centers . Our editors and medical reviewers have over a decade of cumulative experience in medical content editing and have reviewed thousands of pages for accuracy and relevance. Our reviewers consistently monitor the latest research from SAMHSA, NIDA, and other reputable sources to provide our readers the most accurate content on the web.

• The moment you just say screw it and throw in the towel and pick your substance back up will be the beginning of the end of your life.
• However, if you give the card proper aftercare, put it into a soft sleeve and then a hard plastic case and wrap it up, the card will gain value.
• Put your time to good use and do something you feel passionate about.
• Our strategy has offered long-term sobriety for a number of our clients; despite this, many people have a hard time staying sober.
• Congratulations on being clean and serene, whether you’re on day one or day one thousand.

Say them out loud, what you’re wearing, where you’re sitting, what year it is, what city you live in, that the light is on, that the walls are blue, etc. Doing this can help stop rapid thought and bring you back to the present. There’s no shortage of hobbies and creative outlets. Some of the most creative tips to stay sober used artistic expression to showcase what they’re feeling. Don’t fear the struggles, let them out in a healthy way.

What Does it Mean to Be Sober?

Rehab will have provided you with ample opportunity to examine your friendships and relationships. Many relationships predicated on drink or drugs are unhealthy, often toxic. Spend time with family and friends who will support your recovery and provide positive reinforcement. 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.

If the question comes from someone you know well, you may want to say that drugs or alcohol became a problem for you, so you’re staying away from them. If you don’t know the person well, simply saying you have to get up early the next morning or you quit for health reasons should be enough. The ultimate goal in recovery is to abstain from substance abuse completely.

Ways Gratitude Can Help You Stay Sober

If a wedding is happening, but you’re worried about being surrounded by https://ecosoberhouse.com/, then politely decline to attend. Don’t be afraid to say no and take care of yourself. For example, if people at work invite you to go out to the grab a drink, it can help to have a pre-scripted response ready. You might call someone after you see a family member that makes you feel like a child again, or engage in a healthy activity or hobby if you run into someone from your days of drug abuse. In this way, staying sober can be supported by proper planning.

Talk with a sober friend or sponsor about the emotions and expectations you have surrounding the holidays. Often, talking through your feelings and concerns will help relieve anxiety. Graduating from rehab is no easy feat, and it’s one to be proud of, but if you’re struggling to adapt to the lack of intensive care and support, that’s okay, it’s completely normal.

Related to Substance Abuse and Addiction

Several peer support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous , are helpful during recovery journeys. While these are well-known, you can often find other support groups online or locate apps that help you build connections with other people.

If and when you slip, let it serve as a reminder of where you don’t want to be. Once you use again and the initial high wears off, there’s a good chance you’ll feel shame and guilt.

But for most people, staying sober isn’t that straightforward. The more strategies you learn to identify triggers, cope with stress, and manage your new sober life, the easier it is to prevent relapse. Many people that are in early recovery have a lot of baggage and skeletons in the closet. Maybe you caused a significant financial strain on the family or maybe your actions caused a breakup. If you are working a 12-step program, your 4th step can significantly help you and others gain closure on painful events in each other’s past caused by your addiction. Some try to prove that they have control over their addiction and don’t need any help. It is not a weakness or a personal failure to ask for help with something as difficult as recovery.