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If any area of your life is out of control, it will not help you maintain lasting sobriety. A structured routine will help you achieve other goals in your life, whether they are short-term or long-term . The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful. In addition to being able to recognize tips to stay sober them, it’s important to know when to seek help. However, research suggests that while 12-step groups are effective, people often don’t continue their involvement at beneficial levels over the long term. It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way.
What to do while trying to stay sober?
- Develop an easy exercise routine.
- Put yourself in less risky situations.
- Avoid old habits.
- Find a mentor or sponsor.
- Identify your triggers.
- Drink non-alcoholic beer or cocktails.
- Establish healthy family relationships.
- Start a new hobby.
You could be looking for a way to gain more support from family and friends, or want to limit possible triggers for relapse that can be present in everyday life. It’s important to set boundaries when dealing with people who do not support your sobriety journey. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends and family that you don’t want to be around drinking or drug use, and remind them of why you are staying sober. True friends will respect your requests and help you on your journey. In other words, instead of saying, “stop thinking about how far it is to the liquor store,” imagine you walk down there, buy the bottle of vodka, come home and start drinking.
Connect With a Peer Support Group
You should also make sure that you get plenty of restful sleep, as this can help rejuvenate both your body and mind. We let go of the past programming that no longer serves us. In this process, we commit to giving people the benefit of the doubt, to setting boundaries, and to using discernment. We may decide to trust people until they give us a reason not to. If they do, we can refuse to take that behavior personally.
If you feel uncomfortable about a family dinner, that’s enough. Consider how these family dinners played out in the past. Support groups in recovery are an effective way to maintain sobriety, develop yourself in recovery, and share your experience with others. The most popular being twelve-step based programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
Seek support in nature.
This article discusses what sobriety means and describes strategies that can support your long-term recovery. It also covers tips on how to deal with the challenges you’ll face on your journey to sobriety. Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.