Tag Archive for: sober party

The Importance of Celebrating Small Victories in Sobriety

Celebrate Milestones to Keep Sobriety at the Mind’s Forefront

In life and recovery, the small moments are what keep us going when things get rough. Despite the culture in America of “win big” and “go big or go home,” daily goals and milestones are what will add up to reach our bigger goals. Whether you are new to recovery, are struggling with a risk of relapse, or are hoping to reinforce your sobriety, celebrating the “small” victories can help. Milestones mark progress towards a bigger or longer reaching goal, so they are an integral part of recovering from addiction as well as recovery in general.

When you need professional support in detox and recovery, call on the experts at Orange County’s Fresh Start of California. We are here to help you start a new life in sobriety. It is never too late.

Reach Daily Goals in Recovery with Fresh Start of California

Although detox and rehabilitation are major milestones and victories in the fight against addiction, at Fresh Start of California we understand that the push for constant progress can be exhausting. Small celebrations of victory may be just what you need to keep moving forward in your journey of sobriety.

How do small victories and celebrations help your recovery? 

  • Recognizing small milestones boosts confidence.
  • Celebrating small victories increases motivation to continue the fight against addiction.
  • Milestones reinforce the strength of your accomplished sobriety.
  • Small victories, when celebrated, help to take your focus off of the negative.

Ways to Celebrate Your Recovery Milestones and Victories

Once you are out on your own and no longer in a recovery facility, there are many ways to continue to reinforce the lessons you have learned. What are some ways to keep track of and celebrate your victories?

  • Write down anniversaries (weekly, monthly, yearly) to keep track of every day that you are victorious over addiction.
  • Recognize when you have reached a personal milestone and share it with others. Celebrate your victory, you are worthy of recognition.
  • Include supportive friends and family in your celebrations.
  • Choose rewards for yourself that match the size of your milestones. As the milestones get bigger, the rewards or celebrations can grow, as well.
  • Share your victories and milestones that you reach with others as a way to inspire and encourage them on their sober journey.

Fresh Start of California: Your Orange County Recovery Team

Sobriety seldom can be reached alone. If you are battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol, getting ahold of your life from the grips of a substance is a feat in itself. Victory begins the first day you decide to make a change and every day of resistance from there forward. When you choose to make a change, let the team of Orange County detox and rehabilitation specialists at Fresh Start of California be your guides. We understand that every person’s addiction story is different, and we can create an individual treatment plan that is fit to meet your individual needs.

Don’t let addiction win the battle for your life, take the power back and find allies at Fresh Start of California. We are here to work with you and start your journey to recovery.

Call Fresh Start of California today and claim your first win.

8 Tips for Mental Preparation to Stay Sober for the Holidays

Be Ready for Sober Holidays with Tips from Fresh Start of California

Whether you are fresh out of detox and rehabilitation or have several years under your belt, the holidays can be a difficult time for a recovering addict. It’s crucial to be prepared, both mentally and emotionally so that the feelings and activities that come with the holidays do not catch you off guard. Your sobriety should be your biggest priority as you attend family gatherings and holiday events, and it helps to be reminded of how to mentally prepare.

If you are ready to leap sobriety this holiday season, the team at Fresh Start of California can help. Our Orange County detox and rehabilitation professionals will work with you to provide tools and teach the skills that will help you reenter society in sobriety.

Contact Fresh Start of California to ask for help. We are here 24/7 to take your call.

8 Tips to Tackle the Holidays

Feel confident in your sobriety and be prepared for anything that crosses your path during the holidays using the tips below.

