Coping with Stress

Stress is the downfall of every addict, and it is what leads to relapse. Unfortunately, in early recovery, there’s suddenly a significant amount of stress to deal with, and managing it is a battle that not everyone wins. You simply cannot avoid stress - no one lives a stress-free life - so what you have to do is learn to cope with the inevitable.

Everyone has different sources of stress and will develop different ways of coping. I’m going to share with you some of the ways I cope with stress, as well as some other methods that work for a lot of other people. Like so much in life and recovery, it’s trial and error. Experiment with different reactions to stress, and don’t stop until you’ve found several things that work for you.

I am blessed to have such a good support system, and talking to friends is one of the ways I get a handle on my stress. I try to make it a point to hang out with friends at least once per week (a phone call does the trick, too!). That can be difficult to accomplish, but I always feel so much better after having some “girl talk.” I can vent to my friends and get good advice when needed. Listening to my friends talk about their lives/stress also helps put things in perspective because I remember that I’m not the only one feeling stressed out.

I write content for a living, but I also use writing as a way to deal with my personal life. I don’t journal nearly as much as I’d like to, but whenever I have a problem that’s really getting to me, I write about it. If I can’t sleep at night because I can’t stop thinking, I get up and write those thoughts down. If I’m upset at someone, I write a letter to them (without sending it). For me, this almost always works. It clears my head by giving me a tangible way to channel my stress.

When I’m stressed, healthy eating is particularly important for me. I try to maintain good eating habits all the time so that my body (and therefore, my mind) is strong enough to deal with whatever comes my way. Drinking water all day also helps a lot. I try not to let myself get hungry or dehydrated. When I start to get really frazzled, I usually realize I haven’t eaten in a while, and having a snack makes me feel so much better.

Exercise, walking, going to a meeting, talking to a therapist, meditating, praying, and doing a hobby are all other ways of managing stress. Just about any healthy, positive activity that makes you feel better about yourself or helps you get your mind off of your problems for a little while is a good way to deal with stress.

I’ll write another day about more specific ways of dealing with stress. The most important thing is to recognize your stress, admit it, and do something about it. Ignoring stress will NOT make it go away - it will only suppress your emotions, and one day your stress will hit you tenfold, and you’ll be at a much greater risk of relapse.

PS: Don't forget to add me on Google+ !

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Repairing Broken Relationships

In a comment, I had someone ask me if I had any advice on how to go about repairing relationships that were broken during their addiction. The only advice I can give is what I’ve learned from my own (limited) experiences. I’m hoping that you’ll share in the comments any advice you have from your own personal experiences!

We’ve all had relationships broken and destroyed because of our addictions. When we’re addicted, we’re like completely different people, and we’re selfish. We can’t be expected to maintain healthy relationships or hold up our end of a friendship. 

Sometimes we’ve damaged our relationships beyond repair. Other times we’ve done just a little damage. Every single relationship we have is unique, and they all require unique attention. You cannot repair broken relationships together - you have to give individual TLC to each one. 

It’s also important to recognize when a relationship shouldn’t be repaired. It’s common for addicts to develop relationships that are unhealthy or abusive (when I say relationships, I mean romantic OR platonic). It can be difficult to accept that those people shouldn’t be kept around in our lives after we get clean and sober. Severing an unhealthy or abusive relationship is a challenge, but it’s the best thing to do for ourselves and our recovery.

On the other hand, not all relationships CAN be repaired. I’ve had several of these situations in my life. There are some people who were (and still are) great people in my life, but I hurt them enough or let our relationships deteriorate enough that they’re no longer salvageable. It’s easier to let them go then to put up a fight trying to fix things that can never be fully restored. In these cases, I’ve written apologies. I’ve said, “I’m sorry for…” and I’ve left it at that, and it’s up to them if they want to accept it or respond at all.

In saying those apologies, it’s been extremely important for me to have no expectations. You cannot expect anything from anyone else. You cannot control what other people say or do, and expecting anything usually only leads to disappointment. Everyone’s healing process is unique and their own to control. Just because you apologize does not mean that person will accept it or apologize to you back. You may never hear from them again, and you’ll have to find solace in knowing you gave them the apology they deserved from you, which was all you could do.

For other relationships, time is what will heal them. In early recovery, focus on yourself. Get yourself to a stable, healthy place in life before you try to work on your relationships - the importance of that cannot be stressed enough. It’s especially vital to focus on yourself when the other person in a relationship is dealing with addiction issues, too. In that case, it’s a whole other ballgame and perhaps a topic I’ll explore more in the future.

