Staying Sober Through Good Times

The nights of drunken debauchery are over, we received alcohol treatment, and we are finally free from our alcohol addiction. What do we do now? Fun can be had in sobriety; there is a common fear for most people getting sober that living sober can’t be fun. This is nonsense! Having fun in sobriety is definitely possible. There are many options from fellowshipping after a meeting to having a sober get together for a game night to going to events hosted by sober companies. You just have to find good people who are interested in the same things you are.

 

Do What You Truly Enjoy

Now that you’re sober, trying new things can help you figure out what the real you actually likes to do. Want a good mellow night? Go to a local coffee house and play a game of cards with some friends.  There are several sober companies that host events that you can go too. Also, there are young people’s committees that take the time to plan and host events for you and your friends to go to. Getting involved in the addiction recovery process can also be a great way to meet like-minded people that are sober as well. We didn’t get sober to simply exist. We got sober to live life which includes cutting loose, having fun and make great memories. Make a list of things you’ve always wanted to try and cross some things off your bucket list. Enjoy every moment. Sobriety isn’t meant to be an end to having fun it’s supposed to be the beginning of living life to the fullest.

How to Give Yourself the Best Chance at Sobriety

With the alarmingly high relapse rate amongst people that are trying to get clean on their own, those of us that suffer from drug or alcohol addiction can use all the help we can get. Here are a few suggestions that can give you the best chance at getting and staying sober.

Treatment 

 

There are many programs such as drug rehab that provide a safe and peaceful environment in which people that are battling with their addiction can go and be given the tools needed in order to achieve sobriety, and work on themselves. 

Attending 12 Step Meetings

 

In these meeting people who have addictions can share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so that others can see that it is possible to recover. It is a great opportunity to not only meet new people that are on the same path but to also share with others the struggles you might be going through and receive feedback.

Making Friends with People that are in Recovery

 

Meeting people that have gone through the addiction recovery process and socializing with them can be a good way to learn about ways other people have recovered along with reaffirming your decision to be sober. Many of us have remained friends with people that we used to hang out with prior to getting sober but it can also be nice to meet people that we can go to meetings, and do sober activities with. It can be difficult at times to go to clubs, concerts, or other events where there might be drinking. Through teaming up with other sober people to go to these types of places/events you will be able to relax, have fun, and get through the night sober.

Family Counseling and On-Going Support

Once we have received treatment for substance abuse and gone through the addiction recovery process some of us may need some extra support especially when it comes to repairing our relationships with our family. When we were out using many of us were wrapped up in our disease and suffered from the consequences of our actions. One of the biggest things that was destroyed for many of us was our relationships with family and friends. Most of us could not see past ourselves or our drug addiction. When we get sober we get the opportunity to repair these relationships and clean up the wreckage of our past. The hardest relationships to rebuild are usually with our family since they had seen it all. They not only had to put up with what we put them through but they also had to watch someone that they love very much go through hell. It can take time to rebuild the trust that has been lost over the years. Many of us had made empty promises time and time again and we have to earn that trust back. If there are still some things coming up for you or other family members that can’t seem to be worked out, then family counseling is a great option and a safe place to work through those struggles in order to have a happy and healthy relationship that works for everybody.  There is nothing like having family on your side to support you. It is possible to not only have a relationship with  the ones you love but it is also a chance to give back to the people that matter the most in your life.

Being Honest in Sobriety

It is important that once we get sober and receive drug abuse help that we live our lives with honesty and respect for ourselves and others. It is easy when we are in the middle of our drug addiction to brush off the importance of telling the truth. The fact is that most of us would have said or did anything in order to get our next fix but we don’t have to live like that anymore. We get to show up for life and live with integrity. While it may be difficult at times to be honest with others it is imperative that we are honest and forthcoming unless of course it will injure someone in the process. When we go through the 12 steps of recovery we learn that we do not get to harm others in order to make ourselves feel better. This would just add to the already existing wreckage. If the opportunity presents itself we get to come clean and make amends for our behavior. When we are honest with ourselves and others regardless of fear or possible consequences there is a huge weight lifted off our shoulders as a result. We get to carry ourselves with grace and dignity, feel comfortable in our own skin, and we get to walk around with our head held high knowing that we are living by spiritual principles and are doing the best we can.

Faulty Emotional Dependencies After Recovery

When we were getting loaded there was that fear for most of us that there would not be enough of what we needed or wanted. Most of us worried about the party being over or running out of booze or drugs or the means to get them. This type of “got to get mine” thinking doesn’t necessarily stop just because we go to Above It All, AA, or other 12 step programs and get sober. Those thoughts that lead to us seeking elevated moods can also lead to us having faulty emotional dependencies on people, places and things. Even after receiving drug addiction detox, many of us can relate to having the thoughts that if we had “a certain something” then we could be happy. If we had the car, house, partner, or job then everything would be good. The problem with this is that those people, places, or things often fail us and we are left burnt up and resentful. When we play the director in our lives there is little room for a power greater than ourselves to step in. When we get sober we learn how to let go of our faulty emotional dependencies and have faith that things will turn out exactly how they are supposed to be in the end. We can begin to let go of what we think will make us happy and be able to see what it feels like to find true happiness. We learn that true happiness does not stem from things around us, but rather from within. It is a happiness and inner peace that cannot be taken away.