  1. Know your triggers. Consider making a list of your known triggers and ways to handle them. Think of the triggers that may be involved with the holidays, family interactions, and gatherings and how you can avoid or walk away from them. Triggers are people, events, objects, or thoughts that can cause a memory of using or coping through use. These are quite often part of the holidays as trauma in our youth may revisit us during family time.
  2. Be informed. Knowing what is coming concerning activities, get-togethers, and holiday obligations can help you mentally prepare. Ask questions about who is going to attend, what will be served, and what expectations will be placed upon you can inform your decisions about your involvement. Do not say yes if you believe that something is going to threaten your sobriety.
  3. Plan your good-byes. Plan for your escape if things get out-of-hand or too rowdy. Let the host know that if you leave early, it is to protect your sobriety, and have a “sober buddy” to back you up if needed. Supportive family and friends can help field questions as to why you had to leave.
  4. Know the science. If you face temptation or triggers and do not want to leave (avoid) due to their existence, know that you can make it through using this research-based concept: Cravings will typically subside or lose their power after 10 minutes. Use these challenges to evaluate your triggers and the emotions attached to them. The more you investigate the emotions, the less power you give the trigger.
  5. Stress less. Use stress relief techniques so that you can enjoy your holiday with a clear, calm mind. Try meditation, journaling, walks, yoga, mind games (memory games, crosswords, math games), or use your smartphone to listen to calming meditations or podcasts.
  6. Set sober dates. Plan to attend meetings either alone or with a sober partner. Know where the local meetings are if you are away from home and hold yourself accountable by planning to go with someone. You can even make phone dates or Zoom dates if in-person meetings are unavailable.
  7. Seek professional help. It is never wrong to seek help from those who know more than you or from those who are educated and experienced in helping people. Seek professional help if the holidays are an especially difficult time for you. Contact the local addiction and recovery facilities, place a phone call to your doctor to find a therapist, or try online or phone therapy services.
  8. Be honest. Tell your supportive family members and friends about how you are feeling. Be vocal about your concerns and triggers so that they can be there to help you. Expressing yourself to those who care is highly beneficial in creating a safe and healthy environment, for the holidays and your future.

Mental Preparation is Your Power Move this Holiday Season

Your power lies in the tools that are in your metaphorical tool belt. The things that you learn and the changes you make during recovery give you strength and power that can move mountains. Sobriety is something that you can be proud of, and even when the holidays pose a threat, mentally preparing will keep the ball in your court. Use the tips above, and don’t be ashamed to ask for back up or help, and you’ll have an enjoyable and memorable holiday season.

Let the Orange County team of recovery experts at Fresh Start of California give you the support you need to be successful in sobriety. We are here to walk with you through detox and rehabilitation. Contact us today.

How to Have a Sober, Happy Thanksgiving

Gratitude for Sobriety this Thanksgiving

The biggest trick to having a happy, sober Thanksgiving is to remember the gratitude that is cultivated in your sobriety. As children, we often learn that Thanksgiving is all about remembering and expressing what we are grateful for. What more to be grateful for than a second chance at life? The process of detox and recovery shows you the strength, perseverance, and growth that you are capable of. Sobriety offers you a new view of life, a new chance to live the way that you want to, and a gift of a fresh start. Let Thanksgiving be a celebration of how far you have come and know that you can enjoy the holidays with confidence using the tools you gained in recovery.

At Fresh Start of California, we work with our patients through individualized detox, rehabilitation, and life skill classes so that you are equipped to start a new life with confidence. Our team of Orange County recovery specialists at Fresh Start of California is here to be the professional support you need to create a solid foundation for life in sobriety. We know the difficulties and the challenges that can come with rebuilding your life, but they are far less than living in addiction.

Contact Fresh Start of California for detox and rehabilitation options in Orange County. We are here to answer your call 24/7.

10 Tips for a Happy and Sober Thanksgiving

If you lack the inspiration to enjoy yourself during Thanksgiving festivities, there are tricks to making it through. A sober Thanksgiving maybe a whole new experience, but you can make it a great one if you are prepared and have an open mind. Use the tips below to set the stage for good times and wonderful memories.

