It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy…but not necessarily if you have a history of alcohol addiction or abuse. One thing you can never afford to do is become complacent about your recovery. It has to be in the forefront of your heart and mind, every minute of every day, because that is what a life of sobriety demands from you.
Summer can be a time when you may be prone to cravings which can put you at risk for a relapse, but there are holistic steps you can take to prevent it.
Holistic Ways To Reduce Cravings For Alcohol
It’s impossible to know exactly when cravings for alcohol may start, but the best way to deal with them is to have strategies in place so that you can head them off in advance.
- Yoga – Including this form of exercise as part of your regular routine will not only help you to keep fit, but it will also improve your balance, concentration and ability to deal with stress. These skills will be helpful when you are faced with situations where you may have turned to alcohol in the past.
- Meditation – This practice teaches you to relax, breathe and look at situations, including ones from your own life, from the point of view of an interested observer. You can welcome thoughts about situations without having to respond to them emotionally; instead you welcome them and then send them on their way.
- Exercise – There are a few reasons why staying active will help to ward off cravings. For one thing, it helps you to stay busy. A full schedule doesn’t leave you a lot of down time to think about drinking. Regular exercise also releases the body’s own “feel-good” hormones, which make it less likely that you would consider turning to chemicals for something to make you feel better.
Using Relapse Prevention Tools Learned In Treatment
At the Dunes East Hampton, we teach our clients relapse prevention tools as part of our individualized luxury alcohol treatment program.
We teach our clients that recovery is a journey and not a destination. Ongoing attendance at AA meetings and/or group therapy is an important part of long-term sobriety. Get support from others when you need it; that’s what they are there for.
You may decide to avoid people who drink, even if they are old friends. Going near bars where you used to drink or going to parties is probably not the best choice. Don’t be shy about suggesting a sober activity to your friends if they suggest getting together.
Following these sober summer tips can help you stay on track at this time of the year.
The Dunes East Hampton offers luxury addiction treatment programs focusing on treating the entire person: mind, body and spirit.
Call Us Now To Learn More About Our Individualized Treatment Programs
And Extended Aftercare!
