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6 Ways to Help Your Recovery in Houston

Posted on November 27, 2017 by JohnAdmin

If you’re in the city of Houston, then you’ll know that there’s really no shortage of things to do and places to check out without sipping so much as a drop of alcohol. However, if you’re coming from a life of reckless drinking or regular drug use, then there’s probably a lot you haven’t had a look at in a while – or ever. Houston is full of opportunities of sober adventures to help your recovery in Houston if you know where to look.

And it’s important to have some adventure, especially during recovery in Houston. People make the mistake of thinking that sober living is just boring, bland and meaningless. In contrast, it’s the absolute opposite. It’s about experiencing the radiance of life without any of the fog brought about by a high. This isn’t about sitting around in a circle crocheting (although there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s what you’re into) – it’s about making new discoveries, meeting new people and finding new hobbies, all while being 100% yourself during your recovery in Houston.

If you’re struggling to find new things to do during your recovery in Houston, here are 6 ideas.

Find Friends In Houston

Houston is a big place, with a population of over 2 million – making it the most populous city in the state of Texas, and one of the best places in Texas for meeting new people and discovering new sights during your recovery in Houston. There are a couple ways to go about that.

The most obvious in our day and age is through the Internet. Like any major city, Houston went digital a few years ago – you can get around, find restaurants and seek out events all through the palm of your hand. You can also find new friends through online meetup apps and websites, which let you sort through potential group meetups by interest, and check into local groups on social media websites to ask around for hangout spots and make new buddies.

Or you can go the old-fashioned route, and just go straight to where the people are. Head out into a city district of your choosing, and talk to people at local sports clubs, theaters, or community centers. Either way, finding people to enjoy sober life with can be helpful for recovery in Houston.

Hang Out In Cafes

If you loved bar-hopping, drinking in the atmosphere of loud clubs and quiet lounges, then opt for the sober alternative – cafes. They come in all shapes and sizes, and many go through great lengths to set themselves apart from the regular old Starbucks down the block. If you love coffee, tea, or baked goods, make it your new mission to discover your favorite little caffeinated book reading spot in the city while enjoying recovery in Houston.

Check Into A Gym

Exercise does an excellent job at working off stress and keeping addiction at bay, while helping your recovery in Houston from the effects of addiction – and it also provides you with a great excuse to make new friends, set personal goals, and make massive physical changes to your body and the way you feel.

You don’t have to go to a strength gym or pop into Planet Fitness and spend an hour on the treadmill – you can join other clubs or classes geared towards a fitness choice of your own, from yoga to football to karate, and everything in between.

Volunteer At A Houston Charity

There are several charities and volunteer spots in Houston who regularly look for people available to help, whether that means helping cook at soup kitchens or distributing blankets among the poor.

Not only do you make a difference in someone’s day, but you get to feel like you’re doing a little to give back to the city, and give back to others.

The Houston region is still dealing with the aftermath of flooding from earlier this year in some places – donating to local organizations and lending a hand at reconstruction efforts can also go a long way to making a change.

Check Out A Sobriety Community For Your Recovery In Houston

There are plenty of Houston sober living and sobriety communities looking for people who struggle to stay sober, and need the help with recovery in Houston. This is especially true for people straight out of rehab, who often struggle to deal with all the new challenges of sober living, and need a little help getting back into the rhythm of living life without drugs or alcohol.

Go On A Houston Adventure

Houston and the surrounding area has plenty of adventurous outdoor activities for groups, families and friends. If you’re not the outdoorsy type, then this obviously isn’t an option for you – but if you don’t mind doing a little exploring and like to take the time now and again to rediscover nature, then you might be surprised what Houston has to offer in that regard.

There are plenty of things to do and places to see that aren’t mentioned here at all. It’s all up to you to head out there and give life a chance – and see what comes around for you to be discovered during your recovery in Houston. If you’re the more cautious type, there are plenty of online resources that are perfect not just for tourists, but for long-time Houstonians looking for a new adventure or a potential treat.

