DO put your sobriety first for long term recovery.
Actively take steps each day to promote and maintain your recovery. Living one day and in the present moment can help you avoid unrealistic expectations and feel like you’re not achieving enough. Every day sober is a huge accomplishment.
DO learn to be humble.
Practice mindfulness and focus on the present. Always remain “teachable,” ask for help and support when you need it. Take the advice of your therapist, counselors, and those in recovery longer than you. There is a benefit to learning from mistakes they made along the way and being grateful for what you have at this moment.
DO avoid people, places, and things that do not align with your recovery.
Be aware of relationships that are toxic and not conducive to your recovery. Avoid going to places where it will trigger you to drink or use drugs. It would help if you created a new routine so healthy habits can form. Detox your home from any alcohol, drugs, or paraphernalia that can make it easy for you to relapse.
DO create a strong support group.
A strong support group is an essential part of recovery. Now that you are sober, you can maintain close relationships, making it easier to reach out when you feel struggling. Allow people to support your recovery journey, be open with how your progressing, and also what challenges you facing. You are not alone.
DO treat co-occurring disorders.
Many individuals in recovery struggle with co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD or personality disorders. The individual is often self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, which amplifies the addiction; the mental health disorder remains once the substances are removed. To achieve a successful long-term recovery, both conditions need to be treated simultaneously.
Do practice self-care.
Yes, your sobriety comes first, and yes, you are working on your recovery but don’t let those things keep you from practicing self-care. Self-care is a fundamental rule in recovery; if you’re not taking care of yourself or making time for yourself, you’ll become burnt out, and maintaining sobriety will become much more challenging.
DON’T compare your recovery with others.
The recovery process and journey are unique to the individual. No one else on this planet is exactly like you; therefore, your recovery process is unique. Some individuals are okay with detox and therapy. Others will require inpatient rehabilitation, 12-step programs, medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and outpatient treatment to begin their recovery journey. As you start the journey, you will discover what you need and what works best for you.
DON’T be afraid to fail.
The recovery process is not a one-time thing. There might be goals you set for yourself and then don’t achieve them. Not every day will be a good day, there will be bad days too, and sometimes you’ll feel like you failed your family, your sponsor, and yourself, but recovery isn’t a race. It’s about meeting yourself exactly where you are and allowing yourself to receive help on an unconditional basis.
DON’T cheat yourself.
If you’re going through the motions of the recovery process, you are cheating yourself. Don’t sit in the back row of a 12-step meeting, don’t be afraid to share every once in a while, don’t habitually show up late, and leave early. Suppose you’re doing these things you’re depriving yourself of all that these meetings have to offer you. Show up early once in a while, chat with some veteran members and make yourself comfortable in your recovery. These meetings can provide you with more than any bar ever has.
DO keep it simple.
Don’t make too many changes when you first enter recovery. If you just ended a relationship, don’t start a new one. The stress of a new relationship, new home, or new career simultaneously could cause you to relapse. Make the necessary changes but avoid the unnecessary stressors that can cause you to feel overwhelmed. Make your recovery your number one priority and focus. Slow and steady wins the race.
DON’T be fooled into thinking you are cured.
Addiction and alcoholism can be treated but not cured. Sobriety is something you need to work on every single day. Even if it has been months or years since your last drink or drug use, it can still only take one slip up to send you back into active addiction. You can not casually drink or recreationally do drugs, you are predisposed to addiction, and if you do relapse, you may end up worse off than where you began. Remain rm in your recovery and abstain from alcohol, drugs, and individuals that
DON’T be afraid to ask for help.
Substance Use Disorders are challenging to navigate and overcome on your own. You have created a support circle, so use it. Sometimes the help you need might even be outside of your recovery, and that’s okay too. Load shedding will make it easier for you to focus on your recovery and feel less overwhelmed. You are not alone, and you do not need to embark on this journey alone. Never be afraid to ask for help and never refuse to accept help.
Help Starts Here!
Avatar Residential Detox Center offers several addiction treatment programs. Contact our 24-hour helpline at (973)-774-7222 and talk with one of our addiction specialists to learn more about detox and our addiction treatments, mental health options, residential rehab facilities, alcohol addiction center New Jersey, and how to afford addiction treatment.
Avatar Alcohol Addiction Treatment & Alcohol Detox Program
Avatar Residential Detox Treatment Center in Ringwood, New Jersey, offers inpatient rehabilitation, alcohol detox, addiction treatments, specialty therapy options, and aftercare planning. We offer luxury amenities while ensuring the safety, privacy, and community to support you on the road to recovery. Each client receives treatment customized to their diagnosis, symptoms, and goals. Discover your path to recovery today.
