What is the Difference Between Sobriety and Recovery?

A woman enjoys life in recovery.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 7 in 10 adults who ever had a substance use problem considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery. Addiction recovery is a life-long journey that can be filled with many ups and downs. Whether you are just starting your recovery journey, or have been sober for years, it’s important to understand the difference between sobriety and recovery, and how it relates to your own recovery journey. Keep reading to learn the difference between sobriety and recovery below.

At Grace Recovery, we are a drug and alcohol rehab that provides premier treatment to help support each patient’s road to recovery. No two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment options to ensure you receive the best care that aligns with your unique recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your road to recovery. 

What is Sobriety?

Sobriety is when a recovering addict detoxes and is free from abusing drugs. In other words, sobriety is how long someone has abstained from abusing drugs or alcohol. It’s important to celebrate sobriety as it signifies how far you’ve come along your road to recovery. Regardless of if you’ve been sober for 1 year or 10 years, it’s essential to acknowledge and celebrate your sobriety. 

What is Recovery?

Recovery refers to more of the emotional, psychological, and physical healing and growth that occurs when you’ve detoxed, overcome addiction, and are living a sober life. Addiction recovery is life-long in that you are constantly avoiding triggers, urges, and cravings in your life. Your recovery journey doesn’t just stop once you’ve overcome addiction and achieved sobriety. It’s important to continue to support your recovery journey, whether through support groups, therapy, or even outpatient care to help maintain your progress in recovery. 

3 Main Differences Between Sobriety vs. Recovery

While sobriety and recovery are similar, there are differences between sobriety and recovery. Keep reading to learn those differences below.

  1. Recovery Typically Refers to an Individual’s Healing & Growth Progress

As mentioned briefly above, recovery typically involves more of an individual’s healing and growth progress. In other words, not just how long someone has abstained from drugs, but how they’ve physically, mentally, and emotionally progressed in life once they have overcome addiction, healed, and are now living a sober life. 

  1. Sobriety Typically Is Measured in Time & Involves How Long Someone Has Been Drug-Free

Next, the term sobriety is typically more seen as an outcome of overcoming addiction, and thus is measured in time and how long someone has been free from drugs. Although someone can say they’ve been in recovery from drugs or addiction for 5 years, typically people refer to the length of time they’ve been free from drugs with sobriety, such as saying “I’ve been sober for 5 years.”

  1. Sobriety Is Viewed as an Outcome, Whereas Recovery Is a Lifestyle

Last but not least, sobriety is typically seen as more of a goal or outcome, whereas recovery is more of a comprehensive lifestyle transformation. For example, every recovering addict’s goal is to achieve life-long sobriety; however, to achieve long-term sobriety, an individual must prioritize consistent and daily healing through recovery. From seeking professional help through addiction treatment to attending support groups and maintaining healthy habits, all of these are positive ways to support your recovery journey so you can achieve long-lasting sobriety.

Help Is Available

Now you know more about what is the difference between sobriety and recovery. While sobriety is typically seen more as an outcome of recovery and should be celebrated, recovery typically refers to the daily lifestyle healing and growth that comes from maintaining sobriety. No matter where you are on your road to recovery, it’s important to understand that addiction recovery is a life-long journey. 

At Grace Recovery, we are here to help you every step of the way along your road to recovery. We understand how debilitating a disease addiction can be. That’s why we offer a wide range of treatment options from addiction treatment options to mental health treatment to ensure you receive the right care to uniquely support your road to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your road to recovery. 

What Is There To Do Sober In Los Angeles?

One of the most common misconceptions about getting sober is that your life will be boring. The good news is this is a misconception and extremely far from being the truth, including for those who live in or are visiting Los Angeles. Just because you are in addiction recovery, it doesn’t mean you cannot have fun. There are several ways to have fun in the city, without using drugs or alcohol. The use of drugs and alcohol does not define your life; in fact, getting sober means you are finally living and enjoying a healthy life. Here are just a few of things you can enjoy in Los Angeles, even while being sober.

Amusement Parks

Like many other cities in California, Los Angeles is home to a lot of amusement parks where you can spend the day riding roller coasters, eating excellent food and trying your hand at various games. Universal Studios, for example, is a great place to enjoy “reenactments” or participating in the same adventures as the characters in your favorite movies. The good news is that even if you used to visit these places before getting sober, you may find you enjoy them much more now that you’re in addiction recovery.

Spend Time at the Beach

One of the best things about Los Angeles is that the weather is almost always perfect for spending the day at the beach. You can pack a picnic, grab your surfboard or simply choose to relax on the sand. There is always some type of activity going on at the different beaches throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding area. If this will be your first time going to the beach sober, you may find that you see the surroundings in a much different view and that you enjoy the environment more than you expected.

