Getting clean and sober is hard, but staying clean and sober is even harder. In fact, leaving rehab is right when the real work of recovery begins. Transitioning back to life comes with a lot of triggers, especially if your job is stressful. Here’s how to deal with life, while staying clean and sober.
Get a Recovery Routine
If you’re used to rolling out of bed sometime after noon and starting your search for a fix, the concept of a morning routine may sound totally bizarre. Bear with us. Finding a recovery routine that you do before work every morning will help you start your day committed to yourself and your recovery. The specifics of the routine are up to you: You can go for a walk, pray, journal, or even just have a cup of coffee in a quiet space. No matter what you do, a morning routine makes you more prepared to deal with the bullshit that may arise once you leave the house.
Don’t Let Your Anxiety Take Over
If you’ve taken time off from work to get addiction treatment, you’re probably dreading facing your coworkers. Good news: Everyone is self-absorbed and doesn’t give a shit about you! That may be a little harsh, but it’s true. If they have noticed you’ve been gone, they probably will even respect you more for having the courage to make a positive change in your life. Anyone that doesn’t has issues of their own. Focus on yourself and your sobriety instead of trying to guess what they’re thinking, and you’ll be better off.
Don’t Put Yourself Into Bad Situations
Don’t be reckless. It’s probably not the best idea to go along with your coworkers to happy hour — even if you’re planning on just drinking water. No matter how much you like them, if they’re real friends they’ll be open to trying other activities with you, like going for coffee. Even if you think you’ll be fine, it’s best not to risk it, and especially in the beginning. If you think one of your old drinking buddies is struggling with substance abuse too, have them give us a call — we’re here to help. Check out our blog post on addiction resources for workers, HERE.
Attend Recovery Support Group Meetings
Is your work life unpredictable? Get dialed in to regular recovery meetings to prevent relapse. Knowing you have support behind you at all times makes a huge difference in life and recovery. There’s literally no excuse now that you can Zoom into a meeting on your lunch break. If you’ve tried the 12-step programs, but decided they’re not for you, give us a call and we can recommend alternatives to AA or NA.
Remember: You’re Never “Recovered” from Addiction
Addiction is a lifelong disease. If yours is in remission, that’s great, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re “all better.” When you give up drugs and alcohol, it’s all too easy for your mind and body to find another dangerous coping mechanism, like gambling, sex addiction, or workaholism. You can avoid creating an entirely new problem by taking care of yourself.
Are you working from home because of the pandemic? Try not blend the lines between work and home life. Practice self-care and try to take a break at least twice a day. Where are you at? Do you feel like you need to go to a recovery meeting or do some breathing exercises? Even if you’re slammed at work, take time for yourself and it’ll help you stay clean and sober. To learn more about co-occurring disorders, check out our blog post HERE.
If you’re in early recovery, you can give us a call for more tips on ways to stay clean & sober. Also, if you’re a working professional and have ever considered getting help for addiction, reach out to us. At Transformations Care, we’re dedicated to helping people get clean and sober for good. We can also teach you your rights in the workplace and how you can take a leave of absence to get addiction treatment without losing your job. Give us a call today at 424.339.0965 to take the first step.
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Getting Clean & Sober at Home
Today, more than 75% of hospitals and healthcare providers offer access to telehealth treatment, with 29 states having gone so far as to enact telehealth parity laws, which force insurance companies to reimburse patients for telehealth at the same rates as they would for in-person treatment.
If you’ve been thinking about getting clean and sober, or if you’ve been wanting to work on and strengthen the recovery you already have, it’s never been easier to do it through telehealth.
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