You really don’t need alcohol to have a good time. In fact, in all of these cases, alcohol will just make your experience much worse.

Tips And Tricks To Maintain Sobriety

Posted on November 20, 2017 by JohnAdmin

Therapy and consistency are important to maintain sobriety – but having a handy list of personal tips and tricks can really help you flesh out your sober life and ensure that you have ways to deal with anything life throws at you. That means building habits that keep you healthy, sane, and happy.

Binging on TV shows, spending half a day playing video games or locking yourself in your room to go through an entire book series isn’t a constructive way to cut addiction from your life. However, that doesn’t mean you should stop consuming entertainment, or stop indulging in distractions from time to time.

Distractions have their place in recovery. But most of your habits should help you shape a better life. The best coping mechanisms for any of life troubles are the ones that help make you a stronger, better person – they help you build your focus, improve a talent, or make you happy.

Taking an hour or two out of your day to live in the pages of a book or play some video games can be an enriching experience and will in fact help you work off some emotional stress. But there’s a line between an effective way to deal with stress, and turning your new coping mechanism into a destructive behavior – which is exactly what addiction is to begin with.

Look for habits that pull you away from your cravings in a healthy manner as you maintain sobriety.

Achieve Accountability And Maintain Sobriety

Being accountable to others is an incredibly powerful motivator in life. People have turned their entire lives around and completely shifted their world views simply because of the birth of their child, or because they’ve fallen in love. Beyond immediate family, we can be accountable towards others who have certain expectations of us, and are supportive of our attempts to be better. Our coaches, mentors and friends, for example.

When you’re having a terrible day and you’re lacking the motivation to go through with your routine, then looking onto others as a source of inspiration is crucial. Through accountability, we remind ourselves that it’s our duty to maintain sobriety, and live up to our goals – no matter how hard things might be. Not out of a sense of compulsion or guilt, but out of a sense that this is important to who we want to be as people.

Be accountable to your friends, your family, and those who believe the most in your ability to achieve your goals – whether they’re in art, fitness, music, or in an industry.

Work Out (Often)

Building up a sweat on a regular basis is more than just a tool for losing weight or building muscle. It can be an indispensable tool for vastly improving your mood, and dealing with stress. If it’s within your ability, then exercise should be a part of your life – regardless of whether you’re struggling with addiction, mental illness, or just the day-to-day difficulties of living. Exercise is a boon to all, and it’s especially useful if you experience frequent depressive and destructive thoughts.

This is because exercise helps people tackle these issues in two major ways: through the release of endorphins, which act as natural anti-depressants and immediately shift your mood, and through the gradual improvement of your overall fitness and appearance, which can have a dramatic effect on your self-esteem and help you stave off irrational, self-deprecative and negative thoughts.

The key to maintaining a proper level of exercise is to do something you enjoy. Don’t force yourself to attend spin classes or go jogging in the early morning if you loathe both activities. Instead, try alternative ways to get your daily sweat on – like calisthenics, CrossFit, or weight lifting. Give everything a trial period – it’s normal for a completely sedentary person to dislike exercising regularly just because of the physical shock of going through a proper workout without prior experience. But if you still hate jogging after a few weeks, then it’s probably not your thing.

Don’t just restrict yourself to fitness. Look at other sports and activities like Latin dancing, martial arts/self-defense classes, basketball, or swimming. Having sometihng like working out to take up your time helps you maintain sobriety in the long run.

Read Up On Addiction & Mental Health

They say knowledge is power – and when it comes to trying to maintain sobriety, you will probably welcome all the help you can get. Addiction is not a completely understood condition – we’re still figuring out how best to help people treat themselves, and both the biology and psychology of addiction is being studied to come up with better treatment, and create a much wider understanding of the disease so that every case can get the help it needs.

That’s why it’s important to stay up-to-date on the science and the psychology on addiction. New drug treatments are constantly in development, alternatives to addictive painkillers are an extremely hot topic, and the scientific community is still working on ways to create treatments that help everybody in all stages of addiction.

