If you’ve been in recovery from a substance abuse disorder, you know how much work it takes to achieve sobriety. And even after you leave a sober living home, the work doesn’t end. You’ll want to do everything possible to avoid having a relapse.
This article will discuss more sobriety and provide tips for maintaining it after you leave a sober living home.
What is sobriety?
Sobriety occurs when you are not under the influence of any substance. But it can often be used in different ways. For example, many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence, which involves never using that substance again.
However, other definitions focus on recovery and developing healthy coping mechanisms that support overall health and wellness.
How to stay sober after leaving a sober living home
For most people, staying sober isn’t straightforward after you leave a sober living home. You’re introduced back into the world where you are confronted with temptations. You must learn to identify triggers, cope with stress, and manage your new sober life.
Here are some tips for maintaining your sobriety after leaving a sober living home.
1. Identify your triggers
One of the most significant parts of preventing relapse is understanding your personal triggers or the people, places, things, and situations that elicit thoughts or cravings associated with substance abuse. Once you identify your biggest triggers, you can create an action plan to prepare for or avoid them altogether.
Some common triggers to watch out for include:
- Stress
- Emotional distress
- People around you who are using drugs or alcohol
- Relationship troubles
- Job or financial problems
2. Recognize your relapse signs
A relapse can sneak up on you if you don’t recognize the warning signs. It usually happens long before you pick up a drug and involves three distinct phases — emotional, mental, and physical relapse.
Warning signs of relapse include the following:
- Returning to addictive thinking patterns
- Engaging in compulsive, self-defeating behaviors
- Seeking out situations involving people who use alcohol or drugs
- Thinking less rationally
- Finding yourself in a situation where drugs or alcohol seem like an escape from pain
3. Avoid old routines and habits
If you quit your drug or alcohol of choice but continue with your same routine, it will be much easier to slip back into your old behaviors and habits. Some of the immediate changes you’ll need to make when leaving a sober Iiving home will be obvious, like not hanging around the people you bought or used drugs with.
In addition, you may also need to change your route to work or home to avoid specific triggers or people, places, or things that will make you want to relapse again.
4. Build healthy relationships
Now that you’re sober and have entered recovery, you may notice that some of your past relationships aren’t just unhealthy but also toxic. It’s not just old drinking buddies or drug dealers that can cause you to relapse, but also those closest to you.
For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member or friend hurt you, so you turned to drugs or alcohol to avoid the pain. Research shows that if you maintain toxic relationships with others, the chances of relapsing are far more significant.
Reach out to Birdsong Sober Living to learn more about sober living!
At Birdsong Sober Living, our team is dedicated to encouraging women’s sobriety through leading a healthy lifestyle. We strive to create an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can feel safe, comfortable, and open to sharing their stories with one another. We offer a wealth of resources to empower our women to find their strength and take hold of their happiest, healthiest lives. We hope to help shine a light so that all can see and fulfill their highest potential.
Contact us today by filling out the form on our website or requesting a call.