Alcoholism is one of America’s most common forms of addiction. If you or your loved one are affected by it, you can regain your sobriety through alcohol detox and rehab. But as crucial as these forms of treatment are, they don’t mark the endpoint of your recovery. Once you return to your daily routine, you must find a way to stay sober and keep alcohol out of your life. While daunting, this goal is achievable. People who reach it typically rely on a range of helpful strategies.
Why Sobriety Is Important in Alcohol Recovery
Some people try to return to casual alcohol use after they complete rehab. However, most experts recommend that you establish complete abstinence instead. Several things help explain why sobriety is essential to effective alcoholism recovery. Chief among these things is alcohol’s long-term effects on the brain.
Several significant brain changes mark alcoholism. These changes work together to:
- Make you physically dependent on alcohol
- Create an additional psychological dependence on drinking
- Trigger an involuntary need to seek out more alcohol to consume
In treatment, you do extensive work to restore your normal function. However, alcohol’s long-term effects on the brain continue to lurk in the background. This means that casual drinking can quickly turn into compulsive drinking. Soon, you may be back where you started: in urgent need of alcohol treatment.
Use Aftercare to Support Your Long-Term Sobriety from Alcohol
Experts recommend not trying to maintain long-term sobriety from alcohol alone. Instead of taking a DIY approach, seek help from a formal aftercare program. This kind of program provides you with ongoing support for your sobriety.
Support options vary. Some people make arrangements for regular check-ins with recovery specialists. Others rely on smartphone or computer apps designed to strengthen real-world sobriety skills. You may also have access to a rehab alum group. Groups of this type help you form a strong network of recovery peers. These peers can help you stay sober while you do the same thing for them.
Create a Realistic Alcohol Sobriety Timeline
It’s common to feel a sense of triumph when you complete alcohol rehab. After all, you’ve done a lot of hard work to get your sobriety started right. But maintaining that sobriety takes considerable everyday effort. You underestimate this effort at your peril. Make sure to create a realistic alcohol sobriety timeline. Such a timeline takes a long-term rather than a short-term point of view.
Additional Tips for Maintaining Your Ongoing Sobriety
You can also do lots of other things to keep your odds of sobriety success high. Common recommendations include:
- Avoiding situations that you know could increase your drinking urges
- Developing ways to offset and manage any such urges that arise
- Improving your ability to relax and manage stress
- Creating a physically active daily routine
- Relying on friends and family who support your commitment to sobriety
You should also strongly consider joining a mutual self-help group for people in alcohol recovery.
Learn More About Achieving Long-Term Sobriety from Alcohol at Northpoint Colorado
Want further guidance on how to stay sober long-term? The experts at Northpoint Colorado are standing by to assist you. Every day, we help people in recovery make effective plans for ongoing alcohol abstinence. We’re here for you as you make these important changes in your lifestyle and health.
Northpoint also features a dedicated alum program. You can enroll in this program as soon as you complete your time in rehab. That’s part of our commitment to your success in all recovery phases. To learn more about our services, call us today at 888.231.1281 or fill out our convenient online form.