5 Ways to get Clean and Stay Sober
Getting clean and sober will be a personal journey. For an easy guide on how to get clean and sober, our list of 5 ways to help can offer eye-opening ideas for you or a loved one.
Our team has many years of experience, and we have found that what may work for someone else may not work for you. So, it is crucial to get out there and find out what works for you by attending as many support groups as possible and exploring the simple tricks that can help you ease any potential triggers.
This article explores what it means to be sober and what it takes to get clean quickly and safely while listing the steps we feel are most effective in attaining sobriety.
What does it mean to be sober?
Whenever I hear the word sober, it is when I am out for a meal or a drink with friends, and I hear someone say that they have had a few drinks but still feel sober, or maybe they are not having a drink tonight; they are having a sober night. These are usually the words of casual drinkers. Casual drinkers may feel that sobriety is the spell in between their next drink, but to someone who has suffered from alcoholism, sobriety is the key to a more sustainable life.
Anyone previously addicted to a substance realises the potential consequences of relapsing and will dedicate their newfound lives to avoiding any triggers or temptations. Everyone has their process of finding effective ways to stay clean.
Being clean and sober technically means your body is free from any intoxicating substances, such as alcohol or recreational drugs. This state can be temporary. Saying you are staying sober tonight is very different to being sober long-term.
What is the safest and most effective way to get clean?
If you are a heavy user of an addictive substance, then the safest and most effective way to get all traces of drugs and alcohol out of your body is through a medical detox.
A Medical Detox will supply you with all the appropriate medications to make the withdrawal process as comfortable as possible and have an expert medical staff member observe you throughout.
If you have any questions on the availability of arranging a Medical Detox or have any questions in regards to what is involved, then please do not hesitate to contact our team.
It can be a struggle to get sober, and it can also be a struggle to stay clean, but we have compiled a list of the five most effective ways to help get you sober and keep you clean of any substances.
Five effective ways of getting clean and staying sober
Step 1
First, you must find the proper support for your recovery journey, including finding a legitimate medical detox, rehab or recovery program that has tried and tested methods performed by experienced staff.
It is vital to find people who will support you in your sobriety and who will listen to your goals and help you attain them. It is also essential to find support outside your familiar circle, and you can do this by seeking out other people who have recovered from addiction. You can find your peers easily by attending a local 12-step meeting or any other recovery support group.
Step 2
It may seem obvious, but it isn’t apparent to all, especially those addicted to a substance, and that is to take care of yourself. Most people we work with do not honestly believe they deserve to live fulfilling lives. It is one of the symptoms of feeling low and hurt by sustained abuse.
If you feel that you don’t have what it takes to get clean and sober, join the club. The truth is you do have what it takes. We encourage those struggling with trauma to seek the help and advice of an experienced counsellor or a mental health expert dealing with addiction concerns.
Any therapist you meet is someone who dedicates their life to helping people overcome difficulties in life. No one goes through life on their own, even if they think they do, so why think you do? Why not get the help you need and experience the possibility of a new life?
Step 3
The reasons behind why you became an addict are endless, but that doesn’t mean you can’t extract whatever you can, enough to make that change of direction towards a sober life.
Everybody’s experience of addiction is different. So if you are here reading this, you have already taken that all-important step towards getting clean. So the next step is finding what you should prioritise, and at the top of that list is identifying some of the core issues and working through them.
Being open to exploring what could be driving you towards drugs or alcohol is essential to achieving long-term recovery and beginning to live with your face facing the winds of what life can bring.
We recommend you seek out a program that has experience in dealing with co-occurring disorders to make sure that you are receiving the best help possible.
Step 4
You will inevitably have moments when you feel you can’t go on; your journey will be full of them, so it is vital to recognise that everyone goes through these tender moments.
Whenever you are experiencing moments of helplessness, remember that you are not alone, and you can phone your friends, family, sponsor, addiction centres and charities, support groups and the NHS.
The world is full of people just like you, and they are ready to listen when you need it and offer any support you might need.
Step 5
I have a friend who was addicted to alcohol, and when he got clean and sober, he started a punk band. Now, he is recording songs, getting gigs at the local bars around the city, and making many new friends along the way. I am using my friend as an example of what can come from a life free from alcohol or drugs. I have heard of folk becoming writers, public speakers, counsellors and therapists, and people saving relationships that were dying or finding a new lease of life in their career or family life. The possibilities are out there. A clean and sober life will present them to you.
