Sobriety Strategies: 13 Tips for Staying Sober

how to stay sober

We have compiled 15 tips on how to stay sober and live an addiction-free life. Conclusion for the Section Taking care of yourself is not a luxury; it’s a necessity, especially in recovery. Remember, prioritizing your well-being is the ultimate act of self-respect. Most people in recovery undergo at least one relapse, but you learn from each experience. As challenging as things may seem, remember you are not alone in your journey toward sobriety.

how to stay sober

Step 3: Find the Right Treatment Program

A trigger is anything that brings thoughts, memories, or feelings of addiction. To maintain lasting sobriety, it’s crucial to be able to identify objects, situations, places, and people that awaken your urges. When you know your addiction triggers, it’s best to avoid them as much as possible. It may mean avoiding bars, parties, and even old friends with whom you used those substances. Some triggers may be impossible to avoid, and you should speak to someone who will remind you of all the reasons you’re staying sober. Long-term recovery is possible with the right support.

Create Goals

how to stay sober

You may find that new friends are sober friends, and after recovering from a substance abuse disorder, people generally see life in a new, hopeful way. There is a correlation between poverty and substance abuse disorders and subsequent relapses. In addition, poverty increases stress, hopelessness, and low self-esteem. People in poverty also have decreased access to healthcare and social support systems. When weighing the heaviness of this reality on top of addiction recovery, it increases the chance of relapse.

Quest 2 Recovery’s Commitment

Schedule an exact time each day to internally check in. There will be days that are hard and on those days, you’re going to be thankful you scheduled time to check in and not feel overwhelmed. Regardless of a good or bad day, check in with your mind and body, how hard the day was, what some triggers you noticed were, and how you avoided them or lessened them. This is an integral part of the recovery process so that you constantly prepare yourself for more challenging days. You ever try to cut something out of your diet you ingest every day? Suffice to say, it’s difficult, but it can be an excellent way to help you stay sober.

how to stay sober

Tips for How to Stay Sober

By opening up to friends and family about your commitment to sobriety, you’re not only creating a supportive environment for yourself but also setting clear boundaries. Those who care about you will understand and respect your choices, making it easier to navigate social situations without feeling pressured or isolated. This research-based technique has been shown to support sobriety.

How can I politely decline an offer for a drink or drugs without revealing my recovery status?

how to stay sober

Once you start to reap the benefits of not drinking, it may be easier to opt for alternatives since your body may be feeling better without alcohol. Deciding to quit isn’t easy, but it’s a brave and commendable first step toward becoming sober. Staying sober requires a person to analyze the reasons why they were using the substance, identify their personal triggers for relapse, and avoid falling into a pattern of use again. One study found that 68% of people treated in a detox unit experienced moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. You can expect certain alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disruption to occur, though some people can experience seizures and other severe symptoms.

You will encounter difficulties in life, no matter how long you have been sober for. Recovery is a lifelong process that will have challenging moments. Support groups like Narcotics Anonymous also encourage you to get a sponsor and work through the steps as a way of maintaining your sober life. Sponsors help support https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you, and doing the steps help you to clear the wreckage of the past and give you knowledge of self, something that is incredibly important in staying sober. More likely than not, family members and close friends will be supportive of your recovery. Don’t be afraid to lean on them when times may seem tough.

how to stay sober

What’s the Point of Staying Sober?

So stay focused and consistent in achieving your goals of leading a happy sober life. And remember that the universe often assists those on the right path, and staying sober is always the right direction. But unfortunately, they did not and tips to stay sober continued with enabling behaviors. Furthermore, they didn’t recognize warning signs of substance use. Or how part of addiction treatment is treating the entire family. Loving yourself is essential if you’re going to maintain sobriety.

  • There are many enjoyable non-alcoholic options that you can choose from at parties.
  • Medical support can also wean you from certain substances slowly, helping the brain and body adjust to the loss of the substance more gradually and minimizing some withdrawal symptoms.
  • Together, we can navigate the path to a brighter, sober, and more fulfilling tomorrow.
  • Seth brings many years of professional experience working the front lines of addiction in both the government and privatized sectors.
  • Just be sure that your rewards don’t involve drugs or alcohol.

Tools for managing triggers may include the phone number of a support person, a comfort object, a calming mantra, and other healthy coping strategies. For alcohol use disorder, medications like naltrexone and acamprosate are evidence-based treatment options that may help patients reduce harmful drinking or achieve abstinence. The challenge of staying sober varies in intensity from person to person. For many people, staying sober is impossible without professional medical support.

  • The significance of knowing when and how to leave a situation recovery teaches us to understand our limits and boundaries.
  • Seek out support groups or organizations that share your interests and values.
  • We’re here to guide, support, and walk beside you every step of the way.
  • Some people use spending money as a way of not experiencing difficult thoughts and feelings.
  • You might also prefer to drink coffee, tea, a seltzer with fresh fruit, or a soda with fresh lemon or lime.
  • There are many resources offering support and ideas for sober socializing.