Starting a new life after addiction is much more challenging than we imagine. Getting sober is one thing but staying sober and continuing a successful life in sobriety needs discipline, willpower and more. One needs to overcome the symptoms of withdrawal and rise above the cravings and desires of that drink or drug. Addicts should strive to attain a state of balance and normality after a state of chaos and struggle. Stepping back into your work environment and resuming a normal lifestyle after spending months or years in the dark depths of addiction can be stressful; many addicts have described it as being pulled out of a lonely cave. You will need conviction, discipline and perseverance to sustain long-lasting sobriety.
If you have recently started the recovery process or are willing to get sober and want to achieve long-term sobriety, here are 10 Tips for Staying Sober you might want to follow to bolster your chances of living a new, wonderful, sober life.
The process of recovery is no quick fix; it is one that should continue for a lifetime, and all you need to do is start looking for help in the right places. If you or your loved one is suffering from alcoholism or addiction, or needs support while in recovery, call Level Up Lake Worth at 877-219-2888 or contact us online. Our staff will help you find the right treatment program that fits your needs and guides you to rebuild your life after addiction & alcoholism.
•Slow And Steady Wins The Race
You won’t achieve positive results every day. Some days, you’ll be down. Recovering addicts make the mistake of diving back into normal life with all the energy they have and try to take the bull by its horns only to fail miserably. You will experience times when you feel weak andthat is normal. You must remember, it takes time to overcome the mood swings, the old ways of thinking and the old desires. It is true that all of a sudden you might experience a surge of energy and would surely want to use all of it to live your life to the fullest. However, it is advisable to take it easy. The pace of life is going to be different than what you have put yourself through before, so take some time readjusting before you start splurging and overreaching.
•Making Up For Lost Time With Family & Friends
It is quite certain that your family members and friends would be more than happy to see a new and improved lifestyle in you. However, there’s good chance that you might have done questionable things or caused pain to your loved ones. It might not surface right away, as they are happy just to see you back,but the hurt might resurface later. Try finding ways to make up for lost time and redeem yourself by practicing honesty and generosity with them. Clear communication is important to build and maintain quality relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and even complete strangers. Keeping your mind open for meaningful communication can help you in recovery and managing emotions.
•Follow A Daily Routine
Keeping yourself active and disciplined is key. Establish a daily routine and keep it as simple as possible. Plan your therapy sessions and other essential group meetings towards recovery. Make plans for 12-step meetings & meet others in sobriety. Keep into account your job, school, your kids, family life, exercise and other errands that might need to be performed daily. Keeping in mind the adage, “Idle minds are the devil’s workshop”, it’s important to devote your time into productive and positive activities.
•Learn To Relax
One of the main reasons for the use of drugs and alcohol is to relieve tension or stress that people experience in their life; they want to decompress and feel good this very instant—they demand it. They want to escape the trauma and pain they might have experienced in life. We recommend that you perform activities that help you relax the mind as well as the body as a part of your daily routine, and there are many ways to relax. Yoga, Acupuncture, Sound therapy or a nice massage can bring you incredible relief. The main reasons why people don’t relax are because they think they’re too busy to relax or don’t have the time—we recommend people change this way of thinking and make time to relax anyway. In addition, the practice of meditation can provide as much relief from depression and anxiety as some medications—we find it incredibly effective.
•Find A New Job Or Activity
Financial well-being can make you feel comfortable and bring a sense of achievement. Working a full-time or part-time job based on your interests or qualifications can greatly help boost your confidence and mood. Even good spending habits can help build confidence in one’s self, achieve personal goals, and make amends that include repaying debts. Explore your options and make a positive shift in life by trying new things that don’t have anything to do with old activities which might lead back to drug use & drinking. Developing new hobbies are incredibly satisfying, when otherwise you might have spent all your time getting high or drunk. Now through exploring life sober, you will eventually come to find enjoyment in the new, simple pleasures of life.
•Find The Right Company
The old friends or groups of people you used to hang around in active addiction are simply not a good life choice now that you have embarked upon this journey of discovering your new life. We strongly recommend you find the company of people who will support your current pursuit. Your old drinking buddies or drug pals might seem to support your sobriety but will inevitably lead you back to your old lifestyle. No amount of sentimentality, nostalgia, or closeness can more important than your newfound sobriety if it is to remain a constant in your life.12-Step groups can also lead you to meet new people with similar interests, and building a life together as best friends, co-workers, or more. At Level Up Lake Worth, we have different addiction treatment programs that will benefit your need to find the right company as part of a 12- Step program.
•Eat Healthy – Balance Diet
Drug and alcohol abuse greatly affect the diet of those so afflicted. For many, the diet consists of junk or fast food items, as your health becomes a lower priority. The body is affected by whatever it consumes, and a lack of nutrition during the addiction period will leads to malnutrition. We recommend acomplete removal of junk or fast food, reduce the consumption of sugar and unhealthy fats and start eating healthy. You should include green vegetables, fruits, fish and lean meat. Try staying hydrated and reduce the intake of caffeine. Making a dietary shift is hard—the process takes time. Don’t expect an overnight miracle; the body will gradually respond to the new nutritional intake and you will notice it in your appearance, energy levels, immunity and the overall state of your health.
•Get Good Sleep
A well-rested body and mind are much healthier and alert. In active addiction, it is likely you were maintaining an erratic sleep cycle which is not conducive to good mental health and physical fitness, let alone sobriety. Living a nocturnal life—staying awake through the night and sleeping through the day or staying up for days without sleep and then crashing are a few of the common behavioraltraits of an addict. We recommend eight hours of sleep at night to let your body rest, and once you get into the rhythm of aneight-hour sleep pattern, you will find that it transcends into sharper mental health, higher energy, a positive mood, a decline in illness and a healthier body.
•Personal Grooming And Self Care
When you’re using drugs or alcohol you spend most of the time ignoring your hygiene and your true needs as a healthy human being. Addiction and alcoholismfoster personal neglect, but now is the time you should pamper yourself a bit. Make personal time to groom yourself and to do what you need to doto present your best self to the world.You will also feel a difference mentally. Treat yourself with a new pair of shoes or clothes to celebrate how far you’ve come. Make a practice each day to do something you miss doing while you were into addiction or alcoholism. Reward yourself with a lavish meal, or maybe take a relaxing day at the beach. Plan a hike or go on a weekend trip. Do what it takes to make yourself feel good without drugs. This is your new life; you deserve this.
•Goal Setting
The most important aspects of sobriety are peace of mind, happiness, and awareness of your goals (which should include long-term sobriety and how we will meet this goal). Finding a purpose for yourself is the best way to keep your sobriety intact. You should chalk up short-term and long-term plans to achieve your goals. When you are driven by something, it takes precedence over everything else; It has a domino effect on the way you operate. Soon, you will notice that all other aspects of your life—family, healthy habits, diet, sleep cycle, et al.will be in order. It will require effort, but you will end up being content and much more in control of your sobriety if you work with others and plan goals for yourself.
The process of recovery is no quick fix; it is one that should continue for a lifetime, and all you need to do is start looking for help in the right places. If you or your loved one is suffering from alcoholism or addiction or needs support staying sober while in recovery, call Level Up Lake Worth at 877-219-2888 or contact us online. Our staff will help you find the right treatment program that fits your needs and guides you to rebuild your life after addiction & alcoholism.