Making A List and Checking it Twice: Making it Through the First Months
Planning makes any big task more manageable. Recovery can follow the same principle. You can plan for your recovery. You can also plan how to avoid relapse. Journaling and making lists is a great way to put your thoughts down on paper and set up a plan for difficult moments.
Let’s face it. Life can get in the way and if you don’t stay focused and committed, you could lose track of your recovery. In time, getting through cravings and urges gets easier. As long as you put in the work to stay sober one day at a time, you will stay sober.
Planning for early recovery is extremely helpful. In the first days and months of your recovery, you may experience cravings. Cravings are temporary as long as you don’t entertain them. As you use journaling as a tool, consider making a craving kit, as well.
A craving kit can be whatever helps you take your mind off of the urge and make it through sober. Here are some ideas to put in your craving kit, but feel free to use whatever helps you make it through. Remember, cravings are temporary and should go away after a few minutes.
- Gum
- Candy
- Nuts
- Word puzzles
- Motivational books
- Calming music
- Adult coloring pages
- Phone numbers of sober friends to call
Another helpful too, as noted above, is journaling. Cravings may not always be about drugs and alcohol. You may be having cravings because you are stressed, you saw an old friend, or you feel agitated. Again, cravings can seem overwhelming when you are experiencing them, but you can make it through them.
Journaling can give you an outlet for times when you feel irritated, angry, stressed, or even happy. When journaling, be careful not to glamorize drugs and alcohol. Instead, try to write about the following:
- What happened just before the craving?
- Pinpoint your real feelings
- Express frustrations and disappointments on paper
- Write about the good moments in your recovery so far
- Note your goals and reason why you got sober
Cravings are normal, but they should subside in length, frequency, and intensity the longer you stay sober. Take it one day at a time. You can make it through this.
Hired Power is an expert in using innovative approaches to addiction treatment. If you want to learn more about how to put your recovery first, call Hired Power today at 714-559-3919. Hired Power is the expert you need to help you become empowered in your recovery.
