Did you know that, according to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 114 people die in the U.S. every day due to drugs?
Beyond that, it is estimated that nearly 7,000 people are sent to the ER for treatment each day.
Are you or a loved one struggling with addiction?
Let’s take a look at 5 tips to stay sober.
1. Identify Your Triggers and Stay Honest About Them
During your addiction treatment, you identified triggers that were particular to you. Your triggers are the things, places, and people that push you towards substances for relief. While you can’t completely eliminate all of your triggers from your environment, you can remain honest with yourself about them.
Staying honest will help you avoid risky situations and keep your goals in mind. The more you make the positive changes you need in your social environment, your habits, and your life, the more you’ll be able to be honest about your goals and what you need to suceed.
2. Keep Your Goals in Perspective
Having a sense of why you want to live a sober lifestyle and what your goals and dreams for the future are is incredibly important. These powerful ideas will be able to help motivate you on a difficult day or in a tough situation. Make a list of your goals and know it like the back of your hand.
3. Find a Supportive Network
A lot of times, abstaining from drugs and alcohol means no longer hanging out with a toxic group of friends. Instead of being around people who encourage you to use, find a supportive network of people who truly care about your well-being. You might even want to look into sober living homes in your area.
4. Exercise and Be Active
Exercise is a great way to get outside, get your blood flowing, improving your mood, reducing your stress, and reducing drug cravings. Beyond just exercise though, you should be generally active in life.
Now that you’re maintaining sobriety, you should determine what you value, what interests you, and what activities encourage a feeling of being healthfully alive.
Rather than withdrawing from life’s activities, be sure to get out there and do stuff! You’ll be glad you did, and it will help support your recovery.
5. Eat Well
Nutrition is an essential element of staying sober and healthy. It’s common for drug use to encourage people to have poor nutritional habits. Your body needs to recover from the stress and strain it has been put through due to drug use.
Eating a healthy diet can help reduce your stress, stabalize your mood, reduce drug cravings, encourage a healthy lifestyle, health the body, and reverse some of the damage that has been done. If cooking healthfully is new to you, consider consulting with a nutritionist or taking some cooking classes.
Follow These Tips to Stay Sober: You’re Worth It!
Abstaining from drugs and alcohol can be incredibly difficult when you’re recovering from an addiction. With these tips to stay sober, though, you’ll be able to make it through even the most difficult of days.
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