The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to get clean and sober from drugs or alcohol addiction. However, staying clean and sober is not an easy task as it is very easy to relapse. Statistics show that 80% of people who overcame addiction experienced at least one relapse.
Here are some of the things you could do to remain clean and stay on the path of sobriety.
Getting away from your old routine
It will be helpful for your recovery journey if you stay away from your old routine. Your old routine is one of the reasons you got into your alcohol or drug addiction in the first place. Some of the immediate changes you will need to undertake include, not hanging out at your previous places, keeping away from your former drug or drinking friends and removing any stashes of drugs or alcohol from your house. Even though you have decided to remain sober, you can easily slip back into your addiction if you keep to your old habits, including keeping old friends. It would be best if you begin building new relationships with people who will help you stay sober.
Get into a recovery center
Getting into a recovery center is a great way to get rid of your addiction. These centers are run by professional and experienced psychiatrists and therapists who will take you through a structured recovery program. In a recovery center, you will also be surrounding yourself with people like you who are facing the same struggles. You will be able to quickly learn how to ask for help, share your feelings, and learn how to take responsibility for your past actions. Recovery centers, foster a sense of community, which is highly beneficial for long term recovery. One of the best ways to remain clean and sober after leaving a recovery center is to join a sobriety support group in your area. Psychiatrists from Valley Recovery Center recommend that recovering addicts join support groups as this can significantly aid in their recovery journey in several ways. First, it will help them realize that they are not alone in the struggle to remain clean. Secondly, shared experiences of members will help in learning different coping strategies successfully used by peers.
Be active, exercise & create an activity routine
While recovering from an addiction, the best way to prevent yourself from sinking into thoughts that can trigger a relapse is to stay active. Being active will also help you keep your focus away from your previous habits while dealing with issues of lack of energy and motivation associated with recovering addicts. Psychiatrists recommend recovering addicts to be active by exercising for at least an hour or two every day. Take a walk daily, try out yoga, or even join dance classes. According to research, exercise will help in releasing chemicals in the brain that help improve your mood, increases energy levels, helps with sleep, and promotes a healthy appetite. Moreover, create an activity schedule of the activities you will undertake in the next few days and stick to it regardless of how you feel.
Sort your finances
Financial problems are one of the primary triggers for relapse. If you want to stay clean and sober, you will need to begin taking steps to resolve your finances. Getting a job is one way to deal with any financial issues as you will have a reliable source of income. If you are returning to your previous employer, your colleagues should be able to support you in your recovery, as stress in the workplace can also trigger a relapse. You should, however, understand that you will not resolve your financial issues overnight. It would help if you made debt repaying plans with all your creditors for any accrued liabilities. This will begin your journey to repair your credit. Additionally, you should have a budget that does not exhaust your income.
Get yourself a mentor
Having a mentor is very important in your recovery journey as they help monitor your progress and ensure you stay clean and sober. A mentor or sponsor is someone who was once like you but fully recovered from their addiction. Your mentor will provide you with guidance, tips, and advice on how best to remain sober. One advantage of having a mentor is that you can reach them at any time whenever you need assistance or guidance.
Learn to control your anger
According to research, many addicts have poor anger management skills. Staying clean and sober will involve you learning how to control your anger. Though anger is a normal emotion, it makes recovering addicts more susceptible to relapse triggers. Learning to stay cool and calm even in the murky situation is the key to preventing an explosion of anger. The best way to deal with anger is to find a different avenue to express it. This should, however, not involve drugs, alcohol, or something that can harm you.
Following these steps will go a long way in ensuring you stay clean and sober. However, the biggest step you can take in quitting your alcohol or drug addiction is accepting you have a problem and seeking help. Getting the right people around you and a great support system is key in preventing any relapse and helping you to manage any withdrawal effects.
