Sobriety: how do you feel when you think about this word? If you’ve decided to get help with alcohol addiction, it can be a daunting thought. Staying sober is the most important thing you can do for yourself following addiction, but it isn’t without its challenges. Read more about staying sober and the things you can do to help that journey and help your own sobriety.
Learning how to stay sober is one of the largest parts of recovery. Our rehab programmes work on an abstinence basis, allowing you to lead a life you love without falling back into addiction. However, going back to your everyday life following treatment, dealing with your own mental pressures and external sources, can make sobriety challenging. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help.
Now, these things may work differently for different people, and you might have your own tools you use to keep taking those steps on your new path. But, here is how you can help yourself to stay sober following addiction.
Support
Reaching out for support and building a network around you is a key way to aid your own sobriety. Having the right circle of influence, and the kind of people you can speak to about addiction and recovery, will go a long way. Whether you choose to speak to friends and family, and/or to attend meetings with those who have been in a similar situation, is entirely up to you. By knowing you have that support in place, you will strengthen your recovery, and there is always the option to find further help with alcohol.
Treatment
Ongoing treatment is also an option following a rehab programme. Things like group support and counselling sessions may be an option for you if that kind of support resonates with you. It can be easy to box rehab off once the programme is complete, but this is a lifelong process that you will be engaging in. At Help Me Stop, we offer three months of aftercare following the programme, so you can get additional help and support as you further your recovery in the real world.
Community
Find your people. The people who understand what you are going through now, and who can relate to things you’ve experienced in addiction. That might be a group in your hometown or it might be an online community, but make sure you find a support network that resonates with you and. It’s about being able to have open and honest conversations, particularly about how you are feeling and what you are going through. This is going to help you know how to stay sober, even when things feel tough.
Lifestyle Changes
A new way of life may need a new way of living. If you are looking to make changes in your life, you may need to leave old parts of it behind. This might mean changing your circle or changing your socialising habits, or it may mean looking for a new kind of normal that fits more in line with your goals and sobriety. Some people will go back to their old lives and be fine without the drugs or alcohol, but for others that will not be possible and the relapse triggers will be too strong. A lifestyle change, be it temporary or permanent, may be the thing to help you keep to your sobriety.
Celebrating the Wins
It is important to celebrate the wins that come with sobriety. Yes that may mean the days or the hours that you count by, or it might mean the money you saved, the relationships you nurture, and the moments you have been able to show up for. Give yourself credit and celebrate the wins of sobriety as you go, it will make the journey a lot easier – and celebrate the fact that you got help with alcohol.
A Conscious Effort
Remember that you are making a conscious effort to stay sober, and that is something that is ongoing. Give yourself the recognition, as well as the permission to accept that you are making progress imperfectly, and that really is okay.
If you are looking for drug or alcohol addiction rehab in London, then Help Me Stop is here for you. We have two rehab centres in London and an online programme as well, all offering non-residential rehab for our clients. We use a mix of therapeutic techniques to help you achieve recovery, including the 12 step approach to addiction treatment, person-centred therapy, CBT and more, in group and one-to-one counselling sessions.
Where do I find alcohol help near me?
If you want to find out more, you can get in touch for a confidential chat, by emailing us or calling us on +44 (0) 208 191 9191. Our team will listen without judgement and be able to help you find the path that is right for you.
