Staying sober after rehab and maintaining long-term recovery is no easy task. In fact, it is estimated that about 90 percent of those with alcohol addiction are likely to relapse at least once within 4 years following rehab. However, it is a common stumbling block that you can get help with.
Keep reading this article for tips on how to stay sober after leaving treatment and achieving long-term recovery.
Identify What Triggers You
Sobriety and recovery is not an easy path; the journey is full of peaks and valleys. One way to help yourself in your plans for getting sober or staying sober is by identifying what triggers you.
Triggers are different for everyone. Similarly, some triggering events or circumstances might be avoided more easily than others. A significant cause of relapse for many people in addiction recovery is stress.
Stress
Stress, especially for prolonged periods of time, inhibits one’s ability to delay gratification and increase impulsiveness. This is why many reach for drugs or alcohol to cope. A part of recovery involves building better-coping skills and identifying impulsive behavior.
Celebrations
Celebrations can be especially difficult for someone trying to maintain sobriety as parties and other events often include alcohol. In fact, for young people, college students, in particular, binge drinking at parties is normalized and often encouraged by peers.
As having a drink or two is a societal norm, those recovering from alcoholism may imbibe and drink socially. If you are early in your sobriety, avoiding temptation is key. Do your best to surround yourself with supportive people who know where you have been.
Anyone who pushes you to have “just one drink” may not be the healthiest person to be around.
Build Healthy Routines and Habits
After rehab, it will likely be easier to notice the patterns in your life that enabled or perpetuated unhealthy choices. If your friends’ go-to hangout spot is a bar, you may want to suggest a change of scene. Or, if you had a habit of buying alcohol on your way home from work, consider a different route.
Think about the times of day you would drink. If your old night-time ritual included pouring yourself a drink, consider other activities to wind down at the end of the day.
Ask for Support
Friends and family are valuable editions to a support network, but more help is out there. Following alcohol rehab, look into support meetings, individual and group therapy, and programs with accountability systems. It can be easier to discuss struggles with someone who has been in your place.
Additionally, a community of people committed to staying sober will help you build and maintain a sense of motivation.
A Guide to Help You Stay Sober After Rehab
We hope the advice in this guide, like identifying triggers, building healthy routines, and asking for support, helps you stay sober. Identifying triggers is helpful as a preventative measure, as is creating better habits. If you need support, there are sources available to you online and in many communities.
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