There are few greater accomplishments than achieving sobriety following a long-standing or particularly severe substance dependency. Individuals boasting this feat acknowledged their addiction, sought professional assistance, and overcame seemingly impossible challenges.
That said, however, many medical professionals and addiction treatment specialists argue that completion of a treatment program is the relatively simple part. What often follows is a lifetime of possible pitfalls and temptations the healing subject must continually battle against.
The Temptations Former Dependents Face
Unfortunately, improving soul’s will face potentially adverse enticements from various sources including:
Society
The difficult but plain truth is that other people will not and cannot adjust their lives to accommodate a recovering dependent’s past and present. For example, many individuals a former alcoholic encounters in social and professional settings will imbibe.
It is unfair to ask said subjects to not drink simply because of the addict’s past habits and future desires. Unfortunately, said events are something the impacted soul must grow accustomed to and accept as fact.
The Media
In one form or another, the media often promotes or glorifies addictive behavior.
Finding magazine inserts, television advertisements, or large billboards not touting the smooth, great taste of some type of alcoholic beverage often proves challenging.
Moreover, media outlets like television and the movies often depict the drug scene as cool, chic, and something attractive, well-to-do, celebrated persons yearn to engage in.
Everyday Life
Arguably, the most serious temptation-inducing avenues are found in the recovering subject’s everyday lives.
Regardless of one’s social, economic, professional, or familial background, not one person escapes the stress of everyday life. Ergo, the average individual will encounter potential stressors like:
- Professional pressures and deadlines
- Family responsibilities
- Health concerns
- Financial worries
- Social pressures
- Achieving one’s hopes and dreams
These challenges are stressful for anyone to cope with. For a recovering addict, these challenges are multiplied manifold.
Tips For Staying Sober In This World Of Temptation
Though difficult, recovering addicts may increase their chances of maintaining their sobriety by adhering to suggestions including:
Emphasizing Healthy Living
More often than not, healthy bodies and minds work in conjunction. Therefore, convalescing persons might stay clean by participating in health-maintenance efforts like:
- Consuming a nutritious, balanced diet
- Obtaining adequate amounts of sleep
- Exercising
- Staying properly hydrated
Additionally, long-standing alcohol or substance dependency could wreak havoc on the user’s body. Ergo, said subjects are well-served to receive routine medical and dental checkups.
Identifying Potential Pitfalls
Numerous recovering addicts turned to alcohol or some other illicit substance to dull physical or emotional pain or escape especially challenging life circumstances.
Moving forward, a crucial sobriety-maintenance step is to identify these possible triggers and either avoid them or develop coping mechanisms geared towards addressing them as positively and productively as humanly possible.
Eliminating Known Problems
To piggyback on the previous point, problem areas should be eliminated where applicable. Such concerns often include:
- Bad influences
- Stressful environments
- Past difficult relationships
- All unnecessary stressors
Such efforts are colloquially referred to as addition by subtraction. The healing subject is improving their life by merely getting rid of existing problems.
Establishing Healthy Relationships
One major key to clean living is developing healthy associations. Such relations could be close family members, caring friends, firm but compassionate professional associations, and sponsors who typically experienced addiction themselves and understand the challenges a former dependent goes through.
Changing The Routine
One of the most dangerous behaviors recovering individuals can engage is following previously existing schedules or routines. Such arrangements did not serve their best interests in the past. Therefore, said schedules should be completely changed.
Do Not Dwell On The Past
It is easy for a former dependent to express anger and frustration at past mistakes and events. However, addiction specialists and mental health professionals stress that this behavior often proves counterproductive.
While acknowledging past transgressions is important to not repeating them, the individual in question must let go of what was and focus on their future. The past cannot be changed. However, the future is theirs to create. Dwelling on what used to be or has already happened is bound to elicit negative emotions and feelings that could lead to significantly deleterious consequences.
Identifying Productive Outlets
Recovering subjects are urged to identify and partake in healthy, mind and body-stimulating, productive, and enjoyable activities. Such endeavors can vary from person to person. The only prerequisite is that the outlet is clean and the individual enjoys it.
Keep Up A Positive Attitude
This advice may be cliched but true. Negative thoughts and feelings often yield disagreeable outcomes. Though recovery is challenging, those who remain sober are often individuals displaying positive outlooks.
Contacting Us
The bottom line is that temptation will always be present. While such struggles are normal, the manner in which a former dependent deals with these challenges could impact their sobriety. For additional help coping with this ongoing challenge, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced team of addiction treatment professionals at 833-285-1315.
