10 Tips For Staying Sober

Once you do return to work, it’s important to create a budget and take steps to safeguard yourself as work stress can be a relapse trigger. People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money. If you were active in your addiction for a period of time, you may have developed financial problems.

I feel good as I’m writing in it and afterward. Prayer journaling is a healing practice and a spiritual release. Another effective boundary recovery tool is writing letters to those you need to set boundaries with because they remain in your life. The key to that tool being successful is writing from a place of grace while holding back any hint of disdain or antagonization. Once you get sober, you must establish your boundaries with relationships, environments, and things.

How to Stay Sober Using Journaling Methods

Similarly, as we experience achievement, acknowledging small wins keeps us motivated. Some people journal their sobriety milestones, while others track them on their phone or a calendar. While walking is a great way to get moving, adding other forms of exercise is great for those in recovery.

• Two hugely negative emotions that undoubtedly contribute to relapse is “shame” and “guilt”.
• Or it can be more elaborate if you thrive on structure, with time blocked off for self-care or activities to ensure boredom doesn’t sneak in and cause you to have cravings.
• Recovering addicts usually make the mistake of trying to replace their addiction with another habit in a way that can seem compulsive.

Remember, this is far from a complete list of triggers, so you may have to dive a bit deeper to recognize yours. By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. These calls are offered at no cost to you and with no obligation to enter into treatment.

How to Get Sober and What to Expect

The end result is a lot of sad, spoiled produce and takeout pizza. I never dreamed I’d be the type of person who had to start her day with some sort of exercise or movement. Well, I dreamt it, but I didn’t think I’d actually become that person. How you design and organize your day-to-day life will directly impact how you handle stress and find success in this world. My husband still drinks, but I don’t hang out with him very often when he does. All of my friends drink, but I don’t hang out with them when the objective of the social function is to get drunk.

• This can lead to horrible shit like self-sabotage.
• Relapses do happen so it is important to stay diligent and continue to aim toward your goal of sobriety every day.
• Many 12-step programs have mastered celebrating sobriety.
• That concludes my list of tips for staying sober.
• It’s not a denial of who you are or what you’ve done, but a celebration of who you are now and how far you’ve come.

Your intentions may be good, but it takes more than willpower to avoid having a relapse. For some people, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can help with staying sober. Certain medications may help you eliminate cravings and even reduce your desire for alcohol. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, it may be worth asking your doctor about medications like naltrexone, and approaches like the Sinclair Method (TSM). However, all of this is often easier said than done.

Supporting a Friend or Family Member on Their Sober Journey

However, when you spend time alone, you learn about yourself. A great deal of healing can occur if you spend time in the quiet instead of constantly filling your void tips to stay sober with noise. You get to decide what course you choose, but I highly recommend therapy for your mental health. Through therapy, I have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Staying sober is a journey that requires commitment, effort, and the right strategies. Start by identifying the triggers in your environment. Once you’ve identified these triggers, take steps to avoid them. Next, consider making physical changes to your living environment. This could be as simple as removing alcohol or drugs from your home, or as significant as moving to a new city or town. In order to rewire your brain away from alcohol, you’ll want to switch up your routine.