Visit a Museum

Unless there is an event involving drugs or alcohol, most people with an addiction don’t include a visit to the museum into their activity schedule. Now that you are in addiction recovery, a trip to the museum may just allow you to appreciate the experience more. Whether you choose to visit the Getty Center for a glimpse at the masterpieces inside or simply to enjoy the view from the mountains, the trip is definitely worth your time. After enjoying all that the museum has to offer, stop for lunch at one of the local establishments, such as the Nickel Diner.

Go For a Hike

Unfortunately, the use of drugs and alcohol takes a significant toll on your physical health as well as your emotional health. So, one of the best ways to celebrate your addiction recovery is by participating in activities that are beneficial for both your physical and emotional health. Los Angeles has some of the greatest places available to hike and most of the trails are pet-friendly, so you can take your pet with you. If you prefer to see the sights on horseback, that can be achieved as well or you can visit Pacific Palisades to see the waterfalls up Temescal Canyon. However, you choose to hit the trails, hiking sober will allow you to enjoy the environment and work on your physical and emotional health.

Being sober will open up a whole new world of experiences for you, so it’s time to get out there and do everything you ever dreamed of doing. Addiction recovery is the time to focus on yourself, do the things you never found time to do when you were using your substance of choice. Try new and different things; you might be completely surprised at how much your interests have changed now that you’re sober. The goal is to have fun and recognize the fact that your addiction is no longer running your life, you are now in charge, so enjoy all that you missed while using and all the things you have worked hard to enjoy.

How to Deal With Anxiety in Sobriety

When you stop drinking or using your drug of choice, you have to start learning other ways to deal with negative feelings. Anxiety is one of the worst because you can’t find a direct solution.

It is normal to feel anxiety in early sobriety, as you start to feel the changes involved in physical, mental and spiritual recovery. You still can’t imagine what your life will be like as you practice your new way of living, and it can feel overwhelming.

Here are some great ways to deal with anxiety in sobriety:

Live in the now.

There’s a reason that one of the first slogans you learn is “One day at a time.” No human could handle living in different moments at the same time. You will eventually have fewer regrets about the past and fewer fears about the future, but in the beginning, you can remind yourself that you only have to deal with one day at a time.

Most people find it helpful to break that down when they feel particularly anxious. You can tell yourself you only have to get through this afternoon, this hour, this minute, or this second before you move to the next one. Life is less stressful when you handle it in small bites.

Meditation.

If you haven’t practiced it before, you will hopefully be learning some useful meditation techniques in your treatment program. You can practice meditation anywhere at almost any time during any break in your day. You can even use an App to get guided meditations. The less time you feel like you have to meditate, the greater need you have for it.

Yoga.

This is a great way to help focus your mind that also supports your physical recovery. Yoga relieves stress and helps you learn to focus on and control your breathing. There are even 12-step yoga meetings where the focus is on recovery.

Talk to someone.

Addiction is a disease of isolation. It’s easy once you start feeling anxious to lose perspective and begin to skew the way you’re looking at things. You can convince yourself of almost any terrible thing if you don’t talk to someone to get perspective. Alone, you can obsess over the smallest thing and turn it into a disaster.

You don’t have to just use a professional therapist, although individual therapy is helpful for many issues. You can also keep handy the phone number of your sponsor, other AA or NA members, trusted friends, and family. Even dropping in on a meeting and letting strangers know that you’re feeling anxious can help tremendously.

Learn to identify what stresses you out.

Your triggers might not be rational at all. You may feel anxious in the afternoon, because that was the time you used to go drink, or when you pass certain locations in your neighborhood. You will find it easier to deal with your feelings by identifying your triggers and being ready for them.

If it bothers you to pass the bar where you used to drink, it wouldn’t hurt anything to take a different route. If you feel anxious in the evening, set up a regular call to your sponsor at that time. While you won’t be able to identify every single thing in your life that causes you anxiety, you can practice self-awareness and identify as many as possible. Then you can make a plan to be proactive and deal with all your triggers head-on.

Your Journey to Recovery Can Begin Today

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you don’t have to wait to get help. At Grace Recovery, we offer abstinence-based treatment in the heart of Hollywood, CA. You can start your road to recovery in our luxurious accommodations, without the distractions of the outside world. Don’t wait to start your new way of living — call today to see if we can help.

Eight Ideas to Help You Stay Sober Over the Holidays

The holidays might mean parties for hosting as well as marshmallows for roasting, but they can also pose a hardship for those in recovery, especially for those in the early stages of the process.  The combined stresses of parties, traveling, shopping, finances, and expectations can tempt people into relapsing.  At Grace Recovery, a brand-new state-of-the-art addiction treatment program located in Hollywood, California, and serving the entire Los Angeles area, we have compiled this list of suggestions for keeping you safe and sober during the holidays.

