People who are sober struggle with anxiety all the time, even if they do not use alcohol to cope. For those who are sober after addiction to alcohol, there are some key things to keep in mind to support a long-lasting recovery while coping with the effects of anxiety.

How to Cope

The struggle between how to cope with daily life and stay sober is very real for millions of people who wrestle with addiction to alcohol or drugs. There is no easy answer for how best to deal with life. There are some strategies that can help if you are someone dealing with anxiety and trying to stay sober:

  • Move (a lot). Exercise and movement help keep endorphins going and make you feel better. Go for a run or walk, or hit the gym. Exercise is a great antidote to anxiety and is healthy.
  • Play with a family pet. Pets love to play, have fun, and engage in connection. If you don’t have a pet, volunteer at a store or find a place to go that has animals where you can interact and engage with them. Dogs love to be more active than cats, but cats can be social animals as well and provide a great boost for your confidence and self-esteem.
  • Become Mr. or Mrs. Fix-It. When it comes to getting things done around the house, there are likely endless projects waiting to be done. Now is the time to fix a broken table, replace old furniture, or paint. Weeding the yard, mowing, and other household projects can feel great when they are done, leaving you with a sense of accomplishment.

Letting Go

The main point is to take your mind off the anxiety, even for a little while. It helps to have quiet time in solitude to rest and experience peace, as well. This will enable you to face it in a more balanced way than heading straight for the bottle. Become mindful of how it feels to experience the challenges of anxiety and where it sits in your body. If you struggle to let go of anxious feelings when they arise, these tips might also help:

  • Take a deep breath, rather than a shallow one. This may lead to hyperventilation and feelings of disorientation. Recognize how you feel when you breathe slowly, with intention.
  • Allow yourself distraction from anxiety. Go for a quick walk or pick up a book or puzzle. Think about upcoming activities and what you might cook for dinner. Focus on other things aside from anxiety, for the moment.
  • Long-term, think about healthy diet, meditation, therapy, and other support mechanisms to help you cope. If you are struggling, your physician may also prescribe medication to support your feeling better overall.

The Springboard Center’s addiction treatment programs are tailored to meet the needs of each client. By utilizing a set of diverse methods of addiction treatment, we are able to deal with your addiction from all angles and concentrate on every aspect of your healing process. It is important to recognize that many of our services offer a group setting and environment, so that the client spends time with other people affected by the same chronic disease and problems. 432-620-0255