The more strategies you learn to identify triggers, cope with stress, and manage your new sober life, the easier it is to prevent relapse. One of the best parts of the 12-step program was that I felt welcomed into a community of people like me. I met people who knew the devastation of hardcore drinking, as well as the joys of living getting sober without aa alcohol-free. I may not go to meetings anymore, but I still keep in touch with these kinds of people. Practically every person in recovery has people, places, and experiences that bring up the urge to drink. Part of the art of staying sober (or moderate) long-term is knowing what these triggers are, and how to manage them.
- Its like words light up your way so that you can follow on a clear path to recovery.
- Once you are past the initial detox phase, rehabilitation programs (or rehab) are one way to go.
- Before I got sober, my physical and mental health were questionable.
- You will always need others to help you, friends (see above), or professionals.
- But for most people, staying sober isn’t that straightforward.
Different types of relapses exist, including short-term slips, lapses and longer-term relapses. And I was already uncomfortable at the very beginning of my sobriety. I do not and will never judge anyone, ever, for going to AA meetings. If that is where you find your strength to just say “no,” I commend you for continuing your journey. Self-belief is not all-or-nothing, and the approach to it as such is futile. If you’ve got 1%, plant it and grow towards the 100% you’re aspiring to.
Women for Sobriety
Get into a good sleeping routine and you will see major improvements in your mood and overall wellbeing. It’s important to remember that there are innumerable approaches to recovery, and whatever you choose to help you, you’re not https://ecosoberhouse.com/ alone. I know of hundreds of people who have successfully left AA and continued in their recovery. Ultimately, my realizations led me to leave 12-step fellowships. That was the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my recovery.
One of the nicest parts of this community is it focuses on recovery writ large. So, if you need sobriety support from harder drugs or other issues, then you might just feel at home here. Plus, their website offers resources including a suggested reading list, blog posts, and other articles and essays. The best part of the program is that they help you to empower yourself to overcome your addictions, which, for some, is a welcome change from traditional 12-Step programs.
Count your days
But you don’t have to go to rehab or AA meetings to meet your goal of getting sober. It’s vital to have wholesome, supportive relationships in your time of recovery. Cut ties with anyone that threatens your future as a recovered alcoholic.