Recovering from a substance use disorder requires daily maintenance. Unlike other chronic diseases, there is no medical cure for alcoholism or drug addiction. As a result, those in recovery must remain diligent in their everyday lives. This means actively working on a recovery plan and knowing when and where to ask for help. The team at Memphis Recovery Centers can provide the help that you need and deserve. If you or a loved one struggles to maintain your sobriety in a world that seems more challenging every day, remember these five tips for maintaining sobriety.
5 Tips for Maintaining Sobriety
1. We Must Put Our Sobriety First
For people in recovery, sober living must top the list of goals all day, every day. This is often challenging for those new to the program. Many people who are new to the program are so used to taking care of others that they’ve neglected or even forgotten how to care for themselves. But if you are struggling with addiction and fall back into this trap of caretaking until you’re exhausted and have nothing left to give, you’re leaving yourself open to relapse. This being said, keep these truths at the forefront of your mind:
- I must take care of myself first.
- I have human needs, including eating right, getting enough sleep, and making time for fun.
- I am not supposed to cure other people’s problems.
- I can help a friend or family member, but only if I feel strong enough.
- I do not have to feel guilty for saying “no” when I need to.
We can’t allow ourselves to feel taken advantage of or run-down anymore. Otherwise, we risk using again. Stay well-rested and stay empowered to stay sober.
2. We Must Work the Program That Helped Us Become Sober
Recovery is a neverending task. You must make an effort to stay compliant with whichever program worked for you. Whether it was a 12-step approach, behavioral counseling, or an integrated program that used both, you must remember to use our recovery behaviors and healthy coping skills every day.
This includes:
- Avoiding friends and family who are still using
- Steering clear of tempting situations, such as allowing chemical substances in the house or hitting the bar after work
- Effectively managing our stress
- Not letting ourselves become overly tired or mentally depleted
- Taking time to think before reacting
Remember the coping skills you learned in recovery and use them daily to maintain sobriety.
3. We Must Stay Active in Our Recovery Community
Isolation and loneliness are two harbingers of relapse. You may have felt all alone in the world before recovery, but now you have friends and peers in the recovery community who care about what happens to you. It’s important to remember that. It’s also vital to stay connected, attend meetings, mentor, and accept mentoring so those feelings don’t return. When you may encounter a crisis, you must have the courage to reach out and ask for help from our safe network of friends and family.
4. We Must Pay it Forward
This one can be tricky because many of us have beensuch accomplished people-pleasers in thepast. But paying it forward doesn’t mean allowing others to use you until you feel depleted. When you’re strong enough in your recovery, then you can begin reaching down to help lift others up. Until then, do what feels natural and know that your higher power is in control.
5. Seek Drug or Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Finally, if you’ve relapsed or are certain you’re progressing through the phases of relapse, reach out to a drug and alcohol addiction center near you.Becoming sober is difficult. Maintaining sobriety is more difficult. Anyone who has ever attempted recovery understands this.
Contact Memphis Recovery Centers Today for Help Maintaining Sobriety
If you or someone you care about is committed to maintaining sobriety but may need some help, reach out to our Memphis Recovery Centers team today. Call 901-272-7751, or contact us online for more information about recovery today.