Keep A Journal

Finally, a great tip for maintaining your sobriety is by recording your progress. Keep a journal – written, narrated or in video form – and update it regularly, or whenever you feel like you need to get something off your chest. You could publish it in a blog form, use it as reference some day in the future when producing a creative piece of work, or simply keep it close to you and in private, to look back on and see how far you’ve come since.

Recovery is a journey that lasts a lifetime – but that just means living life to the fullest, and doing your best every day to stay away from the darker days as you maintain sobriety.

What Are the Advantages to a Houston Sober Living Community?

Posted on November 16, 2017 by JohnAdmin

It’s hard to overcome drug addiction. Regardless of the exact nature of your addiction – the emotional factors, the physical dependence and withdrawal, the lack of support or constant temptations – everyone who struggles to stay clean struggles for a reason. It’s one of those things that can’t really be compared. Everyone has their own challenges to overcome – and as such, a single unified treatment is nearly impossible. That’s when a Houston sober living community can come in handy.

Drug addiction treatment is all about matching someone to the best fitting treatment model. It’s not so much that therapists are looking for a perfect fit – they’re looking for the best fit. Perfect isn’t how life works, and it’s the same in addiction treatment.

Talk therapy like CBT and DBT, group therapies, art therapy and medications are just a few of the many possible tools used by mental health experts and treatment facility coordinators in the treatment of drug addiction. But sometimes, therapy isn’t quite enough. Drug addiction can change the way we think and feel, and it can affect our perception for quite some time. As it takes a while for the brain to readjust and repair after an addiction, cravings can last for weeks and months.

Therefore treatment options like a Houston sober living community have seen a lot of success. “Rewiring the brain”, so to speak, is a challenge. But with living environments that simulate the responsibilities of real life without any of the temptations, patients can more easily confront their cravings, overcome them, and move on to living healthy lives.

What a Houston Sober Living Community Means

A Houston sober living community is an apartment, home or communal property of some other kind maintained and used for tenants who want to stay sober. It’s typically advised as a post-rehab alternative to jumping straight into living “in the real world” or to replace other outpatient programs.

Rules at a Houston sober living community change from one community to the next, but typically there are a few ground rules that never change.

The biggest and most important rule is that sobriety is paramount in a Houston sober living community. This means that, no matter what, drugs and alcohol are not allowed on the premises. Some places go so far as to ban any products that are commonly used as alcohol alternatives, such as mouthwash, or even bath soap. They will also have unscheduled drug tests to determine whether the rules were broken, and to uncover the possibility of drug use at the facility.

There are also strict visitation rules in place, to prevent any behavior that might enable drug use. This means no sleepovers, and curfews. These curfews are also meant to help people struggling with sleeping cycles and concrete schedules get used to going to bed and waking up at consistent times.

On top of sleeping right, many Houston sober living communities put an emphasis on eating right, moving often, and finding work. Most Houston sober living communities make it mandatory to look for a job, keep a job, or go to school.

Sober communities aren’t just glorified prisons. They’re communities with systems in place to help people stay strict with themselves – but they also put an emphasis on activities that help tenants bond with one another, find common interests, and work on themselves in their free time.

A Houston sober living community doesn’t just stay in one place – they often plan events, frequently outdoors, to foster new interests and ignite a passion for old hobbies. Interests and hobbies are important for drug recovery – they provide an emotional and creative outlet, and help people measure their own post-addiction progress through their measured progress in other skills.

Why People Choose Houston Sober Living Communities

Life is tough – even the day-by-day can take a while to get used to straight out of the rehab environment. A Houston sober living community or home tries to emulate the responsibilities and necessities of life as closely as possible, while still providing a safe environment that offers therapy, and takes away temptations in stressful times.

Through men and women’s Houston sober living communities, people can learn to cope and master life outside of rehab, completely drug-free.

Recovery Goes On

Ultimately, frequency and consistency will never stop being important in long-term recovery. If you want to stay sober, then discipline is necessary. Of course, ideally, you’re never alone in this: friends, family, loved ones, no matter who you have on your side, if they believe in your ability to recover and support you when things get tough, you should have the motivation and inspiration to stay clean.

