90 Days Sober, Now What?
What do you do after you hit 90 days sober?
The answer really depends on where you are in your sobriety and if you went to drug treatment. Having 90 days sober is no simple feat, whether you are getting out of an alcoholic inpatient or white-knuckling it in meetings.
By this time, emotions have returned. You’ve either started experiencing serenity or you are far from it. Here is an example of what experiencing the promises is, according to the Big Book.
“We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.”
Or, you are going to be restless, irritable, and discontent, which means you will feel miserable and squirrelly in your mind.
If You Have 90 Days Sober You Might Be in One of the Following Situations
- You have gone to a 90-day treatment program and just gotten out.
- You didn’t go to treatment but have tried going to 90 meetings in 90 days.
- You have gone to residential treatment for 30 to 60 days combined with an outpatient program.
- You recently got out of jail.
- You have been white-knuckling it and feel off.
For someone young in sobriety, all of these situations are dangerous, especially if you leave treatment and stop following your relapse prevention plan.
The problem with staying sober is that addiction and alcoholism are chronic diseases and their symptoms will come back if you do not treat them, especially if you’re a chronic relapser.
Often, just going to a meeting and doing nothing else is not the best way to treat your addiction, and some have argued that it’s not treating the disease aspect at all.
You must continue to treat your alcoholism or addiction. If you don’t you are headed for trouble.
What Can You Do When You Make It 90 Days Sober?
Work the Steps
One solution that has helped millions is to do the steps outlined in the first 164 pages of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous with a sponsor.
Finding someone you can work the steps with is crucial, but you shouldn’t do it with just anyone. Finding a sponsor should be dependent on their knowledge of the book and whether they worked the steps.
Find a Transitional Living Community
True sobriety can be challenging, especially if you are going it alone.
Transitional communities help you stay in an accountable environment where you can continue to treat your addiction.
Work on Your Mental Health
Often addicts and alcoholics have underlying mental health issues. Some recovered addicts and alcoholics need to be on antidepressants or just need to see a counselor.
Mental health and addiction can be so intertwined, it’s hard to separate the two. Mental health issues can fuel addiction and vice versa. It’s critical to stay on top of your mental health.
Can’t Stay Stopped After 90 Days?
If you are someone who cannot stay sober no matter what, you might need to go to a place that specializes in chronic relapses, like Burning Tree Ranch.
Our long-term treatment facility helps you transition back into normal life over a longer period of time. There is a certain type of chronic relapser where 30 and 90-day treatment just does not work.
About Renewal Lodge
Renewal Lodge helps alcoholics and addicts live a sober life. Renewal Lodge is part of Burning Tree Programs. If you need help getting treatment, we have several options for people just like you who need help.
