Are you struggling with sobriety? When in recovery from drugs and alcohol, the struggle can stick with you for the rest of your life. How do you stay sober when the stress levels rise? Here, you'll find some information that can help you get through the tough times without picking up the bottle or your drug of choice.
See a Therapist
One of the best ways to maintain your sobriety is to talk with a therapist regularly. A therapist will provide you with the outlet that you need to let go of the things that are stressing you out, or uncovering the things that you don't even know are causing you stress.
How often you'll need to see the therapist will depend on your own preferences and weaknesses. If you find that there are more things causing you to consider using, try scheduling weekly appointments — more, if needed. If you're coping well and just need to talk with someone and learn some tools to manage your anxiety and stress, bi-weekly or monthly appointments can help.
The key is to know that when you're getting stressed, you need an outlet — not just someone who will listen, but someone who can help you manage your feelings to avoid relapse.
Avoid Temptation
It's not easy avoiding temptation, especially if your weakness is alcohol or you still hang out with the people that you used to use with. If your weakness is alcohol, avoid restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages — if it's drugs, stay clear of the people and locations where you used to use.
Temptation will test your inner strength — avoiding the temptation will help ease the burden of sobriety — if you don't see others enjoying what used to run your life, you won't be nearly as tempted to relapse.
Go to Meetings
There are meetings that you can go to where others will be able to relate with what you're going through. If you've never attended a meeting, now is the time to do it. These people will share their stories and remind you of how bad things can be, and will most likely be if you relapse. This could expand your social situation and provide you with the people that you need to maintain your strength in sobriety.
Make an appointment with a therapist — this is the best first step in maintaining your sobriety. They will listen and provide you with coping tools to help you avoid the relapse and putting your life at risk again.
For more information about therapist services, contact a therapist like Donald McEachran, PhD.
