Achieving sobriety may seem like the most challenging thing. Still, the fact that you are reading this article implies that you are one step close to leaving behind drug addiction. While it is challenging to become completely drug-free, it isn’t impossible. The following steps will ensure you have a plain sailing transition into a healthy phase of your life. From attending one-to-one therapy sessions to engaging with those trying to make a difference in their lives, there are many ways of staying resilient through your drug-free journey.
The path to recovery isn’t free of hurdles
The first step to achieving sobriety is understanding that there will be hurdles along the way. Whether you’re beginning your sobriety journey or halfway through, there can be moments of doubt or even a relapse. A relapse doesn’t mean that you’ve failed. Instead, it implies that you need to try harder. Many rehab programs state total abstinence from day one, but others are more lenient in their approach. While these may work for some, for others, strictness may cause them to dread the recovery process. It’s a gradual process that demands willpower and firm support. If you want to stay drug-free, enroll in rehab facilities like the Palm Beach Group in Florida, where you can seek psychological and social support. They have a strong alumni network and a range of medical and social activities to help you stay drug-free.
Join a support group
In addition to enrolling at a rehab facility and seeking medical care, engaging with others on the same journey as you can be liberating. You can do that via support groups that have trained therapists on site. In addition, you can learn new coping methods, develop positive habits and thinking, and attend to any reoccurring mental health issues that can impede your recovery.
Triggers
An essential tip for staying drug-free is identifying what triggers you into a relapse or wanting to return to toxic habits. A trigger is a place, person, thing, or circumstance that makes you think negative thoughts or elicits a reaction that induces a craving for toxic substances. Simply hoping that your triggers go away won’t cut through it. You have to identify your triggers and actively fight back. There is a possibility you might have internal triggers that have no connection with the outside ones. Thoughts, emotions, and feelings that elicit a relapse are dangerous to your recovery. Some common triggers are emotional distress, certain situations, toxic relationships or people engaged in drug abuse, or financial issues.
Relapse signs
Next to identifying triggers is noticing relapse signs. A relapse can come without warning, or perhaps you ignored the warning sign. It initiates before you switch to substance abuse and includes three stages: emotional, mental, and physical. Not everyone goes through all stages of a relapse, but you must identify warning signs to stay drug-free. Warning signs may include:
- Toxic thinking patterns related to addiction
- Engaging in self-destructive behaviors
- Seeking out people who abuse drugs
- Finding yourself in triggering situations that may elicit a liking for drug or alcohol use.
Identifying these warning signs beforehand can help you look for positive and healthy ways of coping with addiction.
Habits
A repetitive activity transforms into a habit, regardless of its nature. Drug addiction is something similar. Good habits like exercising, reading, or walking are fruitful for your recovery. Avoid toxic habits like smoking or hanging out with people if you intend to stay drug-free. It is challenging to remain drug-free if you stick with old habits, just like with old friends who bring out the worst. Old negative habits can also make a relapse more likely than it is.
Health relationships
Finding support doesn’t have to be in a formal setting like a rehab or support group meeting. Instead, you can look for supporting friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers. These are the ones that will help you stay drug-free by engaging in creative and productive activities. Spending time mending old relationships or building new ones is also beneficial when trying to recover. You can give a new chance to relationships that previously felt strange due to addiction. Family and friends also help stay clear of toxic habits or people that will force e a U-turn on the road to recovery.
Stick to a routine
In addition to building good habits, you must also develop a well-structured routine. A daily schedule or a weekly routine involving a healthy mix of positive activities and habits can help you stay drug-free. If you have work or school commitments, it can be better to develop a routine to get back on track while keeping your health in check. Try to create S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) goals that will teach motivation and a strong desire to stay drug-free.
Exercise regularly
Most rehab facilities adopt medical detoxification that helps eliminate harmful substances from your body. Working with a healthcare professional in that regard is beneficial. However, you can do it on your own by regularly exercising. Allocate 30-40 minutes four to five times weekly to break a sweat. Sweat releases harmful toxins from your body and helps enhance your mood.
Balanced diet
A helpful tip for staying drug-free is to notice what you feed your mind and body. A healthy diet is an essential part of that. Your emotional and psychological well-being can suffer if you do not feed your body the nutrients it needs, not the ones it desires. Poor diet also connotates a lack of discipline and bad eating habits. So, while you’re trying to build healthy habits, make room for introducing a balanced diet.
Focus on finances
Addictive behaviors can leave a mark on financial management. Most people recovering find it challenging to maintain their finances and employment. You can seek help from a career counselor at your rehab facility or support group to help you find a new job or manage your finances through budgeting. Budgeting will help inculcate conscious spending habits and assist you in staying drug-free.
Dealing with past emotions
It is difficult to fight back if you’re not dealing with the root cause of your addiction. As important as it is to mend broken relationships to stay drug-free, coping with past troubles and trauma is crucial. Feeling ashamed of who you were before you started your sobriety journey shouldn’t stop you from moving forward. Shame is just a negative feeling; like all other toxic feelings, it is necessary to accept it with grace and move on. Another aspect is to move past emotionally damaging relationships that may have been the cause of your inclination to drug abuse.
Seek balance through positivity
A common occurrence among newly sober individuals is trying to replace a formerly addictive behavior with new compulsive behavior. Compulsive behaviors, more or less, signify addictive traits that you must avoid. Instead of taking exercise or a new job as a compulsion, think of it as a means to recovery. You cannot stay drug-free by replacing a seemingly toxic habit with a new one. It rewires your brain to become an addict to a new habit, but the compulsion to over-attach yourself to something stays.
Celebrate your wins
Lastly, remember to pat yourself on the back for your accomplishments. Staying drug-free is challenging, and with every step towards recovery, appreciate yourself and celebrate your wins. Ensure that your celebratory moments don’t include any addictive substances that may trigger you.
Conclusion
Staying drug-free is a long and tedious journey. There can be relapses and emotional or physical setbacks, but these should not stop you from moving ahead. Try to seek help from friends and family or enroll in a rehab facility or support group. Remember that you are not alone, and there are many ways for you to stay drug-free and healthy.
