How to Achieve Long-Term Sobriety
The million-dollar question for any newly sober person is how to achieve long-term sobriety. However, sobriety and recovery from addiction is a lifelong, one-day-at-a-time process.
There’s a popular saying about sobriety we hear often in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): “It works, if you work it.” What that means is that achieving stable sobriety depends on how the sober addict works at it!
Recovery isn’t something any sober addict can ever take for granted. If we “work” at recovery daily, attend meetings regularly, do the 12 Steps with a sponsor, practice the program’s principles, and volunteer to help newcomers in recovery, our chances of achieving successful long-term sobriety are far greater than if we get complacent.
It’s important to keep in mind that recovery is a uniquely personal experience, meaning that every person will experience it in his or her own way. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all path to maintaining a life of long-term sobriety, just as there is no single treatment that works well for every individual learning how to overcome an addiction.
I’ve found that the key is to utilize as many strategies, including new ones that work best for you. Maintaining a life of sobriety also means being adaptable and getting comfortable with dreaded “change.” Long-term sobriety involves continuous adjustments, growth, and learning, and I believe it is totally worth it.
You can make it fun and enjoyable too, you know? Exploring new hobbies, interests, and opportunities for personal growth are all viable options that could add color and zest to your life while increasing your chances of long-term sobriety. I’m an extremely active person, I surf, skateboard, snowboard, wakeboard, skimboard, do paintball, fishing, tennis, baseball/softball, soccer, boxing, golf, cliff dive, great white shark diving, boating, travel, ride motorcycles, dirt bike, paddle board, scuba dive, run, basketball, ping pong, pool- seriously, I could keep going…..
My point is that pursuing other activities outside of recovery IS actually part of my recovery!
Strategies For Success
There are hundreds of ideas, and strategies that are suggested because they have worked for millions of people. Here are a few that have worked for me:
Keeping It Simple: Bringing it back to the basics in self care: a daily regimen of eating regular, nutritious meals, ensuring you get the appropriate amount of sleep each night, doing physical exercise, attending 12-step group meetings, suiting up and showing up, appointments with doctors/ dentist or therapist, going to work of some sort, and reading recovery literature.
Habits: We’ve done away with several bad habits, and they’ve got to be replaced. So, develop good habits that support sobriety. Invest time for yourself whether through meditation, journaling, time with a therapist, or being in nature. Become a mindful awareness ninja! Notice how you react to what happens. Things may happen that you may not be able to control, but you can use some of your good habits from your sobriety toolkit instead of your old “habitual” bad ones, that didn’t really work so well. I have seen time and time again that self-esteem comes from esteem-able acts! If you want to raise your self-esteem, practice habits and do things that you’d be 100% proud to tell other people about.
Honesty: Honesty helps keep us sober. To stay sober, we all have to be rigorously honest with others and ourselves. “You’re only as sick as your secrets” is a commonly known phrase by those in AA. As alcoholics we deceived others in order to cover up our addiction; when we hide the signs and symptoms of un-sober behaviors, we making it easier to stay firmly rooted in denial. Any return to the habit of deception, or dishonesty and we risk backsliding right out of sobriety.
Support: You’ve gotta have a sober support system! There’s nothing that supports long-term sobriety better than, well, a sober support system. Whether it’s the 12 steps, or any other of the addiction support groups that are available, this will keep you accountable to your sobriety and offer you a support group in your area where you live.
Being Of Service: You’ve probably heard this in 12-step meetings: “You have to give it away to keep it.” Meaning sobriety, the gracious gift, and what you’ve learned, should be given back. Being of service and helping others has been an integral part of my recovery. When I am of service to others it allows me to come in contact with others who need help and might benefit from hearing my story. It reminds me where I came from and why I’m sober.
Widespread Recovery: Foundation & Fellowship
For me, achieving long-term sobriety boils down to foundation & fellowship. It’s why I started Widespread Recovery. My experience has shown me that helping others, developing a community of peers who share similar interests, and taking action are an excellent foundation from which to build a solid life in sobriety.
At Widespread Recovery we believe that sober living is the first step towards personal recovery. We provide an esteeming environment of change supported by the recovery behaviors that have helped every one of us maintain sobriety.