The first year of sobriety will pose some significant challenges. You will be re-learning how to go about many facets of your daily existence. However, this period can also be a time of great celebration, allowing you to move forward towards the life of your dreams.
At Gulf Breeze Recovery, we understand the challenges you will face during your first year of sobriety and are here to help create a comprehensive plan to offer you as much supports as possible. Call our team at 833.551.2304 to learn more about how our holistic approach to relapse prevention therapy can make your first year of sobriety an unmitigated success.
Challenges You Might Face During Sober Living
After completing rehab and your initial therapy sessions, you are likely more aware of at least some of the underlying causes of your substance use. However, it is one thing to recognize those factors in isolation; it is quite another to make similar observations in the more complicated context of your relationships, workplace, home, etc.
Fortunately, your recovery program will have anticipated these concerns and helped you form an aftercare plan to offer you support while making the transition towards sober living. This will include identifying as many potential triggers as possible and having a clear plan in place in the case of inadvertent relapse.
Hints for Your First Year of Sober Living
Here are some suggestions for navigating your first year of sober living:
- Expect the best, but prepare for the worst. Always have access to the phone numbers of your recovery team or sponsor with you, so if you feel cravings to drink or use drugs, you merely need to dial to get help.
- When you travel, pre-plan what you will do if you encounter problems. For example, you might want to look up the meeting time and place of a local support group or download an app on your phone to call a car if you need to leave a location quickly.
- Remember that stress and willpower have an inverse relationship. The more stress you accumulate, whether it be physical, emotional, psychological, or otherwise, the less able you will be able to call upon discipline to help you avoid relapse. Do anything you can to lower your stress burden before major social events, work projects, or any other time you might require an extra boost.
- Pre-arrange options that allow you to save up your willpower. A little advanced planning can go a long way. For example, you may opt to meet a friend at a diner or coffee shop that doesn’t serve alcohol rather than meeting at a local restaurant that does. Those around you won’t even notice most of the time, and it will take an enormous burden off of you.
- Don’t forget the role of diet and exercise. The better you feel daily, the more likely you will make effective choices. Prioritize quality nutrition, hydration, and adequate sleep.
Finally, remember that sober living is not simply about abstinence. It is about replacing problematic habits with healthier choices. So, rather than merely avoiding toxic individuals that will pressure you to imbibe, actively seek out people to spend time with who will support your goals. Don’t simply avoid bars or parties; replace them with fun activities you’ve always wanted to try, volunteer work for causes that motivate you, etc.
Relapse Prevention Therapy at Gulf Breeze Recovery
At Gulf Breeze Recovery, help will be there for you at every step along the path to permanent sobriety. Your team will work with you to create a plan for aftercare that will allow you to transfer the lessons acquired in therapy to your daily life, allowing you to move forward finally. Call our team at 833.551.2304 to learn more about our relapse prevention therapies and how your journey towards wellness can begin today.