Life has a bit of habit of throwing curveballs at you; curveballs that will test you in every way. While Houston sober living communities can help you get used to living without drugs, and even teach you how to enjoy a sober life, nothing can really prepare you for days when it feels like your world is falling apart. From divorce, to death and injury, it’s these problems that pose the biggest risk to years and years of recovery being interrupted with a relapse.

This is where the support networks of Houston sober living communities and other walks of life become central to your ability to remain strong and stay clean. No matter how bad things get, there’s always a way back to normalcy, a way back to happiness and a good life. It’s never easy, but every tragedy has an end, and a new beginning afterwards.

How to Live a Sober Life in Houston

Posted on November 13, 2017September 28, 2018 by JohnAdmin

Houston can be a beautiful place. Founded in the early 19^th century, it’s the most populous city in the state of Texas, and it has a rich history to show for it. Alongside its Texan heritage, Houston boasts one of the world’s greatest medical and research facilities, and is home to the historic NASA Mission Control Center. Everything this wonderful city has to offer makes sober life in Houston a good time.

But beyond its diverse and thriving streets, Houston is also home to controversy and its fair share of pain. It’s known as a significant area for drugs and human trafficking, due to its economy, population and proximity to major drug exporters. In turn, the addiction treatment community in Houston is hard at work to help the city deal with the effects of drugs, both to individuals and communities to promote recovery and sober life in Houston.

For individuals, getting away from drugs and alcohol can be tough – not just in Houston. The nightlife in any major city is dominated by drinks and cocktails, and Houston is no exception. As beautiful and exciting as it may be, many newcomers to sober life in Houston struggle to find ways to spend time and have fun without getting involved with the temptations of the nightlife.

Thankfully, there’s plenty to do in town while sober. And with a little help, you can rediscover Houston and see it in a whole new light – and learn to truly enjoy and appreciate the perks of living life in sobriety.

Find Things To Do: Sober Life In Houston

Golf, bowling, softball, dancing – there’s no shortage in sober life in Houston activities for residents. Regardless of whether you like sports or love more laid-back activities, there are plenty of events and meetups across the city where alcohol is either a rare sight or completely forbidden.

All you must do is find them. And that’s where the Internet becomes very handy.

The Internet is first and foremost a communications and information tool. Through it, people all over the world can exchange valuable data, or talk endlessly about the mundane. Conspiracy theories, cat videos and political commentary all find their home online, alongside anything else you can imagine, from illegal drugs and passport forgeries to old Michael Jackson music videos.

It’s also an amazing place to meet people and find new activities. Social media like Facebook, and search engines like Google have worked hard to transform our relationship not just with other people, but with technology and the way it integrates into our lives. Convenience is the ultimate selling point of any new tech, and the convenience of discovering every pizza place in a ten-mile radius of your current nightclub has been a game changer for many.

Through Facebook, you can find new local groups, and search by location to find others dedicating themselves to maintaining a sober life in Houston. Websites like Meetup.com make it easier than ever for groups to organize events and recruit new potential members. And through the many countless sobriety blogs, you can find commenters from all backgrounds and walks of life.

It’s not just about finding places with sober people. It’s about finding places where you can have fun. Try and go to a language school for a language you like. Find workshops for things you haven’t tried yet, but are interested in. Take a few woodworking lessons. Go to a self-defense class. Hang out in coffee shops and develop a taste for a good cup of joe, or a perfectly-steeped cup of tea.

Beyond just looking for things to do, finding people to do things with is just as important. Friends matter, not just to pass the time and enjoy life, but as support. It’s hard to appreciate others when you’re struggling with addiction. Not only does addiction take away a lot of depth and perspective from life, but it leads to a feeling of self-loathing and hatred, making it hard to understand why anyone would want to hang out with you, or even like you.

In your sober life in Houston, you can slowly return to that sense of being comfortable in your own skin. And with that comes a newfound appreciation for the people around you.