1.  Plan ahead.

One of the benefits of holiday get-togethers is that nearly all of them are scheduled.  This will permit you to know what is coming up and prepare for them accordingly.  It’s easy to have a game plan ready when you can anticipate what will happen during a party, and skip it if you think the temptation to drink or take drugs will be too great.  Rest assured that even if you do skip a party you can be reasonably sure that you could attend next-year’s festivities after you get a year of recovery under your belt.  And speaking of planning, prepare yourself ahead of time by talking yourself up before you head to a party.  That way you will be prepared for whatever you encounter once you get there.

2.  There’s safety in numbers.

If you decide to attend a party or other event, consider taking a sober friend with you to help keep you sane. Ideally, take someone with you who is aware of your situation and who will encourage you to stick with your recovery plan.  Whether you take a friend with you or not, you can also call a friend or sponsor to check in when the event is over.  And when someone does confront you with drugs or alcohol, be ready with a defense not to partake.

3.  Know your limits.

There is almost always a social pressure at parties and other events to convince you to drink.  You can minimize this pressure by deciding ahead of time how long you will stay at an event.  Further, know in advance not only when, but how you plan to leave an event when you are finished.  And if you anticipate having a tough time, bring your own car so you can dictate when it’s time for you to leave.

4.  Know and avoid your triggers.

Keep in mind your triggers–those people, places, and situations–that cause you to drink or take drugs, and avoid them.  For example, if certain people cause you to falter, simply avoid them or spend minimal time with them, especially when they start encouraging you to drink or take drugs.  This is especially true if you are already experiencing your own mood reactions such as loneliness, anger, hunger, and tiredness.  These internal situations can cause someone to buckle when confronted by tempting people or situations.

5.  Stay occupied.

When you get to a party or other gathering, what do you plan on doing?  Do you plan to engage in conversations?  Perhaps eat dinner?  Stay mindful of what you are doing since this will prevent you from doing something else, often without even thinking about it.  Also, people will be less likely to offer you a drink if you are busy talking with someone or taking part in another activity.  Another good strategy for dealing with those who want you to drink or take drugs is to already keep a drink (nonalcoholic, of course) in your hands.  You can take a drink if you already have one, can you?  Further, many people will naturally assume that you are already drinking if you have a full glass in your hands.

6.  Case the joint beforehand.

When you receive an invite, ask the host whether there will be alcohol or those using drugs at the event.  This way you will know whether to accept an invitation or avoid certain people who might cause you to stumble.  If you are concerned that someone will want to discuss drinking or drugs, or even rehab, stay focused on something else and avoid the discussion entirely.  Remember, nobody has the right to force you to drink or take drugs, and those who do are not your friends.

7.  Focus on the positive.

There are always plenty of things associated with the holidays that have nothing to do with drugs and alcohol.  Why not focus on these things?  These might include activities such as baking and other cooking, playing holiday games, and much more.

8.  Be of service.

The holidays are full of opportunities to find fulfillment in giving of yourself.  By taking your mind off of drinking and drugs, you can concentrate on providing support to others.  This not only benefits other people by paying forward, but it also builds your own strength as well.

 

Why Aftercare is Essential to Your Success

What is Aftercare?

Aftercare is a system of support that continues even after your recovery program is complete. Consider a teenager first getting his permit. He studies and takes a test that then gives him the ability to drive. Before then, he could not legally get behind a wheel and drive. Therefore, the government requires that he then wait a set amount of time to get his license to drive by himself. That time frame gives the teen time to practice driving with an adult. Instead of the teen being thrown out to learn how to drive by himself, he gets secondary training.

Aftercare follows the same basic idea. The treatment program is the primary program. Aftercare is the second program that prevents the newly addiction-free person from having to immediately learn to fend for himself. It provides time to acclimate.

The aftercare plan is designed specifically for the individual receiving it. You and your support team will design a plan for how you can continue to remain addiction-free long after treatment is over. It may include additional counseling, access, and information to support groups, and much more.

Reasons Aftercare is Important

Once you step out of your addiction treatment program, it is like stepping into a whole new world- one that you do not yet know how to navigate. One minute you are surrounded by people and activities that are intended to help you. Next thing you know, it feels like you have been thrown to the wolves with no weapon in sight. It is one thing to fight an addiction when you are surrounded by positive things, a support system, and a lack of temptation. It is a completely different battle to return to the life that was once ruled by addiction and try to stay clean.

Facing this new world alone and too quickly can easily lead to relapse. This is why aftercare is essential because of it:

-It eases you back into the world with full freedom.

If you step out into the world with complete freedom immediately, you might not know how to stay away from your old life. When you were in your treatment program, it was easier to fight the addiction because your substance of choice was not readily available to you. That is no longer the case once you leave your program. Suddenly, you are back where you were when addiction controlled your life, and the freedom to do what you choose.

