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Acknowledging and celebrating the hard work of recovery is helpful for keeping you motivated and reminding you why you took this brave step toward sobriety in the first place. Just be sure that your rewards don’t involve drugs or alcohol. Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle.
However, when placed in an environment with open spaces and other rats to socialize with, almost none of the rats chose to drink the drug water. This simple example shows how important it is to have interaction, support and activities that fill a void many turn to substances to fill. Even if you think you can detox safely on your own, it’s important to also consider the social aspect of going through a treatment program.
Social Media Addiction: 4+ Signs You’re Addicted to Social Media
Now that you are growing more confident in your ability to stay sober, it’s time to create a routine supporting that sobriety. This is especially crucial if you transition directly from a highly structured residential program to complete independent living. If you move from residential treatment to a sober living home, you get the benefit of a semi-structured and drug-free environment in which to build routines. Whether you are participating in a residential addiction treatment program or attending outpatient alcoholism treatment, your initial three days of sobriety will involve many firsts. You’ll be meeting your care team, consisting of a physician, nursing staff, and therapists.
Additionally, adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink or drink in moderation. This refers to limiting intake to 2 drinks or fewer in a day for males or no more than 1 drink in a day for females. Apps can not only help a person track how many drinks they have consumed, but they can also estimate BAC levels and send alerts if the individual is drinking too much or too quickly. Exercise can help wake up the body and make a person more alert. However, there is currently no strong evidence to suggest that exercise can help metabolize alcohol quicker.
Can I Quit Alcohol Cold Turkey?
The care you need depends on a variety of factors, including your age, drug-use history, medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors offer addiction treatment services. While this is not a comprehensive list, abusing any of the substances above will increase your need for a supervised medical detox.
What is the hardest part about not drinking?
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of quitting drinking is having to explain to people that you don't drink. While this is a personal choice that you really don't owe anyone an explanation for, many people will still question someone when they say they don't drink.
Toxic relationships are those in which you feel unheard, misunderstood, unsupported, demeaned, unsafe, or attacked. Both old habits and unhealthy relationships can trigger those negative emotional states that may increase the risk sober house of relapse. Unfortunately, with DIY drug rehab, you’ll most likely miss out on some of these important aspects of treatment. This could lead to increased incidences of relapse and reduced satisfaction from a lifestyle of sobriety.
There Are Many Paths To Sobriety
If you choose to go the do-it-yourself route with DIY drug rehab, you may not have access to valuable structure and support that will guide you as you make this difficult transition. At some point in your recovery, you’ll feel stressed out, whether it’s major stress (like losing a job) or minor stress (like running late for an appointment). When things like this happen, find a sober friend or loved one you can talk to for support. And keep your schedule loose enough that you have time for group meetings and other things that can help you through rough stretches. Or it could be that you’ve developed a physical health problem that you know is probably due to drinking and you want to make positive changes before things get worse.
Sober living homes provide a safe, supportive place to live while you’re recovering from drug addiction. They are a good option if you don’t have a stable home or a drug-free living environment. It may also be helpful to get to know yourself on your own, first. Spending sober time becoming familiar with your body intimately can help you better communicate your needs to someone else when you feel ready for that step. In the early days, I felt that it was my responsibility to answer the question, “How come you aren’t drinking?