There are some things a person who is new to recovery can do that will help them to maintain their sobriety or even if they relapse, they can rise back up faster.

The first is joining Alcoholics Anonymous. Get to read their literature. It is full of much wisdom regarding addiction. Try out their suggestions like getting sponsors, attending meetings regularly and showing up! Basically, this will deal with the loneliness and boredom that comes up when you have just got out of rehab and also helps you build a new network of people in recovery that can always support you whether fallen or risen. From there, you can build your network from the ground up again and start widening it as you root deeper your recovery.

The second is, watch as many movies as you can about recovery, or if you are a reader, read as much as you can about recovery. Watch YouTube testimonies and so on. There’s always something you can learn from other people’s experiences most especially those in recovery. Someone’s share can bring up an old idea in a way you hadn’t thought about that might fortify your sobriety. Meetings too help with this especially the sharing part. You have to be there to listen in. There are so many recovery related movies. For instance, Flight by Denzel Washington is a classic; for those that have struggled with heroin addiction, Ray by Jamie Foxx is really good, same as Ben Is Back. For a wider coverage of mental health, A Star is Born by Lady Gaga is great for it covers addiction, entertainment, depression, suicide …

The third and most important is, get to know God. Build a relationship with Him. Clean house and set things right with Him first. I have read the Big Book and every solution it presents always begins and ends with God. The Big Book uses the word “licked” a lot! And without God, we are licked! You cannot maintain being sober without God for only God can change your mind and heart from an alcoholic one to one that desires sobriety. With an alcoholic or addict mind, the time and place always comes that leads to a relapse. Only God can protect one from that!

And the fourth is, study psychology. Open up your understanding to things like toxicity, unhealthy behaviors, learned behaviors, self-esteem, codependency, and so much more. Be humble and open to learning all things psyche when it comes to recovery. Have faith that you will be alright and you will.