Maintaining sobriety is as difficult as getting sober. The temptations to drink do not suddenly go away because you have switched from beer to iced tea for the past three months. When you stop hanging out with friends that abuse prescription drugs, that does not mean that your access to prescription drugs is nullified. Staying sober is a daily ritual that may get easier but is never easy. The most important thing is that you want to get sober for yourself and stay that way.
At Sunstone Recovery in Bend, Oregon getting sober is a team effort. You are not in this alone. Individual, family, and group therapies are available and work in concert with each other to lay the foundation to enable you to live a sober life when you return to your community. Using a holistic approach to wellness, we emphasize the importance of maintaining the lessons learned here to achieve real concrete results.
5 Biggest Keys to Maintaining Sobriety
- Moderation is a myth
- What are your triggers and how to avoid them
- The importance of self-care
- Stress relief
- Aftercare commitment
The myth of moderation is all around us. Your formerly alcoholic friend who got sober but is able to have a few beers and keep his head. Your coworker who has tried to quit three times but got it under control and now only parties on the weekends. This is your goal, to still use but not a lot. This is not sobriety—this is denial. There is no such thing as responsible substance abuse for an addict. A trigger could be an old drinking buddy or the part of town where the streets are lined with bars and packed on the weekends. Whatever it is for you is personal, and we all respond differently to these triggers. Know your limitations, and do not be afraid to take a stand when they pop up.
Self-care is important for all of us, not just those struggling with addiction. When life gets too stressful, have a routine in place to put you and your sobriety first. Exercise, spending time outdoors or working on a skill like playing an instrument or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen. When we throw ourselves into a consuming task, it gives us less time to think about relapsing. Stress relief can be a form of self-care, but it could also be a group activity like playing billiards or riding a bike with a group on the weekends. Aftercare is essential to avoiding relapse, and like self-care and stress management, it is about taking care of yourself.
Sober Living
This is what aftercare is all about. You are alive, really alive because you have committed to being sober. There is more to it than not drinking or taking drugs. It requires daily discipline and being brave enough to ask for help when you need it. There was the person you used to be, and there is the person you are now. Acknowledge the difference between the two and how it makes you feel. Sober living is not without setbacks, but tomorrow will always be there if you stay true to yourself today. Join us in the following programs:
- Partial hospitalization program
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient addiction treatment
Reach Out to Sunstone Recovery Today
Located in Bend, Oregon, one of the outdoor capitals of the world, Sunstone Recovery is perfectly situated to help guide you on the path to sobriety. Currently, all of our services are being offered online via telemedicine due to covid-19 restrictions, but this makes us available to residents throughout the state. We can be reached online or at 855.833.9199 for you to take the first step on your journey to recovery.
