Staying sober is both easy and incredibly challenging. Statistically, when you compare addiction to other diseases, you actually have a better chance of never having a relapse. Your chances of never relapsing are better than someone with hypertension, cancer or diabetes. Ultimately, you’re the key to your own sobriety, and you can make it a smooth journey if you decide to put in the work.
1. Put Half as Much Effort Into Your Sobriety as You Did Your Addiction
This is a very common saying for those who are in recovery from drug addiction or alcoholism, and it’s true. Addiction is a full-time job, and it’s one of the many reasons people choose to get sober. From the time you wake up, you’ll likely already begin feelinganxiety for how you’re going to get high or drunk. The mental obsession to drink or use drugs will continue all day, even after you get drunk or high.
When people say to put half of the effort into your recovery as you did your addiction, it’s really not as much work as you think. The following are some simple steps that you can take to strengthen your sobriety:
- Go to meetings
- Get a sponsor
- Work the steps
There’s a myth out there that Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs have low success rates. The reality is that those who take the suggestions and have a willingness to work the program have excellent chances of maintaining sobriety.
2. Address Your Mental Health
The two leading causes of relapse are a mental illness that’s untreated or undiagnosed. In order to maintain your recovery, you must continue to make your mental health a priority in different ways. For some, this may mean following up with a doctor to discuss different medications that they’re taking. Others may need to continue going to therapy for support when working on emotional issues.
3. You’re the Only One Who Can Stop You
As previously mentioned, you have a better chance of never relapsing in comparison to other diseases. When people hear this statistic, they often wonder why so many people seem to relapse on drugs or alcohol. The simple truth is that people in addiction recovery sometimes get in their own way. The most successful people are the ones who can humble themselves to a point of taking suggestions.
One of the best things you can do from the time you enter into treatment is to stay honest, open-minded and willing. It’s important to remember that addiction is a disease of the mind, so you’re not thinking properly when in active addiction. It’s something difficult to comprehend, but you can’t trust your own thinking because it leads you to substance abuse. By taking suggestions from others, you’ll begin to see that long-term recovery and happiness are possible.
1st Step Behavioral Health is here to provide you with alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Call (855) 425-4846 today to begin your journey to sobriety.