Detoxing from Alcohol is difficult. There are often both physical and psychological impacts. Detox symptoms can be as simple as feeling out of sorts or as unpleasant as vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, and general overall severe flu-like symptoms. Detox from alcohol can also be deadly. If your body is accustomed to consuming large amounts of alcohol, you may need medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to prevent severe medical complications such as seizures or death. For this reason, it is always advisable to consult your doctor before beginning the detox process. Once you have safely completed detox, the next step is to maintain sobriety, so you don’t need to detox again.
Get Rid of the Alcohol in Your House to Stay Sober after Detox
It is much easier to stay sober if you don’t have the temptation of alcohol within arm’s reach. Remove the temptations and avoid going to places where drinking is focused.
Don’t Hang Out with Your Drinking Buddies to Stay Sober after Detox
Drinking buddies normalize excessive drinking. The more time you spend with them, the more likely you are to join them in drinking.
Develop New Hobbies to Stay Sober after Detox
Drinking can consume a lot of time. Fill up your time with new hobbies and activities. It will make staying sober easier.
Seek Support to Stay Sober after Detox
Don’t isolate and take a “go it alone” approach. It is hard to break old habits and old ways of thinking if the only one you talk to about your sobriety is yourself. Will-power will only take you so far. Talk to family and friends and ask them for support. Let them help you create strategies and structures to help you maintain sobriety.
Join Support Groups to Stay Sober after Detox
Many people find it helpful to join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA can provide you with support and can teach you tried and true strategies to maintain sobriety. Getting a sponsor who can guide you through the 12-step program and help keep you accountable for your sobriety is especially helpful.
Enroll in an Intensive Outpatient Program to Stay Sober after Detox
Many people find that they are good at stopping the use of alcohol, but that they are equally as good at starting the use of alcohol. If you find that you just can’t seem to stay sober, maybe it is time to seek professional help. An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a treatment program that you attend three to four nights a week. During treatment, you will learn strategies to become sober and prevent relapses in the future. You will also be able to meet others who are experiencing the same struggles with alcohol. IOPs are invaluable in helping problem drinkers not feel so alone while they learn how to stay sober.
Residential Treatment Can Help You Break the Drinking Cycle
If a person cannot stay sober in their current environment, then a residential program may be necessary. Residential programs allow you to immerse in recovery and help you break the cycle of drinking. Often after a residential treatment program, a person will go into an IOP to help them re-assimilate back into their life and living arrangements. We have found that continued professional support after residential treatment improves the odds of staying sober.
There is a Life after Sobriety
Staying sober from alcohol does not mean that the good times are over. It does not mean that your life will now be dull with limited social connections and few social opportunities. Most find that life without drinking is more than they had ever imagined. Their experiences are stronger, friendships more sustainable and loyal, and relationships more genuine and honest. Yes, there will be times when you are tempted to drink alcohol. It is in these times that the connections you make through an IOP or AA become invaluable as you can lean on them for support. They understand what you are going through since they have been there before.
Consult a Professional to Stay Sober after Detox
What is most advisable from the start is to talk to your doctor, a therapist, or a professional drug and alcohol counselor to determine where in the process of recovery you may be. They will inquire about how you feel, what you’re currently experiencing, and what you have done up to that point. These professionals will be better equipped to determine where you fit in the sober process, how to move forward, and how to do it with the best chances for success.
New Dimensions Can Help!
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms or problems, New Dimensions can help. Our team of experienced therapists and psychiatrists can help you overcome these challenges and help you develop the skills you need to thrive. To schedule a complementary assessment or to find out more about our programs, contact us at 1-800-685-9796.
Our affiliate, MHThrive, provides Individual Therapy, Couples and Marriage Counseling, and Family Therapy at our locations in Katy, The Woodlands, and the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas. We also provide telehealth therapy for anyone who resides within the State of Texas. To schedule an appointment with one of the MHThrive therapists, contact us at 713-477-0333 or visit www.mhthrive.com to learn more.