How to Sober Up, What Actually Works?

While there are certainly many commonalities to substance use disorders, the truth is that the challenges inherent in getting sober will be vastly different for different people. For instance, the challenge of getting sober can be very different for a person who has close family members that also struggle with a substance use disorder, than for someone whose family does not have that same issue. Being in a relationship with another substance user can also complicate matters. That being said, there are still some commonalities between what works for almost everyone and what does not. Here are three tips to getting sober that actually work.

1. Change your environment

Perhaps one of the most important things that rehab offers is isolation from the daily influences that feed substance use. For instance, alcohol and drug users generally have certain places they like to drink or get high or certain people they tend to drink or get high with. One of the most important and difficult elements of achieving sobriety is distancing yourself from these “triggers”. While not everyone can afford rehab and it isn’t the only way to get sober, it is definitely one invaluable tool.

2. Get help

While many people believe they can overcome a substance use disorder on their own, very few, if any, actually do. Overcoming a substance use disorder almost always requires at the very least, accountability, and more often than not, professional help. While, once again, not everyone can afford professional help, very few people will ever get or stay sober without at least a support network of some kind. This can include mentors, counselors, sponsors and a support group; which can sometimes include family members and friends.

3. Get honest

There is a common idea in recovery circles, which is that the first step is admitting you have a problem. While that is true and accurate, there is still a very long road following that first step with a great deal more to have to admit to. Dealing with a substance use disorder almost always requires a multi-faceted approach that not only addresses the chemical dependency itself, but also, in many cases, a history of damaged relationships and even, in some cases, an underlying victim mentality.