Once you’ve decided to get sober, it’s important to understand that there will still be tribulations in life that are inevitable.  Nobody promises that sobriety will be easy.  Setting a foundation and developing life skills to prepare for the circumstances that life may bring is important.  

Every person, whether they are in sobriety or not, will experience some sort of death around them at some point.  Unfortunately, death is a part of life.  How we cope is important and will help us work through it to come out on the other side, still sober.  Healthy coping mechanisms like exercise, journaling, or meditation can help tremendously.  Physical and mental exercise has been proven to release endorphins which increase moods and decrease stress.  Turning to coping mechanisms instead of drugs and alcohol during times of stress can help you manage emotions.

It is likely that for many years you have been drowning your feelings with alcohol or other substances.  Feelings and emotion can be overwhelming if we don’t know how to handle them.  The emotional experience of having a loved one pass away can be very painful.  Death can open the door for a lot of resentment, whether it be towards the deceased, yourself, or other family members and friends.  It is natural for people to want to blame someone for something that has happened, and in sobriety this type of thinking is dangerous.  We can’t turn back time and change the things that have happened. While it can be an innate characteristic to be angry in the beginning, it is important that acceptance comes shortly after.  Acceptance is like gold for difficult life situations.  Learning to accept what has happened can help us move forward and forgive.  

When handling the circumstances life gives to us in sobriety, it is crucial to have some sort of support system.  This could mean a wide range of things such as a twelve-step program, grief support groups, mentors, or friends.  If emotions are bottled up inside it could be a slippery slope for relapse.  Talking through feelings, no matter how hard and foreign it may be, is essential to working through them.  This is not specific to just death, but could include marriage, divorce, or even having children.  Change is uncomfortable, and for the addict or alcoholic it is not something they typically welcome.  However, knowing that it can be unavoidable and learning that change precipitates growth and strength, you may soon be able to invite it knowing that you will come out a stronger you.

The Kimberly Center is a place for healing. We welcome you to our treatment programs for substance dependence and abuse where the number one goal is restoring your or your loved one to live a healthier, happier, and more productive life. A life free from substance dependence and destructive behaviors waits. Call us now for information on our programs of treatment and start your journey today: 855-452-3683