Later in 2013, I found out I was pregnant. I thought getting pregnant would be impossible after years and years of abusing my body, yet right before I hit one year of sobriety, my son was born. As someone who never being sober around drinkers took care of herself, the fact that my body was able to produce life felt like a miracle. From that moment forward, I committed to treating my body with respect—not just by not drinking—but by moving it and nourishing it as best as I could. For others, they may experience urges to drink more so during the summer months when it’s warm outside. Maybe, going to the local store and walking past the cooler is a “trigger.” Acknowledging these triggers and having a plan already in place for when they do occur is a life saver.
Practice Healthy Living
This can be especially true if you’re surrounded by people who drink. If moderation is possible for you, and will allow you to live a healthier life with the people you love, it’s worth considering this option. Long-term sobriety can be challenging—but it’s even more difficult when your spouse and loved ones continue to drink. Socializing with people who are drinking, having alcohol in the home, and even the smell of alcohol are common triggers for people in recovery.
Maintain Ongoing Professional Support
For many people who complete their stay at a rehabilitation center, therapy becomes part of the outpatient program. It’s continual treatment to help you get better, continue checking in and isolate why you turned to alcohol in the first place and how to avoid triggers going forward. Therapy is a great (and safe) outlet to discuss your struggles honestly. Have an open mind, but for a few of us in recovery, this does work. When you catch yourself thinking of drinking, of wanting nothing more than to have one glass of whiskey, then stop and close your eyes. Take that thought and imagine it as a fish and let it float out of your vision.
Other Helpful Strategies
- Their understanding and support can catalyze behavioral changes while diluting the intensity of cravings.
- At some point in your recovery, you’ll feel stressed out, whether it’s major stress (like losing a job) or minor stress (like running late for an appointment).
- Redirect your drinking to stay hydrated.
- But the comment of yeah, there’s just not enough time is so it’s so frequent.
The answer is that any couple whose drinking matches or exceeds the limits cited above would do well to consider this option. That is not to say that either partner would qualify for a diagnosis of alcoholism—only that their drinking, on average, falls outside these limits. The holidays can be stressful, which can be a major trigger for relapse.
- I imagine a man drowning in the ocean, who just before going under for the last time sees a ship sailing towards him.
- I went on a backpacking trip through the Pacific Northwest where I live right now with like, 30 other kids for six weeks.
- If you don’t know the person well, simply saying you have to get up early the next morning or you quit for health reasons should be enough.
- This is especially true in early sobriety.
- Learn that you have choices and that you can maintain control.
Some people journal their sobriety milestones, while others track them on their phone or a calendar. You may have celebrated milestones during your sobriety journey. Track your wins on a calendar or through a Sobriety app. Be wary of anything or anyone who causes negative thoughts, wears on your emotional state or triggers you.