It can be challenging to stay committed to sobriety, especially if you are facing temptation or triggers on a daily basis. However, it is entirely possible to maintain your sobriety with the help of a few key strategies (and hard work, of course). Today, we will discuss these strategies and provide helpful resources to help you or your loved ones stay sober.
How To Stay Committed To Sobriety: 11 Strategies
Here are 11 strategies for how to stay committed to sobriety:
Get a support system to help you stay committed to sobriety
To begin, it’s critical to have a support system in place. This could be a sober coach, therapist, sponsor, or close friends and family members committed to your sobriety. These people can give you the accountability and encouragement you need to stay on track. If you don’t have a support system in place, many online resources and support groups can help.
Your support system should be there for you when you’re struggling and be a source of motivation when you need it. They should also be able to provide helpful resources that can keep you on track.
Make sobriety a priority
Another essential strategy is to make sobriety a priority in your life. This means that you put your sobriety first, above everything else. This doesn’t mean you have to give up all of your hobbies or interests, but it does mean you need to be mindful of how your choices will impact your sobriety.
For example, if you enjoy going out to bars or clubs, you may need to find a new hobby that doesn’t involve alcohol. Or, if you’re attending a party where there will be alcohol, you may need to have a plan in place for how to avoid drinking. Or perhaps this means bringing a sober escort to help you avoid temptation. Making sobriety a priority means that you are always aware of your choices and how they will impact your sobriety.
Find new coping mechanisms
If you’re used to coping with stress or difficult emotions by drinking or using drugs, it’s crucial to find new coping mechanisms that don’t involve substances. This could include things like exercise, journaling, deep breathing, or meditation. Many helpful resources available online can help you find new coping mechanisms that work for you.
Finding healthy ways to deal with triggers and temptation is also important. Triggers are anything that sets off a craving for drugs or alcohol. They can be things like certain people, places, or situations. Temptation is when you are faced with the opportunity to use drugs or alcohol, even though you know you shouldn’t.
Some helpful strategies for dealing with triggers and temptation include avoidance (staying away from trigger situations), distraction (focusing on something else), and substitution (replacing the urge to use with another activity).
Create a sober social network
Another important strategy for staying sober is to create a sober social network. This means surrounding yourself with people who support your sobriety and who don’t use drugs or alcohol. This could include joining a sober sports team, going to sober events, or participating in a sober social club. There are many ways to create a sober social network, and it’s an essential step in maintaining your sobriety.
Sober activities and events are a great way to meet new people and have fun without drugs or alcohol. They can also provide you with a support system of people who understand what you’re going through in addition to your current support system.
Get involved in your recovery
Recovery is an ongoing process, and it’s important to stay involved in your recovery even after you’ve achieved sobriety. This can involve attending 12-step meetings, therapy sessions, or other recovery-related activities. Finding healthy coping mechanisms and ways to deal with triggers and temptation is also important.
These coping mechanisms can look a little bit different for everyone. But some examples include:
- Exercise: Getting regular exercise can help you deal with stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions. It can also help to distract you from thoughts of using drugs or alcohol.
- Journaling: Recording your thoughts and feelings can help you healthily process them. It can also be a helpful way to track your progress in recovery.
- Deep breathing: Taking slow, deep breaths can help you relax and focus on the present moment. This can be a helpful strategy when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
- Meditation: Meditation can help you learn how to control your thoughts and emotions. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety.
Avoid high-risk situations
It’s also vital to avoid high-risk situations that could lead to relapse. This means steering clear of places or situations where drugs or alcohol are present. It also means avoiding people who use drugs or alcohol. If you’re in a situation where drugs or alcohol are present, it’s important to have a plan in place for how to avoid using.
Some high-risk situations include going to bars or clubs, being around people who use drugs or alcohol, and being in situations with drug or alcohol use.
Learn more about family roles in addiction
Throughout your journey to long-term sobriety, it’s helpful to learn more about how addiction affects your family and how you can best support them. Addiction is a family disease, and it’s important to understand how your role in the family may have contributed to the development of addiction.
It’s also important to understand how your sobriety will affect your family. Sobriety can be a difficult adjustment for families, and it’s important to be patient and understanding with your loved ones as they adjust to this new reality.
A quick Google search will lead you to a variety of resources to help you learn more about how addiction affects families. These resources can help you understand your family’s role in addiction and how to best support them through your sobriety journey.
We also have a blog post discussing family roles in addiction here.
Seek professional help for staying committed to sobriety
If you’re struggling to stay sober, it’s vital to seek professional help. As we’ve discussed, numerous resources are at your disposal for this, including therapy, 12-step programs, and recovery groups. In addition, professional help can provide you with the support and tools you need to stay sober.
At Elysian Sober Services in Florida, we offer a number of professional sober services that can help you get and stay sober.
They include:
- Sober coaching: Sober coaching is a one-on-one service that provides you with support and accountability in your sobriety journey. Our sober coaches act much like a mentor to our clients, helping to guide them in decisions and integrating them into the recovery community.
- Sober transportation: We provide sober transportation to and from 12-step meetings, therapy sessions, and other recovery-related activities. Whether you need transportation home, to or from an airport, or simply just need assistance getting around town, our team is here to help. Our sober transportation guides are licensed and in recovery, so they have unique insight into helping you adapt to living in recovery.
- Sober companions: These companions engage with clients in their homes to achieve their sobriety goals. Companions typically live in the home of the person receiving help full-time. This can be done for any period of time ranging from two weeks to a year, depending on the circumstances and the client’s needs.
Stick to a structured schedule
The structure is key in recovery. A structured schedule can help keep you focused on your sobriety goals. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety. For example, a structured schedule could include things like going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. This kind of routine helps to promote a healthy lifestyle and can be helpful in recovery.
Celebrate sobriety milestones
Every milestone on your journey to long-term sobriety is worth celebrating! And doing so can help to keep you motivated and committed to your sobriety goals.
Some milestones you may want to celebrate include:
- One week sober
- One month sober
- Three months sober
- One year sober
These are just some ideas, but any milestone is worth celebrating! Celebrating your sobriety milestones is a great way to show yourself how far you’ve come and how much progress you’ve made.
Let the past be the past
Finally, to stay committed to sobriety, you must let the past be the past. This means forgiving yourself for any mistakes you’ve made and not dwelling on them. It also means not letting your sobriety nor your addiction define you as a person. You are more than your sobriety and your addiction; you deserve to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Sobriety is a journey. And like any journey, there will be ups and downs. But with these tips on hand, you can stay committed to sobriety and live a happy and healthy life.
Learn More About How to Stay Committed to Sobriety
Elysian Sober Services is here to help you on your journey to sobriety. We offer a variety of professional sober services that can help you get and stay sober. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve
