Sobriety and “getting sober” involve more than just staying away from drugs and alcohol. A hardened alcoholic or drug addict who goes through detox and rehab can retain the negativity and inward focus that drove him to become addicted to dangerous substances in the first instance, and unless he lets go of that negativity he will remain at risk for a relapse. Still, stopping all use of drugs and alcohol is a necessary first step toward getting sober. Other steps are required to stay sober.
Addicts and alcoholics will often suffer from low self-esteem or a self-image that has been impaired by long-term drug or alcohol use. Getting sober will require a person to develop a stronger self image. A person who is committed to getting sober can begin to rebuild his self-esteem by setting realistic short-term goals that show steady progress toward the longer-term objective of full sobriety. A good goal, for example, might be to make it through a single day without having a drink or using any drugs. A person who is attempting to get sober will feel better about himself when he achieves this short-term goal, and those good feelings will build on themselves and, over time, will help him recover his self-esteem.
Some alcoholics and drug addicts are able to get sober with no professional assistance or therapy, but they are the exception and not the rule. Professional counseling will help addicts and alcoholics to gain a deeper understanding of the forces that led them to addiction and will provide treatment not just for the addiction, but also for those forces. Group therapy provides a non-judgmental forum for support and assistance and establishes an outlet that an addict or alcoholic can turn to when the temptation to relapse arises.
Group therapy will also establish a foundation for permanent sobriety. Recovering alcoholics and drug addicts will need to adopt a whole new lifestyle to maintain their sobriety. They will need to develop strategies to deal with the psychological cravings for their substances that will inevitably strike them at inopportune times. They will also need to learn new habits and hobbies to ward off any boredom that strikes them when they no longer fill their time with drugs and alcohol. They will also need to reconnect with friends and acquaintances who were alienated during the alcoholic’s or addict’s substance abuse.
Leading the industry in the treatment of co-occurring disorders, Cottonwood Tucson offers an integrative approach to residential care. Rehabilitating the mind, the body, and the spirit, our residential treatment programs are internationally recognized for clinical excellence. Call us today for more information: (888) 727-0441
