Detoxification is one of the hardest parts of rehab, and the second would be finishing your treatment. If you have completed your rehab program, then your next endeavor to conquer is staying sober for life. How are you going to do that?
Today, we’re going to share with you practical strategies on how you can stay away from triggers that will lead you back to methamphetamine addiction. Living a clean and healthy life is a lifelong process that requires commitment. We want to help you, so we made this blog for you.
You Need to Know Your Triggers
Triggers are the people, events, or emotions that tell your brain to crave and consume meth. Every individual has their own triggers, and you need to know them for you to stay away from them.
When you’re still inside the rehab center, you have undergone a series of therapies that helped you understand yourself better. Those therapies helped you identify the triggers that can lead you to crave and consume meth. You have to take note of that, and always put that on top of your mind.
Here are some common triggers for substance use disorder:
- Stress from work, family, or school
- Special events like holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries
- Boredom
- Burn out
- A traumatic event in your life
- Shame, anxiety, or guilt
- The peers you hang along with most of the time
- The places you go to frequently with your colleagues, schoolmates, or friends
- Sensing the presence of the drug
Once you know and keep in mind the triggers that tell you to consume meth, you need to positively cope with it. If you still remember your sessions on Cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist has taught you positive coping mechanisms to counter these triggers.
Find a Reliable Support Network
One of the common reasons why people abuse drugs is because they have no one to run to when problems arise. It’s easier for them to go back to addiction to temporarily forget about their life problems. For you to avoid going to relapse, you need to develop a network of support who will be there for you during your downtimes.
It must be important that the people you lean on are not involved in drinking and substance use disorder, otherwise, you will be back to addiction.
Find Your Passion and Focus on It
Boredom and loss of sense of direction in life are two of the many factors that make people go into addiction. They find it pleasurable to be in a state of euphoria, rather than fulfilling their life goals. For you or anyone to counter it, you must find the desire of your heart. You can categorize it as short-term and long-term goals.
During rehab, if you recall, there’s no idle time for any patient, right? That’s because idle time is an avenue for relapse to happen. Even if you are not doing your favorite hobby, if you keep yourself preoccupied with productive activities, you will later know what you desire the most.
You can talk to a counselor to help you find what are your goals in life, or what things you are most passionate about. Once you figure that out, focus your time and energy there until you achieve it.
Join a Support Group
Besides having a network of support from your friends and family, you can also join support groups in your city. These organizations offer accountability, counseling, and support to all individuals who need it. You will have weekly sessions with the team to brainstorm on everyone’s experiences, especially in their efforts of staying sober.
Some of these support groups are the following:
- 12-Step Groups
- Secular Organizations for Sobriety
- SMART Recovery Groups
- Religious Organizations
Take Care of Your Mental Health
Addiction can also be related to mental health since a person who is under the influence of a substance can no longer think well. He tends to do risky behaviors that endanger himself and others. There are also cases where the cause of substance use disorder is depression or any mental health issues. Mental disorders and addiction can either be the cause or result of the other.
Here are some techniques on how you can keep your mental health in good shape:
- Seeing your therapist weekly
- Workout and balanced diet
- Set a time to learn new hobbies
- Be offline and explore the outdoor
- Engaging yourself in community extension services
These activities will help positively shape your mind and behavior. Take a break from the routine activities you do every week, and do something different that adds value to your character.
Smooth Transition from Rehab to “Real World”
Most patients having a smooth transition from rehab to the “real world” outside of rehab showed a higher chance of staying sober for a year. If you want to have a slow transition, you can live in sober living homes. They offer a support network and environment that helps individuals stay clean and meth-free for life.
How Can You Stay Mentally Sober for Life
There’s a strong relationship between mental illness and addiction. Around 37 percent of people with alcoholism and 53 percent of those with addiction problems have at least one mental health problem. This shows you need to work on your mental health if you want to be sober for life.
You can consult a therapist or counselor to check your mental condition every month. By doing that, you can better understand yourself, and prevent the formation of unhealthy behaviors due to depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.
Here are some tips on how you can improve your mental condition:
- Write your thoughts and worries in a journal
- Know what triggers you to drink or consume illicit substances
- Give time for yourself
- Schedule a workout and eat healthily
- Be with people having a positive and enthusiastic outlook on life
Get Professional Help
If you think you need additional help to maintain your sobriety, don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals. They have the skills and knowledge to help you overcome these triggers and continue living your healthy life.