Counseling and therapy - both individually and as partners (friends, family, significant others) - may also be helpful or necessary in order to work past the issues that were created due to your addiction. Recovering is about healing. As long as you’re both willing to put in an honest effort, relationships can be repaired over time.

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Daily Routine Changes in Recovery, Part Two

Yesterday I wrote about things that are important to incorporate into your daily routine when you’re in recovery (even if you’re not, they’re still important). Making those routine changes are much easier said than done. It can be very difficult to set a routine and stick to it, and it may take a long time before you find the routine that works best for you. It’s a lot of trial and error along the way, so it’s essential that you remain a little flexible while you’re creating your schedule.

No matter what, taking care of yourself is the most important part about having a routine. I know as addicts we aren’t used to doing that at all. Our routines do a complete flip from poisoning our bodies with drugs and alcohol to putting our health, safety, and recovery above all else. It’s up to you to decide that you’re going to put yourself and your recovery at the center of your life and create a daily routine around that.

Especially in early recovery, we hear about avoiding “people, places, and things” that we associate with using/drinking. Accomplishing that has a big impact on our lives. If your routine used to consist of you going to the bar after work, you have to change that. If your routine used to include socializing with using buddies, or listening to certain music while you used, or any other rituals associated with using, you have to change to give yourself the best chance at recovery.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can go to that bar like you used to and just order a soda. Maybe you can, but why risk it? Changing your routine so you avoid those “people, places, and things” is essential. Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to change something - for example, you can’t find a new job or move to a new house - which makes it that much more important to concentrate on altering the things you are able to change.

The little changes in routine make such a big difference, too. Just eating breakfast everyday or taking a shower or brushing your teeth twice a day will help you maintain a framework of positivity and stability in your life. Don’t underestimate how important it is to stick to those seemingly small daily routine changes.

If you attend meetings, see a counselor, go to outpatient therapy, or anything else associated with your recovery, make sure it is incorporated into your routine as consistently as possible. Remember that your foundation needs to be stable and strong in order to keep yourself off drugs and alcohol. Recovery-related activities should be things you’re focusing on.

I want to ask you all for your input. What surprising ways has your daily routine changed since you quit using? Do you keep yourself on a routine? How do you do it? I think we can all use the encouragement to keep making sure our health and recovery is at the forefront of our minds and that our daily routines revolve around it. Stay healthy, everyone!

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Daily Routine Changes in Recovery, Part One

One of the requests I received for post topics was how daily routines change in recovery. How do they change? Completely. Shifting from active addiction to addiction recovery is to change your life - everything in your life is affected. Even if some aspects of your daily routine don’t change (for example, you still go to work five days a week), your motivation and mindset change. Your daily routine no longer revolves around using drugs or alcohol.

Every addict lives life differently, so it’s hard to talk generally about how daily routines change in recovery. Some people will have radically different daily routines, while others may have relatively the same routine as before, minus the substance(s). Instead of using, the goal each day is to “stay on the wagon.” To accomplish this, routine is the key word. Everyone can benefit from a routine, but addicts especially.

Routines give stability, and stability is so important for people in recovery. If you have a shaky foundation, then that wagon you’re trying to hold onto will be very difficult to grasp. Without a routine, it’s harder to manage the unexpected, harder to cope with the normal ups and downs of life. Most of the time, people (in recovery or not) who have daily routines are happier and more secure than people who don’t.

To say it’s difficult to adjust to life without drugs or alcohol is an understatement. Everyone has different daily obligations that will affect their personal routine, but there are some things that almost everyone can incorporate into their day. For one thing, most people can stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Good sleep is absolutely essential for people in recovery - you already have enough things to worry about, and inconsistent sleep patterns/insufficient sleep will only make things harder. Choose a time to wake up every morning and go to sleep every night, and do your best to get eight hours of sleep in between. Get up within half-an-hour of your set times, even when you’re off work.

Good eating habits are also important in our routines. Try to eat three meals a day, around the same time every day, with small snacks in between. I won’t go into the details of having a healthy diet, because there’s simply too much to cover and it strays a bit from our topic. Overall, your diet should consist of plenty of water, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. Try to avoid junk.

Exercise is another thing everyone should have in their routine. Personal time is another. Every day, set aside a certain time that’s meant for you to relax and de-stress. This can be time to meditate, pray, take a bath, write in a journal, read, or do whatever it is that helps you center yourself. This personal time is essential - it helps you stay in tune with your body and emotions so you can stay on the right path in recovery.

How did your daily routine change when you entered recovery? Do you keep a consistent sleep schedule, healthy eating habits, exercise, and personal time? Tomorrow I’m going to write about another important aspect of changing your daily routine, so stay tuned...

