Written by Brandon Okey. Mina Draskovic, B.Psy., reviewed this content for accuracy.

Trying to figure out how to bounce back after an alcohol addiction can be overwhelming, especially if you’re doing it alone. The early steps to overcoming addiction are much clearer. You detox, manage withdrawal symptoms, and then enter a recovery program. You spend hours in therapy and support meetings. But once it’s over, then what? Recovering from an alcohol addiction doesn’t happen overnight. Most often, it’s a long and gradual process. But here’s a look at what life might look like once you step outside the inpatient or outpatient recovery program. These steps will help you get your life back to normal after addiction.

Take Time to Heal.

Battling an addiction is a painful process. Most people think about how loved ones might be hurting but fail to recognize that the person suffering from the addiction is also in pain. Give yourself grace and allow plenty of time to heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. Healing takes patience, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Take it one day at a time and lean on your support system when you need a helping hand. Alcohol is often used and abused as a coping mechanism to numb the negative emotions in your life. And unfortunately, those negative emotions won’t just go away. That’s part of the reason that living in sobriety can be so tricky. Finding healthy coping mechanisms to deal with emotions without the numbing effects of alcohol is essential. Speak with your therapist to help you work through your struggles and avoid a relapse.

Create Healthy Habits.

Making good habits a part of your daily life is one of the most effective ways to learn how to bounce back after alcohol addiction. Think about what you want your average day to look like, and then find ways to incorporate simple positive habits into your day. You can form habits in as little as 18 days, so repeat the action every day for several weeks. Perhaps that means waking up early and going for a morning walk. Maybe it’s reading a few chapters of a book at night. Good habits can look different for each person, but here’s a look at some that most people find helpful:

Start an exercise routine, and stick to it.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and avoid overindulging in junk food.
Practice good hygiene every day.
Stay in touch with loved ones and check in with them frequently.

Strengthen Your Network.

Alcohol addiction can be draining on the individual experiencing it and their network of friends and family. Your loved ones might not feel like they can trust you, and you might feel judged by them. If you’re struggling to rebuild relationships after addiction, know that you are not alone. Rebuilding trust and strengthening relationships takes time. While you work through that, bring others into your support network. Find a counselor you can speak to regularly about anything. Find a support group and attend meetings regularly, so you can spend time with others who can relate to what you’re going through. Their experiences can help you, just as yours can help them. Your support system might look different from someone else’s, and that’s ok. What’s important is that you have people you can turn to during good times and bad.

Learn a New Skill.

It’s easy to obsess over your past self while living in recovery. You might worry you’ll never accomplish anything new. Learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby is a great way to fight that line of thinking. Take up pickleball with your friends. Make it your life goal to bake the perfect apple pie. Learn a new language. Plant a garden. Find something that interests you, and then make a plan to stick with it. You’ll gain confidence in yourself and hope for a brighter future.

Make a Financial Plan.

Part of getting your life back on track after alcohol addiction means getting your finances in order. Consider speaking with a debt counselor to work through your options if you’re in debt. This step can be extra difficult if you’re unemployed or don’t have a house or an apartment. But be patient with yourself, and give it time. Set a financial plan to get things back on track, and stick with it. It will take some hard work, but being financially stable and independent is well worth the effort.

Serve Others.

Life after addiction can feel different, and you may have a more challenging time finding joy in things that used to make you happy. But you can find new ways to feel joy, and one of the best ways is to do something kind for someone else. Even small acts of kindness like holding the door open for someone or smiling at a stranger can brighten their day. Drop some cookies at a friend’s house or volunteer at an animal shelter. Serving others has a way of making us forget about our troubles and focus on making someone else’s day better.

Ardu Recovery Center Can Help You Bounce Back After an Alcohol Addiction.

Living in recovery can feel like a long and challenging road. Still, with hard work and commitment to sobriety, you can learn how to bounce back after an alcohol addiction and resume a happy and healthy lifestyle. Most importantly, you don’t have to do it alone. Our team of rehabilitation experts at Ardu Recovery Center is here to help, walking by your side every step of the way. Our philosophy focuses on holistic treatment paired with innovative new-age techniques to provide our residents with a rewarding and effective road to recovery. We offer medical care so you or your loved one can detox at our facility and immediately begin treatment. We provide around-the-clock access to individual therapists, doctors, and nurses, so you can rest assured knowing the best care is available. Visit our state-of-the-art rehabilitation center in Provo, Utah, or give us a call to learn more about how we’re helping individuals tackle their addictions and get their lives back on track.

Brandon Okey is the co-founder of Ardu Recovery Center and is dedicated to empowering people on their journey to sobriety.