Explore The City Of Houston

Have you seen all that Houston has to offer? Even if you’ve spent all your life living in Space City, there’s always a little something to see, both new and old. Take your time to work through the many different facets of Houston in your spare time, and you may be surprised at what you’d find.

Ultimately, the city itself isn’t that important. It’s the experiences you come across and the people you meet who become the real treasures of exploration. By being spontaneous and having a look through every little neighborhood for things to do and places to see, you may come across moments in life you would never otherwise have had the chance to experience. That is what sober life in Houston is about: keeping your eyes open to wonderful variety of life, even in your own backyard.

Remember: Having Fun Without Drugs Or Alcohol Can Be Easy

Live life, and discover what you like and don’t like. People are born and wander through life all the way to their graves without experiencing more than the tiniest fraction of what life could have been like.
With drugs, your life is dominated by the cycle. Without drugs, once you’ve made it past the initial hurdles, life can open to you – but that’s all wasted if you don’t take chances and consider that life can be a lot more fun sober than high. Men’s sober living and women’s sober living programs in Houston can help you take that step towards sobriety.

If you or someone you know is struggling with staying sober, contact us today to see how we can help: 877-394-8810

Sober Dating + The Reasons You Should Try It

Posted on October 11, 2016December 2, 2016 by JohnAdmin

12 step programs have many rules that seem to take away from parts of life that can make you happy. That’s not to say that all the rules in the 12 step program aren’t there for a reason. One of the big rules is not dating anyone in your first year of sobriety. There is not a really good reason not to. In fact being involved in a relationship in your first year can help to alleviate some headaches for your sponsor. Below are a few good reasons why you should begin sober dating in your first year.

There is no rule in the “book” that says you can’t get involved with someone romantically. If you have a plan of attack on how to approach life after rehab, it makes sense that you can go about your life the way you want to, with some restrictions of course. But to deny yourself the feeling of being with someone you care about just doesn’t make sense. Sober dating is difficult, especially if put in a situation you aren’t ready for yet. Being with someone who is sober does help. The ability to share the experience and work together to continuously achieve the level of clarity you are searching for is worth it.

You can do what you want, as long as you are able to accept the consequences for your actions. You should know whether you are ready to get involved with someone after a few dates. Having to deal with heartbreak is a big reason why it’s suggested that you don’t get involved with someone, but if you are strong enough, you can get through it without relapsing. You have to be able to live your life. The steps and sponsors are there to help be a guide, but you have to be able to make your own decisions based on what is good for you. If you take what you’ve learned in recovery and apply it to everyday life, sober dating can be a wonderful thing for you and for your recovery.

For more about sober dating, visit The Fix HERE.

Take a Sober Vacation

Posted on October 7, 2016 by JohnAdmin

Getting sober is something that takes a lot of time and patience. Over time you start to adapt to the changes of sober living. One of the biggest worries a lot of sober people have is what to do when they leave their area and comfort zones. Taking a vacation let alone a sober vacation is not an easy trip to make. There is an element of anxiety and fear that comes with vacations. Avoiding the trappings of those fancy and fruity cocktails isn’t easy, especially if your trip takes you to a tropical place. For those out there that have a fear of taking a sober vacation on their own, there is a company that helps facilitate sober vacations.

Sober Vacations International (SVI) has been in business for 30 years. SVI specializes in alcohol and drug free vacations. Vacationers dine with a group of people at a table in an open seating fashion. The company is 12 step based and features 5 meetings a day. Other sober vacationers start their own meetings on the beaches or other landmarks while on the trip. The point of the company is to bring sober people together and show that life can be lived without being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

These vacations along with the other sober people on the trip all have a story to tell. Being around people that have been living a sober lifestyle can truly rub off on those that are still trying to figure it out. There are so many different ways to enjoy a vacation without a drink or drugs. When and if you feel ready take a small short trip first and go from there. Sober vacations can help you to also see the beauty of a place you never been to or only seen in pictures.

For more about sober vacations visit The Fix HERE