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Three Stages of Relapse, Part Two

Once you’ve learned to identify the three stages of relapse, it’s time to learn about how to deal with them. There are many techniques for preventing relapse, and I’m going to talk about some of the best. While I’m going to separate techniques by stages, there’s a lot of overlap. For example, one of the most critical things you can do to prevent relapse at any stage is to ask for help.

I think a lot of the time people in recovery are afraid to ask for help with relapse prevention because they don’t want others to think they’re slipping or failing. Maybe we don’t want to alarm our support system over a “small” problem, but we shouldn’t be afraid to admit we’re struggling. The best thing you can do is to ask for help as soon as you notice any of the warning signs of relapse - not wait until the “small” problem is even more noticeable.

Other times I think people in recovery don’t ask for help because they don’t think there’s anything anyone else can do to help them - that it’s a personal problem we have to deal with on our own. Most of the time that’s true, but it doesn’t mean support isn’t needed or beneficial. Just venting your concerns to someone else can make a significant difference. “Asking for help” doesn’t have to mean “asking for a solution;” it’s often just asking for someone to listen or offer a new perspective.

When you’re in the emotional stage of relapse, the best way to cope is to take better care of yourself. If you’re feeling stressed out, it’s time to take a step back and see what you can do to decrease the amount of stress you feel or learn to deal with it in a healthier way. You need to recognize your emotions and remember that they’re just feelings and that you’re in control of them - not the other way around. Eating properly, getting enough sleep at night, and exercising are also vital tools in the emotional stage of relapse (and all other times, too!).

In the mental stage of relapse, when you begin to think about using, it’s time for that popular adage of “playing the tape through” to come to use. Remind yourself that while using might seem attractive, it always comes with a downside. Think about the negative effects using would cause in your life. When you have a craving, try to distract yourself or challenge yourself to wait 20 minutes before acting on it because most cravings will disappear in that time frame. It’s also more important than ever to keep yourself away from the “people, places, and things” that you associate with using or would make using easy for you.

Once you’ve crossed into the physical stage of relapse, you need to admit your slip to at least one person you trust in your support system, preferably more. The sooner you get help, the easier it will be to transition back into sobriety. Remember that you are capable of quitting and the benefits of recovery are worth it. You will likely have feelings of guilt and shame to deal with, but you have to face them rather than hide them by continuing to use.

Slips are serious, but they don’t mean you’ve lost everything - the things you’ve learned  in recovery are still with you. I think that message is so important, because sometimes people are too concerned with things like clean dates. Recovery doesn’t have to be black and white. Some people relapse multiple times, and they might be in a kind of gray area between being consumed by addiction and being happy in recovery. I’m not saying that relapse is no big deal - just that a relapse doesn’t erase the clean time you’ve already experienced.

Instead of perpetuating the stigma that relapse is failure, I’d like to give my opinion that relapse doesn’t have to be such a scary topic. It’s a potential reality that everyone in recovery needs to be concerned about and informed about. What do YOU think?

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Three Stages of Relapse, Part One

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Today I’m going to write more about relapse signs and prevention, because it’s such a vital topic. One of the biggest warning signs of relapse is complacency. If you think you’re safe and secure in your recovery, then you’re actually someone who can really benefit from thinking about the risks of relapse.

One thing I think needs to change about people’s attitudes in recovery is the feeling that “relapse” is a dirty word. People shouldn’t be afraid to talk about relapse. It’s almost as though we’re afraid to bring up the topic of relapse because we fear doing so could actually instigate a relapse. In reality, it’s quite the opposite. Having an open conversation about a scary topic is the best way to deal with it. Ignoring the possibility of relapse only ensures everyone is unprepared to deal with the inevitable. It’s like avoiding the topic of sex with your teenage daughter because you don’t want her to have it, and then being shocked and appalled when she gets pregnant.

There are three broad stages of relapse. The first stage of relapse is emotional. The second stage of relapse is mental. The third stage of relapse is physical.

The emotional stage of relapse is the trickiest to identify, but it’s also the most critical. When you stop asking for help, begin isolating yourself, and start letting your emotions get the best of you, then you are relapsing emotionally. You have mood swings, get defensive, and start letting your sleeping and eating habits get out of whack. You stop going to meetings or therapy. You are not thinking about using, but it’s only a matter of time before those thoughts cross your mind as a way to deal with your emotions. It’s so important to recognize when you’re in the emotional stage, because it’s actually the easiest to deal with.

When you start to think or obsess about using drugs or alcohol, you are in the mental stage of relapse, and you’re in much more dangerous territory. You start lying to your support system, and you start fantasizing about your past and using. When you are actively considering the possibility of using drugs or alcohol, it’s imperative that you get help right away.

