If you are currently in recovery or a substance abuse disorder, you understand firsthand just how tumultuous the road to long-term sobriety can be. If you are currently struggling with substance abuse and wondering how in the world you are ever going to get and stay sober, you also know just how difficult the process can be. There are many factors at play when it comes to the hurdles involved in seeking help. People put-off seeking professional treatment for a number of reasons, including:
- Financial concerns. People who are under-insured or entirely uninsured might not be able to afford to cover the cost of treatment out-of-pocket. What they fail to realize is that there are innumerable resources available to help those in need receive the quality clinical care they deserve. There are scholarships available to qualifying men and women, some rehab centers offer sliding scale coverage or payment plans – the list goes on. For more information on these resources, reach out to Intrepid Detox Residential today.
- Denial. Addiction is a disease of denial. If you are currently in the throes of active addiction, you have probably repeatedly convinced yourself that “everything is just fine” and that you can “quit without help if things get bad enough.” It is important to understand that addiction is a chronic, relapsing and progressively worsening brain disease. The longer you put off treatment, the more severe the consequences of your action will become.
- Not knowing where to start. Do you try to get a bed at a state-run detox facility? Do you check yourself into the emergency room at your local hospital? Do you call a hotline and say, “Hey it’s me, I’m ready to get clean now?” Where do you start?! A good rule of thumb is calling a licensed addiction counselor and explaining your situation or calling up a rehab facility in your immediate area and asking some questions. The progression of addiction treatment typically goes like so – medical detox, residential rehab, intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient treatment and aftercare. However, recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process, and some people might benefit from a lower or higher level of clinical care than others.
Don’t let anything stand in the way of having you finally receive the clinical care you both need and deserve. Reach out to Intrepid Detox Residential to learn more about getting sober.
Staying Sober Through Anything
Okay, now, time for Step Two – once you successfully obtain sobriety, what steps can you take to stay sober long-term while effectively avoiding relapse? Below we have written out several steps to follow, but remember – recovery is an individualized process, and you will undeniably learn what works for you as you get deeper and deeper into your personal recovery journey.
- Identify your personal relapse triggers and relapse warning signs. It isn’t like one day you’ll wake up drunk or suddenly find yourself knee-deep in a bottle of Percocet without knowing what happened. There will always be something triggering you, and there will always be warning signs. Are you showing up at the local bar “just to play pool?” Are you feeling angrier and more irritable than normal, and lashing out at your loved ones? Learn what to look for and figure out how to make necessary changes.
- Avoid people, places and things that make you feel as if you’re “missing out.” FOMO is real. If hanging out with your old friends in a hot-boxed basement makes you feel like smoking weed might be fun and appropriate, get the heck out of dodge. If spending happy hours at the local Applebee’s makes you miss $4 margaritas something awful, find a new chain restaurant with great deals on greasy appetizers (there are plenty). Protect yourself and your sobriety at all costs.
- Build out a solid system of sober support. The process of recovery is communal. Regardless of what you think, you will not be able to do it on your own. There are many ways to develop and maintain a support system, but the best way is by entering into a 12-step program (like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous) and sticking around after the meeting to talk to people. Raise your hand and share during the meeting, even though doing so might make you a little bit uncomfortable at first. The more people you have in your corner, the better chance you will have of staying sober. You can also meet like-minded men and women in an outpatient treatment program – give us a call for additional resources, or to learn more about our outpatient program.
- Stick to a solid routine, characterized by healthy life choices and sobriety-friendly activities. There’s an old saying that goes, “If you keep showing up to the barber shop, you are eventually going to get a haircut.” The same goes for any place you spend your time. If you keep showing up to the bar, you’re eventually going to take a drink. If you keep showing up to your old drug dealer’s house, you’re eventually going to buy some drugs. Change your routine completely when you get out of rehab. Wake up early, make a healthy breakfast, reach an excerpt from a daily Reflections book, meditate for 20 minutes and take a nice long shower before you head to work. If you stay busy (and stay busy doing things that will bolster your recovery) you are going to be in good shape.
- Take things one day at a time. As soon as you get sober, you might want to rush through all of your amends and let everyone know how good you’re doing, or deal with addiction-related consequences all in the same day. Try not to bite off more than you can chew – you will get overwhelmed, and you might consider returning to old behaviors in order to deal with the stress. Map out each day as soon as you wake up, and only tackle what you feel comfortable tackling. You got this.
Intrepid Detox Residential and Relapse Prevention Training
At Intrepid Detox Residential we work hard to ensure that each and every one of our clients is instilled with the coping mechanisms and life skills he or she needs in order to maintain sobriety for years to come. Relapse Prevention Training is an important part of our multi-phased recovery process, and clients explore ways to prevent relapse in individual and group therapy sessions. In some instances, they have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in real-life situations and discuss their experiences with their peers the following day. Relapse Prevention Training focuses on helping clients identify and work through their personal relapse triggers. Some examples of potential triggers include:
- High-stress situations
- Experiencing uncomfortable emotions like sadness or anger
- Intense psychological cravings
- Being around people who are drinking or using drugs.
- Being around family members (if the family is dysfunctional)
- Experiencing loss, like the loss of a loved one or long-time career
- Going through problems in a romantic relationship
- Experiencing immense stress or pressure at work or at school
- Financial or legal issues
It is important to remember that personal problems are always exacerbated and worsened by a return to substance use – picking up a drink or a drug will NEVER make things easier, especially if you already have some sobriety under your belt. For more tips on how to stay sober, or if you are ready to begin an entirely new way of life and commit to a program of addiction recovery, reach out to us today. We look forward to speaking with you and answering any additional questions you might have for us.