Sobriety is a life-long goal. You can tell yourself you're going to stop drinking or using drugs, but like any goal, once you achieve it, you realize there's more to accomplish. Being clean and sober takes patience, commitment, and realizing that you don't know what it takes to be sober. Maybe no one does.
Getting Sober
Everyone decides to become clean and sober for a reason. Take a moment to remember what was the reason you decided to stop using alcohol or drugs. In some cases, the decision stems from pain, like a break-up in a relationship. However, the change in emotional well-being can open your eyes to the reality of your substance use.
There are times when getting sober is the only choice. The legal consequences of risky or illegal behavior can force you to enter a detoxification program. Families can also play a part in why you entered a substance addiction program.
Whatever your reason for getting sober is, you took the steps necessary to reach your goal of sobriety.
What It Takes to Maintain Sobriety
During early recovery, you think you know a lot about maintaining your sobriety. You may even have the "pink cloud effect." Unfortunately, the pink cloud effect prevents you from recognizing the hardships of recovery. Eventually, the euphoria of completing treatment will end. To help avoid relapse, you need to accept the love and support of those around you. It would be best if you faced reality because there are tough times ahead.
Getting sober and maintaining your sobriety means you realize you don't know what it takes to become sober or stay sober. Addiction is psychological and physical. You can stop using substances, but until you understand why you used them, stopping forever is difficult. Throughout your stay in a treatment center, you learn healthy coping skills, discuss your triggers, and make a treatment plan to follow once you leave. When you finish substance addiction treatment, though, you re-enter the life you left behind.
Set Goals
Goals provide a point of focus during treatment and recovery. Not every goal is easy. Sometimes you take on more than you can handle. You don't have to reach the goal you set; you can readjust your timeline or the goal at any time. Also, remember that life or situations can alter how you think or feel about a goal.
To set a goal, you need to assess what you want from yourself and the plan's outcome. Does the goal line up with your beliefs and core values? Anything that doesn't reflect what you believe in or is a priority will fail.
Think about the larger picture when sobriety is your goal. Ask yourself what steps you need to take to reach the status of "clean and sober." Now outline them.
Go with the flow. Life is not linear. You will face challenges or disruptions to your sobriety. A key to coping with any obstacle is to remind yourself you're only you. Whether you relapse or are stuck in your path of sobriety, assess and process your feelings. Be ready to either find a new direction or redefine the goal. Also, start again if you relapse.
Follow the narrow path. Once you have drafted a plan to reach sobriety, remember to narrow down your goal. Saying you want to become or maintain your sobriety is excellent, but what does sober mean to you? Sobriety means what the dictionary says in the bigger picture, but in the smaller image, what is it? If you can't define what sobriety means to you, envision what life free of alcohol or drugs looks like. That's your version of sobriety.
Think of sobriety like this: when you start on a hike, the path is wide open. You head towards a specific point, but along the way, the course will change. Sometimes the terrain is smooth, steep, rocky, or washed away. Maybe the further you hike, the narrower the path becomes. During the hike, you adjust because you need to accommodate the unexpected to reach your destination.
Reaching Your Goals
Now, what happens once you reach your goal? You can stay where you are or move forward. Reaching a goal gives you the chance to set new goals that push you further. However, before you go ahead, make sure your foundation is firm, and you have the proper coping skills.
Let's go back to the hike. If your goal was to reach the midpoint of a mountain and you were successful, you can set another goal to reach the top of the mountain. Ask yourself if you have the proper skills or training before you start to go up. Perhaps you think you can make it on your own. What happens when the unexpected happens? You shouldn't hike a mountain without training, proper gear, and a support system. You shouldn't try sobriety on your own, either. Maintaining sobriety requires training, support, and the willingness to accept you can't get to the top without constantly readjusting.
Sobriety is many things to different people. To decide to become sober is a step towards the broader goal of being sober, but it isn't everything. You will learn healthy coping skills, goal-setting techniques, and when to adjust your path if needed. You should also understand you don't know what it takes for you to be sober. No one can know. An aspect of being sober recognizes your own life, and its circumstances are constantly evolving. What it took to finish a substance addiction treatment program may not fulfill your needs once you leave treatment. Your core values or environment can also shift, leaving the path you knew. Monte Cristo Recovery is here to help you start your journey to recovery. Our staff shares your goal of sobriety because we were once in your shoes. We recognize your individual needs while you are with us. If you think you want to learn about detox, call (714) 824-9896.