Becoming sober can be a long journey filled with lots of ups and downs. Everyone is going to go through the process in their own way, but there are some tools out there that can benefit anyone.
No matter where you are in your recovery journey, having a stocked recovery toolbox will provide you with much-needed support no matter what you’re dealing with. From understanding your triggers to putting time aside to simply enjoy life, there are ways that you can help yourself through the recovery process.
Keep reading to learn more about 10 different addiction recovery tools you can use to make your recovery journey easier. This is your comeback story, so make it the best it can be!
Tools to Help Your Sobriety Journey
It’s important to try out different recovery methods to find the right fit for you. Some people will find that they benefit from different methods more than others, making it an easy decision on what to practice during difficult times.
You can learn more about your addiction recovery needs by at least attempting some of these different methods. Part of your personalized treatment program is going to be figuring out what your needs are and what can help to fulfill them.
1. Healthy Coping Skills
One of the first things to do in early recovery from drug addiction or alcohol addiction is to come up with a list of your triggers. You will want to be aware of what sets you off and pushes you to use substances.
People, sounds, places, smells, and situations might trigger you without you even realizing it. Our brains are powerful things! It might take a few times to fully realize what you’re being triggered by before you can make the necessary changes.
The unfortunate thing about triggers is that you can’t fully control them. You never know when you’ll be triggered or by what, and it’s hard to go through life trying to protect yourself from experiencing them. What you can do for yourself is learn healthy coping strategies to practice when those triggers become apparent.
Instead of turning to substance abuse, you can practice breathing exercises, take yourself out of the situation and call your sponsor, or put your headphones in and put on a specific playlist. Whatever you think will help, give it a try!
2. Exercise More
Instead of turning to drugs, some people will spend a night at the gym to blow off some steam and relieve stress. Exercise can influence more positive emotions and help create more balance when it comes to your mental health. Yes, exercise is good for your physical health, but it can also help when you’re struggling with mental illness.
You also don’t need to go to the gym to exercise. You should figure out what forms of movement you like best and stick to those. Yoga is a great option, especially for practicing mindfulness, if you want to slow down and spend more time with yourself. You can also join group activities like volleyball or a dance program to burn some energy.
Even if you simply take yourself for walks, your body will thank you for putting good energy into it rather than harmful substances.
3. Therapy Programs
There are a variety of therapy programs that you could enter. Sobriety is hard to do alone, but with guidance from professionals and peers, it makes the process less scary. Some people will need to enter a detox program first so they can safely come off of substances. Others will enter into inpatient or outpatient programs, depending on their needs.
Some people opt for individual and group therapy to develop a sobriety plan with their therapist and workshop coping methods in groups. Ongoing therapy during the sobriety journey can help keep you confident and supported. It offers you a place of no judgment to talk about your struggles and work towards getting better.
4. Meditation and Mindfulness
Addiction can make you feel out of your mind. You often feel uncontrollable and distressed due to the heightened situation that you’re in. The practice of meditation and mindfulness helps you to overcome these feelings of disorientation and brings you back to your center.
Mindfulness and meditation are all about restoring your peace and pressing “pause” on your stressful situation. The best part about this method is that it can be practiced anywhere at any time. It can be very useful, especially if you can’t access the tools to your other recovery methods.
Don’t be afraid to practice throughout your day, and don’t get discouraged when it proves to be more difficult than you thought. It takes time and effort to get it down and feel the positive effects!
5. Nourishing Food and Yummy Mocktails
Fueling your body with good food is so important during your sobriety journey. You can feel low energy with mood swings as you fight the urge to use substances.
Of course, eating as a coping mechanism can be its own can of worms, but making sure you’re satisfying your hunger can help to avoid feeling irritable or stressed out.
Additionally, while alcohol abuse and alcohol use often go hand-in-hand with cocktails, mocktails do exist! Crafting up some yummy mocktails can be a fun way to enjoy a tasty drink with no negative side effects.
The act of drinking itself can be an addictive behavior, so giving up fun drinks might be something you're not looking forward to. And you shouldn’t have to!
Grab some seltzer, juice, a fancy glass, and an ice cube or two. As more people take on the sober life, more sober bars are popping up around the United States. Do a quick search and see if one is nearby to check out.
6. Practice Self-Care
Part of the recovery journey is learning how to take better care of yourself. Self-care is an essential part of this. Keeping up with your health to feel your best is a great place to start.
This could look like reading a book or stretching every day, just as much as it means showering and brushing your teeth every day.
You know yourself and what your needs are. No one can fulfill them the way you can for yourself, so don’t be afraid to try new forms of self-care throughout the process.
7. Journaling
Journaling throughout your recovery is a good way to put your thoughts and feelings on paper. It’s also a great way to track your progress. This way, you can refer back to things later on when you are further into your recovery journey.
Journaling doesn’t have to look a certain way. You can use it to create to-do lists, write down all your goals for recovery, rant about your day-to-day, or simply update yourself on how the recovery process is going.
8. Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries can often go hand-in-hand with being aware of your triggers. You need to know how much you can take without burning out.
Being sober can use up your energy because you're constantly fighting against cravings and feelings of doubt. Setting boundaries allows you to recuperate and recharge when you need to without feeling any guilt.
Certain things can set off triggers, like scrolling on social media or being around certain people. Sometimes setting a timer for yourself can let you know when you've spent too much time doing something that might not be great for you. Setting boundaries is, in fact, a form of self-care.
9. Develop a Routine
People that struggle with addiction often need structure to be successful. One way you can help yourself every day is by following a routine.
Try to wake up at the same time, make yourself a cup of coffee and breakfast, do some journaling or practice some yoga, and then figure out the rest of your day. Whether you are going to work or running errands, knowing what you're doing with your day allows you to spend your time not thinking about your addiction.
10. Join an Online Community
Lastly, consider joining an online community of other sober individuals with similar goals. Family members and loved ones can be great outlets; however, peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous can often understand your situation a bit better.
Surrounding yourself with people who understand your struggles can make the process a little bit easier. Not only do you not feel alone, but you're able to support others who are going through the same thing.
Still, AA is not for everyone. While support is essential for successful recovery, finding the right recovery support group is far from easy.
Find Support With Sober Sidekick
With Sober Sidekick, you can access a community of like-minded individuals seeking support in their recovery. You can speak with medical professionals if you have concerns about your recovery process or join 24/7 AA meetings online.
Download the recovery app today on an Android or iPhone and see how the community can help you through your recovery!
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