One of the greatest fears for someone in addiction recovery is a relapse. After all the hard work and time it takes to go through rehab, no one wants to relapse and go through the trouble again. Thankfully, there are many practices you can implement to help you stay sober, and by implementing the following tips, you will lessen your risk of relapse.
Staying sober requires a lot of hard work and a strong mentality. We understand that cravings can be an obstacle for patients during the recovery process. Overall though, when you learn how to break addiction habits and identify cravings, you can manage and avoid the urge to relapse.
Breaking Habits
In order to stay sober, you must recognize and acknowledge your cravings. To understand how to break addiction habits, you have to first accept the fact that you’re having a craving so that you can identify the feeling and deal with it appropriately. It’s normal and natural to feel cravings, and you give yourself power over those feelings when you eliminate your fear, deal with them logically and calmly, and recognize that you’re the one in control.
Avoid Risky Situations
It is also best to avoid situations where you know you are likely to have cravings. For instance, if you’re at a social function and feel an uncontrollable urge to drink or do drugs, leave the party. Don’t worry about being rude or saying goodbye, just leave, it’s the best option to stay safe from substance abuse. Removing yourself from any potentially dangerous environment supports staying sober and helps create a stronger mindset for you in recovery.
Learn to Relax More
When you’re tense, you tend to do what’s familiar and root back to old habits. However, when you’re relaxed, you’re more open to trying new things. Different strategies work for different people. Some great methods of relaxation to help with recovery are:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Reading
- Going on a nature walk
- Getting a massage
- Taking a bath
- Listening to music
- Practicing breathing exercises
This is a list of just a few methods to relaxing, but if you have anything in particular you love to do on your own give it a try as well. It’s important to practice relaxation as it calms the mind and keeps your mental health in check.
Eating Healthy and Exercise
During your recovery, it’s very important to eat well. It’s not only what you eat that matters, but also how much you eat. Cravings can occur if you’re hungry and cranky or have imbalanced nutrients, so sticking to a regular meal and snack schedule is an important way to stay sober. Stay away from foods that weigh you down and increase cravings and instead eat those that fuel you and keep you healthy.
Exercise is also especially good for dealing with cravings, as the natural endorphins relieve stress and make you feel better. Activities like yoga and karate are excellent for achieving self-control and inner balance. The key to staying sober is about breaking old habits and creating new healthy routines.
Support Groups
A very crucial way to break addiction habits is to regularly attend AA or NA meetings. These support groups are made up of people just like you who experience cravings and overcome them using many different methods. Not only will you have the social support to resist cravings, but you’ll likely learn important coping tools from other recovering addicts as well.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with the recovery process, contact us today for treatment options and support.