  1. Surround yourself with sober, like-minded people. If you have the choice, bring a sober buddy to family gatherings or go to a sober Thanksgiving event. If you can, make plans with a sober family member to be each other’s wingman for events.
  2. Avoid high-risk situations like reconnecting with old friends just because they are in town. Avoid family members who are active users or who are toxic to your sobriety. You deserve to have a calm, happy holiday, and have the right to stay away from those who are not supportive.
  3. Take breaks as needed. Go out for a walk after your meal, step into another room for a quiet moment, or get outside for a breath of fresh air. This is especially important to the stability of your peace of mind when you’re spending long hours inside in a busy environment.
  4. Seat yourself at the kid’s table! Spending time with your younger relatives is a great way to avoid alcohol at the “adult” table, as well as have much more fun during dinner.
  5. Bring stress relievers such as essential oils, gum, fidget toys, gadgets, or whatever you use to relax. Quench old habits with safer, healthier options.
  6. Stick to your boundaries. Remember there is no such thing as “just one” and don’t let anyone try to convince you otherwise. Protect your sobriety with strength and confidence.
  7. Bring the fun with you. Whether it is a board game, an interactive video game, crafts, or outdoor games, bring something with you that you know you will enjoy.
  8. Prepare an exit strategy. If a conflict arises or if a gathering gets too unruly, be prepared to make your exit. One bonus to being sober is that you can safely leave whenever you choose!
  9. Help the host and keep yourself busy. Offer to help prepare a dish, clear the kitchen, set the table, or clean up when everyone is done eating. Occupy your mind and hands, with tasks so that you are not bored.
  10. Keep a drink in your hand. People are less likely to offer you a drink or ask why you aren’t drinking if you have something to drink already. Dodge invasive questions and stay hydrated by bringing your own healthy, nonalcoholic beverages.

Take the Power Back this Thanksgiving

Rather than view sobriety as a hindrance to a good time or an obstacle to deal with during family gatherings, change your view and take the power back from the substance. Consider yourself lucky that you will remember the memories you make and that you will feel alert and healthy the next morning, and lucky to have the power in your hands. Sobriety is powerful. You can share your gratitude with others and show them that there is a better life after addiction.

If you are ready to battle your addiction and win, contact the team of Orange County rehabilitation professionals at Fresh Start of California. We provide the knowledge, support, and individualized treatment options to give you a fighting chance.

Take the power back from your addiction and call us today.

How to Throw an Awesome Sober Halloween Party

The Holiday Season and Living in Sobriety

Halloween often signifies the start of the holiday season. In Orange County and all of Southern California, it is also the start of cooler weather, the beginning of many gatherings with family and friends. As the kick-off for the “party season” Halloween might be your first sober event. Sobriety does not mean that you can no longer have fun. With tips from our team at Fresh Start of California, you can plan a fun, memorable, and sober Halloween party.

If you are battling addiction and are ready to start a new chapter, Fresh Start of California offers detox, inpatient, and outpatient recovery solutions in Orange County. We can work with you to move through the phases of detox and rehabilitation so that you can have confidence in sobriety. Let our team be your support system and jump into this holiday season with a renewed excitement for life.

Contact Fresh Start of California today.

8 Ideas for Sober Halloween Fun

If you are ready to throw an awesome party but are wondering how to make it great without alcohol, have no fear. We compiled tips and ideas to help your party be a hit, without the need for intoxication. Remember the joy of Halloween as a child, the excitement, and the playfulness.

With that spirit in mind, read the tips and ideas below to make your party a blast.

  1. Dress up. Be sure to let your guests know that costumes are key! You can choose a theme for the party or encourage your guests to get creative. Spend the money you would have spent on stocking the bar to create an epic costume. Need some ideas for themes? Try apocalyptic or end of the world, space life, animals, or Vegas themes so that the costumes can be cohesive.
  2. Create designated and different areas of interest. Have food and beverages in one space, with room to sit or stop and chat, designate an area for dancing with access to music choices, maybe supply games or activities in one room, or even a movie room with comfortable cushions and low lighting.
  3. Play a scary movie or humorous Halloween classic. Consider projecting a movie onto the side of your house, a wall inside, or buy a screen to play the movie outside. Horror loving friends will have something to discuss. It can serve as a conversation starter about favorite movies or a way to take a break from dancing.
  4. Have plenty to eat and drink. Build a menu of “mocktails” that are Halloween themed, buy pre-made non-alcoholic drinks, or supply the regular variety of water, juice, and sodas.
  5. Play games and even plan some “tricks.” Halloween allows us to bring out our playful side, so why not plant some tricks for your guests, jump scares with “ghosts” behind doors, or games that get people to mingle and start loosening up.
  6. Make memories and capture them. Place Polaroid cameras around the room and let guests take photos to pin to a photo board or bring home. Set up a photo booth. Start traditions with your sober friends that you can carry on for future events and parties. If you don’t have access to Polaroids, consider having your home photo printer available for you to take a few minutes at the end of the night to print group photos for everyone to take home.
  7. Turn down the lights and turn up the music. Lower lights help people release the fear of everyone watching them, so they can get loose and get down on the dancefloor. Lower lighting, colored lights, or blacklights, will help people feel comfortable dancing, and can help counteract the thought that often accompanies nights of the past that, “I dance better when I’ve had a few drinks.”
  8. Carve pumpkins. Pick up pumpkins for your guests or ask them to bring their own for carving. Provide stencils, tools, and space to carve pumpkins. Focusing on a task and expressing individual ideas while carving will allow guests to talk with people they may not have before. Taking the focus off of the conversation and shifting it onto a task allows guards to lower and nerves to physically release through the physical task.

