Tips for a Lasting Sobriety
One of the hardest things for someone new in sobriety is to prevent relapse. The worry of a relapse affects both family members and addicts. This is one of the biggest concerns when someone completes drug treatment. For this reason, we have put together a list of tips to avoid relapse.
- Stay in the NOW; not stuck in the past.
- Don’t be a victim of your past, your family, your failures. Because being a victim doesn’t put you in control and you can only be sober if you’re in control.
- Work out activities that are constructive, alongside sober people. Go to the library, join a league (where there won’t be a lot of alcohol), go to Church, volunteer at a pet shelter. Whether you believe it or not, a lot of people and groups will WANT your help.
- Don't test your willpower. Just don’t. Meaning don’t go to a bar or a party where you know there will be drugs and alcohol.
- Find a hobby if you don't have one already—read books, learn to paint or sew, plant a garden. Engaging your “thinking mind” helps to prevent your drug cravings and restimulations from grabbing ahold of you.
- Let go of resentment. It’s not healthy and not in alignment with # 1 above.
- Change your environment by moving to a better neighborhood or applying for a better job in a new city. (If you think this is too hard, see #9).
- Work out, in advance, what you will say to get out of a situation where you are exposed to drugs and alcohol; I have to go pick up a friend, my family needs me or better yet, just leave.
- Realize you must change. Because if you do not, you will still be an alcoholic or an addict. Now, this may be difficult and require some work because if the change was that easy, you would have already done it, which brings us to….
- Don’t be lazy about sobriety—it is work and to help you maintain it, you should follow these tips.
Have a family member who has relapsed and needs addiction treatment? Or maybe a family member who is struggling with addiction and has never gone into a drug rehab center? Narconon staff are dedicated to helping those struggling get their life back together. The Narconon program is a comprehensive approach to addressing the source of drug addiction. Call today to learn more.
