In 2008, 6.4 percent of Americans identified themselves as "heavy drinkers," found a survey performed by the Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Drinking one or more drink per day with the obsessive need to drink could mean you're an alcoholic. Once you've decided to stop drinking and embarked on a sober life, maintain your recovery by setting sober living regulations that keep your temptations and need to drink in check even on your worst days.
Avoid Temptation
You might still have friends that drink socially, or love to visit a pub to watch a football game. Unfortunately, spending time with people who drink, or going to a place where alcohol is available, can tempt you into relapsing, warns Choose Help. Other drinkers who don't see the value in sober living may question your motives and try to talk you out of it. A waitress asking you what you'd like to drink can be your undoing. Avoid temptation by evaluating the probability of relapse in social situations.
Get Support
Alcoholism recovery is a long and arduous process, and you'll need support in order to make it happen. Alcoholics Anonymous recommends having a "sponsor," someone who has been through a similar experience. If you feel your resolve weakening or need to talk to someone about your recovery, your sponsor can be a supportive shoulder to lean on until you feel strong enough to stand on your own.
Watch for the Signs
The signs of a potential relapse are easy to read. You may not want to admit that you are thinking about relapse, so write down symptoms of a relapse and post it somewhere prominent so you can see it daily. Look for things like fantasizing about drinking, reckless behavior, spending time with other drinkers, glamorizing alcohol use or lying to supporters, says Addictions and Recovery. When you recognize yourself thinking about a relapse, you can get support or remove yourself from the situation.
Take Care
Taking care of yourself is an important sober living regulation. Giving yourself the benefit of the doubt and caring for your well-bring, hygiene and self-esteem can all help stop you from returning to the bottle. Give yourself the time, relaxation and effort that you need to feel good about yourself and stay sober, says Behavioral Health Recovery Management.
Get Involved
A study of recovering alcoholics performed by the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and published in "Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly" found that those who were involved with helping to keep other alcoholics on the path to sobriety stayed sober themselves. The study recommends becoming a sponsor to another recovering alcoholic and suggests that the responsibility of caring for someone else gives you more accountability and reason to stay sober.
References
- National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Percent Distribution of Current Drinking Status
- Alcoholics Anonymous: FAQs
- Addictions and Recovery: Relapse Prevention Plan
- Choose Help: Relapse Prevention
- Behavioral Health Recovery Management: An Addiction Recovery Glossary: The Languages of American Communities of Recovery
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