If you have not gotten help by the time you’re in the mental stage of relapse, you will end up in the physical stage of relapse, which means you’ve begun to use again. I want to stress here that the physical stage of relapse is still a stage; it is not the end. The common stigma in the recovery community that physical relapse means failure is something I am strongly opposed to. Physical relapse does not mean you’ve failed at recovery or that your recovery is over. It means that you are in urgent, immediate need of help to stop using. If you do not get help to stop, you will eventually find yourself back in the full throes of active addiction, and the further you go, the harder it is to get back.

To be continued…

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Recovery After an Injury

How is everyone today? At a reader’s request, today I’m going to talk about recovery after an injury. This was the comment from “Heidi:”

I'd love some feedback on recovery after an injury. At a little over two years sober, I was blessed to go on vacation in Hawaii. Unfortunately, while there, i had a serious accident and have been on several medications all summer. I am off everything now for a few weeks and off crutches, yay! But I just don't feel like myself. I just learned what happy, joyous and free feels like, and I miss it terribly.

Heidi’s comment really struck a chord with me, because I was recently injured in a car accident. There isn’t a lot out there about how to deal with a debilitating injury when you’re in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, but I think the topic is important.

In February of this year (2013), I was stopped at an intersection and rear-ended at a high rate of speed. From the whiplash, I suffered a herniated disk in my lower back, and in my neck, I suffered a herniated disk and two bulging disks. For six months after the accident, I saw a chiropractor three times a week. Now, I go to physical therapy three times a week. I’ve also tried an epidural injection. I have regular visits to a pain management doctor and neurosurgeon (not to mention a personal injury attorney, too).

My injuries have left me able to work only a fraction of the time I usually do, because sitting at the computer is a position that greatly aggravates the pain. The accident and all of the chaos its caused in my life also sent me into a deep depression. It’s been a rough journey so far. My injuries are permanent, but I’m hoping that I’ll feel “back to normal” sooner rather than later.

Through all of this, I’ve had to keep my recovery in the forefront of my mind. My support system is of critical importance. I’m lucky to have great friends and family who are able to help me with things like childcare during my appointments. I have an excellent psychiatrist who helps me emotionally and ensures that any medications I take or procedures I undergo will compliment the treatment I receive for my depression.

Pain management is a huge concern, especially for people in recovery. I chose to see a pain management doctor who has a great reputation; I made sure I wasn’t seeing a doctor who is known for freely handing out pills. From the beginning, I informed my doctor that I am in recovery and cannot take opiates. By doing this, I don’t have to worry about the temptation I’d face if narcotics were suggested to me as an option. There are many pain management alternatives.

Another thing that has been important for me throughout this ordeal is gratitude. My car accident was bad, but it could have been MUCH worse. I continually remind myself to be grateful that my injuries were not life-threatening and are relatively minor as far as injuries can go. I’m grateful to be alive, to have support, and to have access to the care I need get better.

Injuries are always unexpected, and they can turn your life upside-down. For people in recovery, this type of sudden event is even more troublesome, because it’s exactly the type of thing that can lead to relapse if not handled properly. It’s vital that you lean on your support system for help. Extra support is needed, so you may benefit from entering counseling or out-patient therapy, or attending more meetings. Come up with a plan on how you will tackle your injury and the changes it causes in positive ways.

It’s also key that you speak up about your recovery to your healthcare professionals; fail to do so and you could put yourself in a dangerous position. Seek out specialists who are respected in their fields, and inquire about their experience in treating people who suffer from addiction. Some people in recovery make the mistake of thinking they won’t have a problem taking opiates as prescribed, especially if opiates weren’t their drug of choice before. I strongly advise against that rationale - consider that it might be “your addiction talking.” Yes, some people might be okay on narcotics, but it is not a risk you should consider taking until you’ve exhausted all other options.

If you’re suffering from an injury, I wish you all the best. Remember to stay positive, to ask for help, and to stay grateful!

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Relapse Warning Signs and Prevention

Hello! I hope everyone had a fun, sober weekend. I’m going to start tackling some of the topics that people have expressed interest in reading about on this blog. Once again, if you have anything you’d like to read about, leave a comment! I’ll get around to all suggestions eventually.

We’re going to start with relapse. I think relapse is such an important topic because people don’t often like to talk about it. No one in recovery plans to relapse, but everyone is at risk. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been sober or how happy you are without drugs or alcohol - you can never cure the disease of addiction. As long as you acknowledge that relapse is a possibility, you can do things to prevent it.

