5 Keyways to Remain Clean/Sober

It is incredibly hard to get clean and sober, and I will be the first to tell you that. Those withdrawals I went through were straight up for the BIRDS. But, after you go through that, and you make it through rehab and IOP, you’ve done the hardest parts right? NOPE. Now, you must stay clean and sober. Let me share some points with you.

1. You must get learn how to live life on life’s terms.

This statement is easier said than done. We, addicts, are not the one who are great at dealing with emotions are the least bit amount of stress. I still am terrible at that. We have to learn healthy coping mechanisms. I like to go play with my son, make tiktoks, make youtube videos, write, and spend time with my husband. You will have stressors, but you have to find a way to de-escalate the situation, so you do not turn to using again.

2. Do not replace one substance with another.

I see a lot of addicts think it is okay for them to have alcohol. I am not okay with this, and here is why: if you continue to drink, you can easily replace you drug addiction with alcoholism. It has been proven time after time. You will never be able to be a social user. We are not wired that way. It is not fair, so please do not cause yourself or your family to go through that pain too.

3. Get a good support system

I had to search high and low for a good support system with friends, but I have them. My family has always been a good support system. Let me tell you a story, we go to bars to watch my little brother play music every once and a while (that took me until I was 3 years sober, not recommended to a new comer). Everyone knows I am sober, and they all support and protect me. My sweet friend Katie even stays sober with me so that I am not alone. When I say get a good support system, that is a good friend and a good support system. She keeps me from being alone even when she does not have to.

4. Let go of the past.

To be sober and clean, I had to learn to let go of my past. It took me a while to learn that. I resented myself for the longest, and the first time I relapsed I think it was because I couldn’t let go of the past. I also learned that in order to be a better person, I had to stop letting people hold my past over my head. I had a girl bring up my past in a negative way this weekend and I just laughed at her. She tried to cut me down, and the old me would have used that as an excuse to go get high, but not this time.

You also must let go of the place, people, and things you used to be around when you where getting high and drunk. I had to let go of a lot of friends and stop going to a lot of places to stay clean and sober. It has been lonely but ultimately has been worth it because of my sweet baby boy.

5. Believe in God

I believe that you have to belief in a god to have any chance in recovery. I believe in the Christian God, and he has done so many things in my life. I cannot thank him enough for everything good that has happened in my life for me and my family.

I believe that these have been my 5 main ways that I have stayed clean and sober.