Overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction is no easy task. It takes time, commitment, and external support to break the bonds of addiction, including access to professional rehabilitation and aftercare programs. If you’ve achieved long-term sobriety by overcoming a substance use disorder, it’s important to celebrate your efforts and reward yourself for a job well done. Let’s take a look at five of the best ways that you can celebrate your soberversary.
Do Something You’ve Never Done Before
Doing some new and unexpected is a great way to celebrate your soberversary. People get involved in drug and alcohol abuse because it seems fun and exciting, but for many, novelty turns into routine and addiction. There are lots of other ways to put excitement in your life, with the simple act of doing something new able to provide a great sense of celebration. If you’re feeling really brave, a soberversary is a great time to do the skydiving or bungee jumping you’ve been talking about all your life.
Spend Time with Friends and Family
There’s no better way to put your life in perspective than spending some quality time with friends and family. If you’ve overcome drug or alcohol abuse, the people around you have probably already seen you at your worst. If they are still there by your side, that says a lot about the strength of your relationships. A soberversary is a great time to honor the people around you, so why not spend some quality time with your loved ones and let them know just how special they are.
Travel to an Exotic Destination
Why not reward yourself on your soberversary by traveling to an exotic destination? Overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction can be a draining exercise, and let’s face it, sometimes you just need a break. Whether it’s a quick weekend away or an entire two weeks by the beach, traveling is one of the best ways to refresh yourself and put your life in perspective. By hitting the reset button on your life and looking at things from a different perspective, you can remind yourself of just how far you’ve come and make exciting new plans for the future.
Learn How to Meditate
Mindfulness and meditation are used in rehabilitation centers for a reason. By learning to be aware of your sensations, feelings and thoughts as they come into being, you can learn to recognize potential triggers and cope with challenging life events. Learning to meditate is a gift that only you can give yourself, so why not take some time out from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and pay attention to the quiet within. There are many ways to learn meditation, including formal classes, books, and even online courses.
Reflect on Your Achievements
By overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction, you’ve done something truly remarkable. Your soberversary is a great time to reflect on your achievements and make new plans for the future, whatever they happen to be. Recovering from drug or alcohol abuse is a continual process, with ongoing evaluation and reflection recommended at every stage of the recovery process.
What would be your favorite way to celebrate your soberversary? Share with us in the comments below or connect with us via Facebook at The Discovery House, or tweet them to us @TDHRehab!
If your loved one is suffering from an addiction, call The Discovery House today at 888.962.8208,