Many people have no problem going out with friends and having a few adult drinks. While a large percentage of American adults can stop at a few drinks, there is a growing portion of the population that has a real problem with drinking. If you are tired of letting your dependence on alcohol cause problems, then it is time to take control.
The first thing you need to do to shake this addiction is to find an alcohol rehab in Los Angeles. Once your treatment is completed, you will need to re-enter the real world. Staying sober after rehab is an achievable goal if you follow the tips covered below.
Identify and Avoid Triggers That Make You Want To Drink
Every year, thousands of alcoholics enter treatment facilities around the United States. If you are done with your treatment and are about to re-enter real life, you need to have a plan for how to stay sober. One of the main things you need to do if you want to make sobriety less challenging is to identify your triggers.
A trigger can be a situation, person or place that arouses your craving for alcohol. For some people, triggers include things like:
- Emotional distress
- Stress
- Being around people who are drinking
- Problems in your relationship
- Financial problems
Once you have a list of what your triggers are, you need to develop a plan for how to avoid them. If you are triggered by things like stress, then you have to come up with healthy coping mechanisms that don’t involve reaching for a drink. Working with an addiction therapist is crucial when trying to develop these coping mechanisms.
Don’t Fall Back Into Old Routines
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a recovering addict is falling back into old routines. You need to realize that distancing yourself from the person you were is a vital part of sobriety. Going back around the same people and visiting the same places you did when you were drinking will only lead to a relapse. This is why you have to work on completely changing your routines.
Finding healthy places to visit and supportive sober people to hang out with is a great idea. By surrounding yourself with positive energy that promotes sobriety, you can avoid relapsing. However, if you think you are strong enough to revisit some of your old haunts, you might find yourself back in an alcohol rehabilitation facility.
Implement Structure Into Your Life
Sitting around all day with nothing to do can be a recipe for disaster if you’re a recovering addict. If you are serious about sobriety, then you have to implement some structure into your life. This structure should come in the form of a job and healthy hobbies. By going to work every day, you can get into a healthy routine.
You also need to think about getting physically healthy. Going to the gym and rebuilding your body after addiction can be very rewarding. Finding new friends that are interested in these healthy pursuits can be beneficial. Spending time around people who are trying to better themselves can also help you stay on the straight and narrow. While finding new friends will take some time, it is definitely worth the effort invested.
Take Sobriety Seriously
Thinking that you are completely cured after your stay in a rehabilitation facility is a bad idea. You need to realize that you are a work in progress and that staying sober is an ongoing journey. Realizing your limitations and surrounding yourself with the right people can help you greatly.
