Tips for Maintaining your Sobriety

To become sober is a satisfying and significant major accomplishment. However, beating a drug or alcohol abuse or addiction problem needs maintenance. Alcohol treatment centers in Kansas City will have resources on how to stay sober. In the meantime, here are tips on maintaining sobriety.

Helping Others by Volunteering

Helping others has been proven effective in helping ex-addicts maintain sobriety. Recent research shows helping others brings significant physical and psychological benefits to the helper. The benefits of having concern for the well-being of others helps people who are in recovery for addiction are positive and long-lasting. Research has shown people who volunteer report improved physical health, decreasing stress levels and increased levels of happiness.

Addicts who help others, even in small ways, significantly improve their chances of maintaining sobriety. Those who attend 12-step meetings, like Alcoholics Anonymous, can volunteer by making coffee, cleaning up after the meeting and other tasks when needed.

Attending Meetings

A maxim in treatment gives the following advice: once finished with residential treatment, an ex-addict should attend "90 meetings in 90 days". Right after leaving a residential treatment facility is the most vulnerable point for an abuser, meetings help support them as relapse prevention. Recovering addicts give support, structure, hold each other accountable and offer advice in meetings. Peer support of this type has been proven effective in helping people stay sober. Meetings are a recommended lifelong commitment to sustaining sobriety. Having a sponsor from these meetings is helpful as well.

Sober Living Homes

Sober living homes are residences where recovering addicts live between rehab and their return to living independently. Sober living is meant to serve as a transition from the sheltered environment of residential treatment, by providing a safe and supportive place to live. Housing is provided for people who have just come out of rehab, who need a place to live and typically don't have an outside support system, or have no way to make a living. Sober living can last a few weeks or several months, depending on the needs of the individual.

To learn more about treatment options, call us today.