September is National Recovery Month. Are you in recovery from an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol? If so, you are already aware of the work you need to do to stay sober. You are likely doing all you can to prevent a relapse. That is great. However, there is nothing wrong with getting a refresher on recovery basics or sharing your story or this information with others who may need to overcome an addiction.
If you or someone you know is ready to start your recovery, our Transformations Care team is ready to assist you today.
Defining Sobriety
Sobriety isn’t about just not using harmful substances. The term means much more than that. Living a sober and recovering lifestyle is what its all about. Yes, you will need to abstain from using alcohol and/or drugs. However, you will also need to develop positive coping mechanisms, set realistic goals, make healthy choices in life and develop better boundaries and relationships, too.
It is possible to live a sober and recovering lifestyle. If you haven’t begun this journey yet, don’t worry. Our Transformations Care team is here to help you do that. We offer group therapy, individual therapy and other holistic approaches to treatment that can help you. We even have medication-assisted treatment to help those who might deal with withdrawal symptoms or who need treatment for mental health disorders, as well.
How Can Someone Stay Sober
National Recovery Month is about living sober, healthy and happy. It is about not using harmful substances, spreading awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, attending meetings, getting into recovery and celebrating those who are in recovery.
How can someone stay sober once they get into recovery? Well, our Transformations Care team wants to share some great tips for doing this during National Recovery Month which include:
- Identifying your own triggers – what causes you to abuse drugs and/or alcohol such as environment cues, emotional distress, others using alcohol, or your job (once you can identify these then you can focus on avoiding these triggers)
- Recognizing the warning signs for a relapse (oftentimes, relapse will sneak up on people which is why it’s so important to be able to recognize when it might be coming – some things that might happen include thinking about using, engaging in self-defeating behaviors, irrational thinking, behaving irresponsibly, and wanting something to help you escape from physical and/or emotional pain)
- Preparing for post-acute withdrawal syndrome (one of the reasons many people relapse is due to withdrawal symptoms, however, if you can prepare for these symptoms by getting professional detox help that can greatly reduce your risk of relapsing)
- Avoiding old habits and routines (usually, someone’s drug and/or alcohol abuse is associated with certain habits or routines – if you can avoid doing these things, it can greatly increase your chances of getting and staying sober)
- Building better, healthier relationships (toxic relationships are one of the main things that cause people to relapse when they are in recovery – if you can develop and participate in healthier relationships, it can give you the support and encouragement you need to stay sober)
- Get professional treatment (there are numerous professional treatment programs that can be beneficial to you when you are trying to stay sober)
These are some of the main ways that you can stay sober when you are in recovery from an alcohol and/or drug addiction. If you want more information about living a sober lifestyle or you are ready to get into recovery, feel free to reach out to our Transformations Care team today.
Treatment Options for National Recovery Month
September is National Recovery Month. While people need to know that treatment options are available all year round, this is great time to start encouraging people to overcome drug and alcohol addictions. There are so many different treatments that have helped people to get sober and into recovery. Whether you, your loved one or a friend are struggling with substance abuse, these treatments can be beneficial.
Some of the treatment options we want to share with you during National Recovery Month include:
- Drug and alcohol detox programs
- Residential addiction treatment program
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient treatment program (OP)
- Alumni program (aftercare)
- Alcohol addiction treatment
- Drug addiction treatment
- Opioid addiction treatment
- Heroin addiction treatment
- Prescription drug addiction treatment
- Painkiller addiction treatment
- Cocaine addiction treatment
- Meth addiction treatment
- Suboxone treatment
- Methadone treatment
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- And many others…
Each one of these treatments or programs is going to help you overcome an addiction to alcohol or drugs. Not everyone will attend the same treatments. For example, someone may need an inpatient or residential treatment program while another person may have a less severe addiction and only need outpatient treatment.
No matter which treatment or program you attend, the primary goal is to help you live a sober and recovering lifestyle. What better time to get sober and into recovery than right now, during National Recovery Month?
Helping Someone Else Overcome Addiction
Do you have suspicions or know that your loved one or friend is abusing drugs or alcohol? If so, your concerns for them may be running very high right now. You aren’t alone. There are many family members and friends who watch their loved ones lose their life to addiction every day.
Don’t wait any longer to try helping your loved one or friend overcome their addiction. You can start with educating yourself about addiction and treatment programs. Then, it would be good to schedule an intervention. That way, your loved one or friend can see that you and others are concerned about them. It is important that during the intervention you stay focused on how to help this individual. Don’t blame or judge them – offer support, encouragement and guidance into a treatment program.
Celebrate National Recovery Month Throughout September
As noted above, there are numerous treatment programs that someone can attend. While these treatments are available all year long, it is a good idea to spread the word about them during September which is National Recovery Month. The more people who know about these treatment options and who can see that others just want what is best for them, the more people that can be saved from an addictive lifestyle.
Contact us today, here at Transformations Care, to celebrate National Recovery Month by getting into a treatment program right away.