Suggestions for navigating your first month of change:
- Acknowledge triggers. Specific contexts or relationships can trigger reflexes and cravings
- Limit your exposure to situations or people using the substance you want to give up
- Find alternatives that you enjoy
- Set goals and possible resolutions to challenges that may arise
- Lean into your support group and SOS Buddies for extra support when you are feeling cravings
- Keep a cravings log or reflex journal sharing feelings, environment/surroundings, time, and cravings to engage in reflection of patterns and specific triggers
- Spend time with people who don’t use the substances you want to avoid
- Surf the web to find solidarity in others sharing their experience. For example, we read through the Everything Sucks Blog’s “mini-series” and liked the writer’s honesty about his experiences giving up alcohol.
- Everything Sucks Blog (an alcoholic’s experience with Substance Free September) –
- Stay busy and make it harder for you to engage in old habits
- Be kind to yourself as you may experience withdrawals
- Journal or reflect on your experience
- Potential journaling prompts include:
- Where do you need more support?
- What is helping?
- Have you found any triggers?
- Keep track of positive changes in your life and body
