Maintaining Sobriety: One Year and Beyond

A hopeful outlook…

You wake up each morning with a sense of energy and purpose. That sense of dread and anxiety has subsided, replaced with clarity and even eagerness for the day ahead, knowing you have tools in place to guide you in your routine that nourishes your body and mind. Basic self-care activities like exercise, balanced nutrition and restorative sleep have become a way of life, and you feel an overall sense of contentment, even when life is stressful. You now have effective strategies for managing stress and challenges and approach difficulties with the confidence of knowing you can get through them without relying on a substance or escape behavior. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you notice the signs and triggers, and are able to take steps to deescalate your emotions before impulsivity takes over. You have resources you have become accustomed to using, and life feels more balanced. 

You are able to connect with loved ones in a meaningful way, having repaired the rupture that problematic behaviors can cause over time. You have build a system of understanding and support and relationships feel stronger, built on honesty and respect, as you known longer are operating in a shame-based paradigm. You share joyful moments and milestones with those closest to you; you want to let people into your life. 

You have rediscovered a sense of passion and clarity for what is meaningful to you. This might mean a shift of career or (re)discovering hobbies that enliven you. You have a clear understanding of your values and drive and have a sense of where you want to go next. You’ve embraced new interests and hobbies, exploring passions you never had time for before. Your life is rich with experiences that bring you joy and fulfillment, as you are continually growing and living authentically. You are within your capacity, and feel a sense of spaciousness. Your days are filled with meaningful activities and relationships that bring you genuine fulfillment.

If this all seems too good to be true, that's okay. Feeling good might seem unattainable to you right now but as we chip away at the underlying iceberg, it becomes REAL. It is possible to gain the spaciousness and capacity to feel content and calm, even in the eye of the storm. I have helped guide many people from a hopeless place to a new perception of what is possible.

If you have been sober for some time, it is likely you are facing very different challenges than those that prompted you to seek sobriety in the first place.

Though they might seem like “leaves in a pool” problems to some, the problems of recovery span all areas of life, and can extend to secondary (less harmful) addictions or impulsive behaviors that help you to cope when the pain of life is too great, and using your substance of choice is no longer an option.

Recovery is about reclaiming what has been lost, developing coping skills for life’s challenges, and enhancing relationships, especially with yourself.

Sobriety can bestow a host of gifts, including connection, calm and clarity. However, it is easy to fall into a constant cycle of “fixing” and feeling like the hamster wheel of healing never ends. Many people find themselves still struggling with the low self esteem and self image that encouraged them to numb their feelings in the first place.

Whether you have have been sober one year or twenty, you have gotten through some of the most grueling moments of your life by choosing recovery. Now it’s time to build and sustain a life worth living, one in which you feel connected to your desires, participate in relationships and feel in touch with your purpose, whatever that means to you.

I completed the majority of my training in substance abuse treatment settings, helping people who were struggling with addiction disorders develop coping skills that led, in many cases, to sustained recovery. I am deeply familiar with this journey of deeper, often spiritual, growth and discovery. I incorporate principles from Eastern traditions and concepts from 12-step facilitation.

If you have any questions about early sobriety, longterm recovery or how , together, we can cultivate a sense of ease and comfort in your life, schedule a free consultation with me.