Fighting Temptation in Recovery From Addiction

How to Fight Temptation in Sobriety

Cravings and urges are common in addiction recovery and tend to decrease in severity and frequency the longer someone is sober. Until you reach this point, weathering the storm can be challenging. Our Palm Springs rehab is sharing some relapse prevention strategies that can help you or a loved one in fighting temptation and help you on your journey.

Know Your Triggers & Avoid Them

Before you can fight temptation in recovery, you should become aware of what brings on these cravings. Some people are triggered by their environment, and others may be triggered by certain emotions. Once you have a better understanding of your own triggers, you can do a better job of avoiding the people, places, and situations that make you feel tempted.

Practice Mindfulness & Breathing

Although you can avoid areas or situations with a large number of drug triggers, dodging drug cravings altogether is impossible. When you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, mindfulness and focusing on your breathing can help. These practices allow you to collect yourself and calm your racing thoughts so that you can once again be in control of your temptations.

Have a Plan

Battling temptation in recovery is about being smart. If you are going to an event or place where you know there are going to be drug triggers, have a plan in place. Bring someone along who will support you and keep you accountable for your sobriety. It is also okay to leave a situation if you are feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, patients of our Southern California rehab will be able to craft a personal relapse prevention plan with a trained counselor upon completing treatment.

Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care is a crucial component of addiction recovery, as it helps individuals to prioritize their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Addiction can take a significant toll on the mind and body, and engaging in self-care practices can help to mitigate these negative effects, reduce the risk of relapse, and promote overall health and happiness. This can include getting good sleep, exercising, and eating a healthy diet.

Celebrate Small Victories

Recovery is a journey that is filled with both challenges and triumphs. Celebrating the small victories along the way can help keep you motivated and focused on your goals. This may involve recognizing the progress that has been made, setting achievable goals for oneself, and sharing your successes with those closest to you. Celebrating success gives those in recovery a chance to build confidence while navigating the path of sobriety.

Talk It Out

Feeling tempted in recovery is not a sign of weakness but rather a natural response to sobriety. When you experience drug cravings, especially if they were brought on by a new drug trigger, you should talk it out. Speak with your sponsor, bring it up at a recovery meeting, or talk about it with a trusted friend. Talking about it can help you work through the problem and get a better understanding of how to handle it in the future.

Don’t Go It Alone

When some people in recovery experience drug cravings and urges, they are tempted to try to handle it on their own. They may be embarrassed or simply too proud to ask for help, but fighting temptation in recovery on their own can be risky. It is better to reach out to someone for help. Even if you do not feel like talking to them about it, just them knowing can help keep you accountable until the craving passes.