Be mindful of asking someone else to grab you a drink. They may misunderstand you or forget that you don’t intend to drink alcohol. If you do accidentally take a sip of an alcoholic beverage, don’t panic. It’s only a sip, and it doesn’t mean you’ve relapsed—or that you should entertain the thought of relapsing now. When you take the opportunity to connect with others—to see, value and honor their experience—you exercise empathy. You exist outside of yourself, and you begin to notice all the blessings your life already contains.
In addition, you can set goals for yourself that could be daily or future goals. Sticking to routines and using them to help you achieve goals can help to distract you from alcohol as well as give new motivation to stay away from it. Find a friend or family member who would like to join you and get started. Set a few goals and watch yourself reap the rewards over time. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and can combat anxiety by releasing endorphins.
How To Stay Sober At Social Events
Since withdrawal can be dangerous, leading to risk of
seizure, stroke or death, it is best to consult a professional. It is not
advised to go through withdrawal without professional assistance. Professionals
can also take a more comprehensive look at the problem and find
underlying issues. They will also help formulate a plan to get you the help you
deserve and may need. So many of us have spent years pleasing others, only to drive ourselves deeper into addiction.
Remember to care for yourself, seek supportive relationships, and consider seeking help from a therapist. If these emotions become excessive, they can hold you back from recovery. If you are trying to maintain a sober lifestyle, those feelings can become toxic and contribute to relapse if you don’t deal with them properly. Now that you are sober, you may have discovered that some of your past relationships were not only unhealthy but downright toxic. It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse.
Don’t stress over discouraging statistics.
Instead, be present, look at the things around you and identify only facts. Say them out loud, what you’re wearing, where you’re sitting, what year it is, what city you live in, that the light is on, that the walls are blue, etc. Doing this can help stop rapid thought and bring you back to the present.
- You can try different meetings for the different groups to find one that’s right for you.
- Congratulations on becoming sober after your alcohol addiction rehab!
- Trying to stay sober isn’t something that lasts for just a year.
- Or you might rather spend time volunteering for a good cause, like an animal shelter or children’s hospital.
- Evaluating these habits or routines could reveal a smarter and easier way to avoid being drawn into using substances once more.
Staying sober is fun and incredibly rewarding, but these are 40 tips for the times when staying sober is easier said than done. One of the many ways addiction recovery therapies prepare you to lead a life free of substances is by arming you with positive self-care practices. Meditation is commonly taught, as it is a foundation for mental and emotional stability, as well as growth.
Recovery Coaching
Someone may ask you why you’re sober, whether it’s an old friend or family you don’t see often. Planning your response to these questions can help you along your recovery journey. For close friends or relatives, you can explain that substance misuse became a problem and you wanted a solution.
Think
about what you want to accomplish in the first week or first month. Then think about what you’re willing to do to
make it happen and what can you put in place to make sobriety happen. If you
want to stop drinking, your first goal may be to get rid of all the alcohol in
your house.
Find a Peer Support Group
While having a conversation with other people is ideal as they offer new insights and lines of thinking, talking your obstacles out loud to yourself doesn’t hurt either. Similar to getting a new job, another way you can fill your time is volunteering. Animal shelters, aquariums, homeless shelters or even AA meetings.
It’s okay to put your recovery first, stay a little vague and take care of yourself. Living with addiction takes the strength of a superhero, regardless of if you are the addict or the loved one. Throw a couple of kids into the mix, plus a pet or two, and you have a recipe for a super meltdown. Luckily, community agencies can help in situations like this.
There are a million different ways to give back, pay it forward and be of service, and each opportunity guides you further away from resentment, self-pity and fear. Asking a friend or family member to spend the evening sober with you can be incredibly powerful with helping you maintain your sobriety. If you’re resistant to the idea because you don’t want to “burden” your loved one, turn the situation around.
Many youth groups, colleges and community centers now offer sober holiday celebrations as a way for students and others to avoid binge drinking. In cities like New York, “Sober St. Patrick’s Day” events welcome those who want to celebrate Irish culture without a beer in hand. Some organizations host annual alcohol-free events at ice skating rinks or other venues where Irish dancing or arts and crafts are featured. Research local options such as these and share the information with your peers in recovery. You may find an annual sober event that becomes a new tradition where you can enjoy a fun, safe and festive atmosphere.
For someone in recovery sobriety often means lifelong abstinence. While lifelong abstinence is easier said than done, taking https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/13-actionable-tips-to-stay-sober-at-different-times/ the proper steps can go a long way on the road to recovery. This includes finding ways to prevent or limit any relapses.
You will want to stay away from these situations as best as possible. Taking a new way home or blocking these individuals’ phone numbers can help you reduce risk. When you first commit to recovery from substance abuse, it helps to view recovery as a process rather than an event.