Relapse isn’t, however, a singular event. It might seem like the decision to use drugs or alcohol again is spontaneous, but the decision is actually a long time in the making. Perhaps you’ve heard it said that relapse is a process. The process starts when you have a problem that you don’t get help with. Usually that problem is general stress, and instead of taking steps to relieve yourself of stress, you just silently deal with it. You aren’t honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. You don’t ask for help. Your emotions begin taking over.

In order to prevent relapse, you have to be honest about how you’re coping with those feelings. When you notice yourself exhibiting any relapse warning signs, talk to someone in your support system about it (a sponsor, counselor, sober friend, trusted family member, etc.). Here’s a list of some of the most common relapse warning signs to look for:

Isolating yourself by ceasing to attend meetings or therapy, or by not staying in contact with members of your support system.

Boredom

Avoiding dealing with problems or stress

Straying from your treatment plan by quitting therapy, stopping medications, or not accomplishing other treatment goals

Dwelling on the past, negative emotions, or unresolved issues

Returning to “people, places, and things” that you used to associate with using or drinking

Major (especially sudden) changes in life, both negative and positive

Feeling overwhelmed

Changes in routine, such as eating habits, sleeping habits, or activities

Changes in health or hygiene

Conflicts with other people, such as friends or significant others

Feeling confident in your recovery and believing you no longer need support or treatment

Obsessively thinking about using drugs, drinking, or other negative behaviors

Criticizing yourself for not meeting your own expectations or not being “good enough”

After you seek help for your problems or emotions that could lead to relapse, you need to come up with a plan to tackle them. At least one person in your support system should be able to help you. For example: If you notice you’re feeling bored more often, decide on a new activity to try in your free time. Then, make sure you follow up with that person on your progress. Talk about how your plan is working, and don’t stop until you’ve solved your problem.

Sometimes your problems are easy to solve. And sometimes you have problems that will never completely go away - the key, however, is that you never stop acknowledging them and never stop trying to solve them. Your problems and stress will lead to relapse when you ignore them.

When I attended detox/rehab in late 2010, I went to the Caron Treatment Center in Pennsylvania. Caron published a short booklet called “Relapse & Recovery: Behavioral Strategies for Change” that I recommend if you’d like to read more about relapse prevention.

What relapse warning signs would you add to this list? How do you deal when you know you’re dealing with problems and emotions that could eventually lead to relapse?

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store). 

Staying Connected to Your Recovery

THANK YOU to everyone who read and commented on my first blog entry. There were a lot of great questions and topic ideas mentioned, and I promise that I’m going to get around to each one. If you have any more questions or topics you’d like addressed, please let me know in the comments!

I’m so pleased at how open this community is. I have to be honest - I was worried that my admission that I’m not in a 12-step program would really upset some people. While not everyone agrees with my approach, I was happy to be met with acceptance and support. It’s amazing and reassuring that the focus can remain on RECOVERY without arguing over what the “best” path is to get there. We all struggle with our inner demons, but what’s most important is that we don’t pick up and we keep striving to be a better person, everyday.

In case it needs clarification, though, I’d like to say again that I am not against 12-step programs. For many people, AA and other fellowships are lifesavers. I think they’re awesome and effective, and I’d encourage everyone to try them out, give them an honest chance, and decide for themselves! I digress.

I’d like to touch on another way I stay sober, and that’s by staying connected to my recovery.

The main way I stay connected to my recovery is through writing about addiction. The research I do and words I write help me keep recovery in the forefront of my mind. Writing for the Sober Nation audience gives me an outlet and a purpose. Each person reading this is so important to me and helps me so much more than I can express. Maybe it sounds sappy, but it’s true! I’ve always been a writer by trade, but writing for the recovery community is more fulfilling than any type of work I’ve done… but enough about me!

How do YOU stay connected to your recovery? What ways of staying connected to your recovery would you recommend to someone else who is struggling? Please let all of us know what works for you. In the meantime, here are some popular suggestions:

Reading: Reading about addiction and recovery can help you learn about new tools for self-improvement and new perspectives to consider. Whether you’re reading the Big Book, Sober Nation articles, ebooks, online forums, or anything else, exercising your mind is important for recovery. If you have any suggestions for recovery-related reading material, please share!

Volunteering: Volunteering your time and energy to help someone else or contribute to a positive cause is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Helping others is a great way to keep your priorities straight, build self-confidence, and remember how grateful you are for your recovery.

Journaling: Whether you share your writing with anyone else or not, journaling will help you process your emotions. Writing about your past experiences and the things that are important to you now will help you keep recovery fresh in your mind.

What would you add to the list?

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store).