If someone refuses to honor your boundaries, then they’ve become toxic. Another effective boundary recovery tool is writing letters to those you need to set boundaries with because they remain in your life. The key to that tool being successful is writing from a place of grace while holding back any hint of disdain or antagonization. I’ve been seeing my therapist in person, but I’ve heard great things about virtual therapy. I can get up out of bed and function, and I was severely depressed before. Unfortunately, I lost both parents within a year last year, and I could not function.
Adopt Self-Care Routines
Develop coping skills to help you avoid drinking or using drugs in response. Because you don’t feel good about yourself, you may view everything you see, hear and experience, through the lens of shame, and low self-esteem. People will want to help you by giving advice or feedback. This isn’t an attack on you or a sign that you’re failing. To be successful in your new life, you must stop doing things your way. Surrendering self-will is crucial when recovering from addiction.
What Does Staying Sober Mean?
- Let’s explore stress management techniques and relaxation strategies that can aid in the process of staying sober.
- Sometimes loving yourself can be as simple as taking a shower or brushing your teeth.
- You take stock of the wreckage and look forward to the future.
- Make a list of loved ones and others who stood by your side when you struggled.
- This can boost your self-esteem and confidence, which are essential for a fulfilling life.
Some powerful tools include establishing a routine, turning to supportive loved ones, and managing triggers. For many, professional treatment is essential for achieving sobriety. If you or a loved one struggles to stay sober, remember that addiction is a physical and psychological issue. If you can’t avoid a trigger, have a plan in place.
Get High (On Exercise)
Practice speaking recovery affirmations to begin the positive influence of your mindset shift. Some people say affirmations in front of the mirror. I find this to be a vulnerable moment with myself. However, that is not necessary, provided that you’re saying them.
The more tools you have for identifying tips to stay sober triggers, coping with stress, and managing your new sober life, the easier you’ll prevent relapse. Here are some tips that experts recommend often. For most, detox is not enough to maintain sobriety.
Recognize the Warning Signs of a Relapse
Some people in recovery take different driving routes just to avoid their old haunts, like their favorite bar on the way home from work. If you’ve had hangouts where you drank, do yourself a favor, and steer clear of these places on your sobriety journey. Be wary of anything or anyone who causes negative thoughts, wears on your emotional state or triggers you. Consider inpatient or outpatient therapy options if you’re struggling emotionally with guilt or shame. It could be the missing link to staying sober.
Manage Physical Pain
Whether from loved ones or specific groups, sobriety support entails numerous advantages. Remember, you can get sober and you can stay clean, even if you happen to fall off the path. Here are a few quick tips to help you stay on the road toward long-term sobriety. Anger is a normal and natural emotion, but how you deal with it will make a difference in maintaining your recovery. The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful.
- Think about going to counseling or family therapy to help with that and to deal with other personal issues.
- Chronic alcohol use can impair your cognitive functions, affecting your memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
- Explore your options, and don’t give up on finding a source of help.
- It is not a weakness or a personal failure to ask for help with something as difficult as recovery.
- 2007 research shows that continued therapy significantly improves long-term sobriety rates.
- Support systems are also accountability systems, instilling a sense of responsibility toward oneself and others.
- You may find yourself leaning on your trusted support system a lot and breaking ties with those who do not aid you in your recovery.
Our experts have decades of experience helping people with all kinds of substance issues and can help you identify your personal triggers and warning signs. Although many people can stay sober without professional help, others find this professional level of support necessary in their recovery. It is especially true if they have alcohol use disorder (AUD) or substance use disorder (SUD). In 12-step programs, “sober” means abstaining from drugs and alcohol forever.
Many 12-step programs have mastered celebrating sobriety. People who reach certain sober milestones receive pins or chips, acknowledging their achievements. It’s important to acknowledge the effort it takes to stay sober.