Tips for Staying Clean and Sober
Once you or someone you care about completes a rehab program, maintaining sobriety beyond the inpatient treatment facility can be difficult. For some recovering addicts, returning back to an environment that may temp them to relapse is scary. Trying to stay clean and sober can turn into a long process for them.
An addicted brain can take months to heal from drug or alcohol abuse. With the help of social support programs like sober living houses, you or a loved one can have a better chance at staying clean and sober, and without the need to return to using harmful substances. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, drug and alcohol dependents that lack social support for sobriety are more vulnerable to relapse.
With the assistance of such programs and the tips below, sobriety can be successful for you or a loved one.
Essential Tips for Staying Clean and Sober
You can gain the confidence to have the ability to maintain sobriety with the support of programs like those that sober living provides, and by following the tips below, you can avoid relapse from occurring. Here are some tips to help you stay clean and sober:
- You can find a sponsor that can provide additional help and guidance when needed
- You can join a 12-step program and attend group meetings for extra support
- Stay in contact with someone in recovery that also wants to maintain their sobriety
- Take care of your health by eating nutritional meals and following an exercise plan
- Take on a new hobby or fun project that can be therapeutic and promotes healthy recovery
- Remove toxic relationships from your life that do nothing to support a healthy sober life
These are some ways to create a plan for staying clean and sober. It can be difficult, but it is not impossible. You must believe in yourself, and surround yourself with people that care about your goals to stay clean and sober. There is no good reason to fall back into old habits. Keeping yourself busy in a productive and fun way can ease the pressures of everyday life.
Other Ways to Stay Clean and Sober
Another way to stay sober while making a difference in the life of former addicts is to volunteer. There are programs that can allow you to volunteer and help others find the support they need to reach their own goals of sobriety. Just like you needed help and support earlier in your recovery, so do others. Watching others succeed with your assistance is a rewarding feeling. It can truly give you the power to stay clean and sober for life.
What Happens if I Relapse?
It can happen if you stray away from your plans. You must find deep within your heart to want to remain clean and sober for the rest of your life. Think of how much you can accomplish by living a healthy and sober life. Remember that falling back into the same old habits not only affect you, but the ones who have been there supporting you will be heart broken. Staying sober is achievable once you have a plan of action, and stay with it.