Although making the initial effort, through detox and those first weeks of addiction treatment is tough, long term recovery is just as tough and those that don’t put forth the effort too often relapse back to drug or alcohol abuse. Relapse is common – but it doesn’t have to happen to you! Recovery is a process, not an event, and it involves you making a commitment to a better way of life and having the courage and determination to change your life to support your continuing sobriety. Here’s an overview of some of the steps you’ll likely need to take if you’re serious about staying clean and sober for good.
Although quitting is hard – it’s staying drug or alcohol free for good that really takes work.
The recovery process doesn’t end at the completion of a rehab stay or an outpatient program – recovery takes work and attention and it requires some big changes in the way you live.
Recovery
Relapse ends the recovery process for too many people in the first year - the first months - after primary care treatment. Relapse is a common part of the disease of addiction; but it doesn’t have to happen to you, and if you do slip and have a drink or get high – it doesn’t mean that you’re a failure and that all your efforts are for nothing, it just means that you need to get a little more help and get back on the horse and keep on moving forward.
Although many people will relapse in the initial period of recovery, there are things you can do to maximize your odds of staying clean and sober and happy and healthy.
- Participate fully in a continuing care program
- Find yourself a safe and sober living environment
- Take care of yourself…mind and body
- Avoid stress
- Avoid temptation
- Avoid overconfidence!
page last update Aug 05, 2010