With aftercare, you have access to a community of people fighting the same battle and others who are there to help that understand what you are dealing with. Loved ones are great, but if they have never experienced addiction, it is hard for them to understand your battle. With this community of support, you no longer have to feel like you were thrown to the wolves.

-You have an accountability system.

Without someone to be accountable to, it is too easy to think that you can go back to your old life and no one will know or care. Being accountable means that you have someone to answer to, and most people do not want to admit that they relapsed.

-Your support is around while you learn how to live without the addiction.

Living without addiction when you have lived with it so long can be extraordinarily different. You basically have to learn how to live again- how to function in your daily life without the thing that once helped you cope. With aftercare, your support stays with you while you learn how to live life as a new, addiction-free person.

Conclusion

Your treatment program is important, but aftercare is just as important to your success. To prevent relapse, it is vital to have an aftercare plan. Here at Grace Recovery, we will design and help you implement an aftercare strategy that can keep you on your addiction-free path. Contact us today!

How to Deal with Depression in Sobriety

Depression is a mental illness that can occur multiple times. The American Psychiatric Association even said that half of the people diagnosed with major depression often suffer a second episode. Apparently, 80% of those who suffered a second episode ends up having a third episode as well. The exact cause of depression is still a mystery yet it is connected to traumatic events, family history of depression, and addiction to alcohol and substance.

Addiction and Depression

Depression episode is different for every depressed individual. However, the symptoms are always the same. A depressed individual feels worthless, anxious, irritable, and lacks concentration among others. For a person who just came out of rehab, depression is always expected.

A sober alcoholic often comes with these symptoms of depression:

  • Feeling hopeless
  • Feeling guilty of why he or she became an addict
  • Feeling tired of everything around him or her
  • Wanting to taste alcohol or drugs again

Depression relapse can challenge your sobriety. This is normal. What you have to do is to acknowledge it. You are feeling depressed and you have to accept what’s coming, the symptoms. Once you accepted it, take your medication. People who are from a detox do self-medication. Be aware of how long you have been suffering. If it is taking more than a week, you better check with your doctor.

Treating Depression

For a recovering addict, treating depression can be difficult. In fact, treating depression alone is difficult. During recovery, sobriety can be put at risk once depression sets in. Imagine waking up with a sinking feeling. The next thing you know, you are reaching out a bottle of vodka again. For this reason, it is important to stay connected with a support group.

If you just came out from a rehab, ask your treatment program provider if they can suggest a support group for you. Keep your family close as well. Your family’s love and support can go a long way to continue your recovery and to fight attacks of depression.

Knowing the Symptoms of Depression

If you just came out of a treatment facility, you should be aware of the symptoms of depression. Your full recovery depends on understanding these symptoms and taking appropriate steps to deal with it.

  • Inability to sleep or having excessive sleep
  • Losing interest with your regular routine
  • Lack of energy even when you haven’t done anything yet
  • Losing focus or having a shorter span of attention
  • Losing or having an excessive appetite
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Feeling worthless
  • Feeling anxious for no reason
  • Having thoughts of death and how it can help you gain peace of mind

Watching out for Relapse

If you are able to maintain your sobriety, chances are you won’t have relapses. Being sober will help you watch out for possible symptoms of depression. If you can address the symptoms before it gets worst, you have a chance to beat depression and relapses.

Surviving a severe depression should be considered a victory. If you went through one and got through it, be proud of yourself. It is a big achievement. If you are feeling okay, don’t settle with it. You should find ways to feel much better. That way, you can avoid having a relapse.

To fight depression and relapse, you should slowly gain your self-worth from within. Self-worth that comes from within means knowing your worth as a person and loving yourself. After recovery, you often receive positive reinforcement and applauses from friends, families, and loved ones. These praises often become your external validation of self-worth. This is dangerous. Once the hype is gone and no one praises you anymore, you will start feeling down again and relapse can set it.

Still Struggling with Sobriety and Depression?

Dealing with addiction and depression can make you feel like you have nowhere to go. It can make you feel like a sore loser. It is important for you to remember that you are not. Remember, when you are so down, there is no other way but to go up. This is what recovery is all about.

The road to complete recovery and sobriety is by admitting that you have a problem. Once you accept this fact, you can start taking a treatment program. If you are in the Hollywood, CA area, you can check rehab facilities that offer treatment programs for alcoholics. Most facilities in the CA area like Grace Recovery comes with stare-of-the-art- addiction treatment program that can help you with your addiction.

Aside from getting treated with the latest substance abuse programming from Grace Recovery, they can also offer you extended support to prevent depression from setting in. They can provide you with a holistic or group therapy, depending on what suits your personality. Don’t let depression steal your sobriety. You worked hard to be sober so continue working hard to fight depression as well.