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How to Maintain Sobriety

July 3, 2017

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Addiction can be an extremely difficult condition to overcome, but it is possible. It can be a long road for individuals to be able to first stop using drugs or alcohol, and it can feel like a monumental achievement when they do. But, there is more to recovery than simply ceasing to use the substance of choice, as it comes down to being able to maintain that recovery. Obviously, it would be desirable if there was a quick and easy solution to maintain recovery and handle the various emotions and difficulties that can come along after the completion of treatment. And while it can seem like a long and difficult road ahead, it is not a situation to despair about. Of course, there is no quick fix to maintain one’s recovery, but there are methods and actions that can help a person maintain sobriety.

Boredom: The Sobriety Killer

One largely beneficial method to maintain sobriety is to begin finding productive ways to occupy the time that was previously used for substances. Boredom and inactivity can be extremely detrimental to recovery. When a person finds themselves inactive and bored, they can begin to ruminate on times in the past that they had “fun” using substances. This could potentially lead them to consider using, and if continued long enough, they might actually relapse. A person could pick up a new hobby, continue their education, play a sport, exercise, or start a new job. All of these things can help them to better occupy their time.

Small Steps to Victory

Getting back into real world living can seem quite imposing when an individual is barely out of treatment. One way to help with this is to begin with small steps. One does not necessarily have to immediately look at what they will be doing with the rest of their life, as it can be easier to look at small goals that they can accomplish in the short term. This can help them to reintegrate back into day to day life, as well as bring a sense of achievement and motivation to continue with what they are doing. This could include writing down a plan of goals to achieve, as well as breaking down larger tasks into smaller and more comfortable actions.

Building a Support Network

A proper support network can be a big help in maintaining sobriety. This could the people that one has met in the recovery community, or friends and family that are supportive and encouraging of their recovery. This can also go in conjunction with occupying time, as one can spend time with those that they are close to, which is a better use of their time.

It is important to remember that recovery is different for everyone, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. While the above points are great methods to help maintain recovery, it is important to fit them to yourself and make them for work for you.

When Needing Help to Maintain Sobriety

For those who are still working to overcome their addiction in the first place, there is help available to maintain sobriety. There are many different treatment facilities and modalities that can help an individual to understand and break free of their addiction. Give us a call today and we will help find the best fit in a drug or alcohol addiction treatment center for you or your loved one.