Halloween Fun That You Remember

One of the biggest advantages of sobriety is that you will remember the memories that you make. No more waking up with foggy ideas of the night before, no more missed connections because you were too intoxicated to pay attention. Whether you are newly sober or have years of sobriety under your belt, fostering friendships and relationships with other sober people is advantageous. You have a common goal, a common thread, that makes it okay to enjoy yourselves without the pressure to include substances. A sober Halloween party is just the start of the holiday season’s activities that you can cherish rather than vaguely remember.

Are you ready to have a fresh view on life? Contact the Orange County detox and rehab team at Fresh Start of California to learn how we can help you fight addiction and get your life back.

 

10 Ideas for a Sober Fourth of July

Independence Day is a holiday well known for big parties, outrageous behavior, and the use of alcohol to “celebrate”. As you walk the path of sobriety, it may be a day of stress and temptation, but there are ways to prepare and prevail. The Orange County detox and rehabilitation team at Fresh Start of California understands that it is best to be equipped before you celebrate so that you can remain sober and in recovery. You can enjoy the fourth of July and stay sober. Our tips and ideas below can help.

Contact Fresh Start of California for recovery solutions, rehabilitation, and detox in Orange County. Our recovery specialists can help you start a new life in sobriety.

10 Tips for Sobriety on Independence Day

  1. Start the day with a meeting. Attend a morning meeting on the fourth of July so that you start your day off right and with a strong foundation.
  2. Make plans with sober friends by attending a sober party or hosting a sober event.
  3. Practice accountability by asking your sponsor, friends, or family to check in with you throughout the day.
  4. Drive yourself so that you know that you can leave a location if you need to and know that you can choose what you do.
  5. Have an exit strategy. Go into events with a plan, just in case you need to leave. Consider explaining to the host that if you need to leave, you will do so according to the best plan for your recovery.
  6. Focus on the food. Keep your mind and hands busy by putting yourself in charge of the barbeque, the desserts, or the appetizers so that you have something to pay attention to other than the drinks.
  7. Bring a cooler of non-alcoholic drinks. Be sure to have plenty of alcohol-free drinks available for yourself and others who are staying sober. If you have a drink in your hand, others will be less likely to offer you an alcoholic beverage.
  8. Celebrate Independence Day with an activity. Rather than going to a party, go to the beach, a sporting event, a hike, or a parade.
  9. Have a sponsor on-call or enlist a friend to be available no matter the time or place so that you can reach out as needed. Stay in touch with people who support your sobriety.
  10. Have confidence in your sobriety. Share your story if someone asks, be proud of the strength it takes to be sober in a world that is often centered around being inebriated.

Celebrate Freedom and Sobriety

Living a life of sobriety is a kind of freedom that only those who live it understand. Part of your fourth of July celebrations can focus on the freedom you have found in recovery and the strength you have in sobriety. With a plan, an on-call sponsor, and a great support system Independence Day does not have to be something you dread. Let our tips be your guide and if you need help in recovery, our team can help.

Fresh Start of California is here for you with Orange County detox and rehabilitation specialists that can create an individual plan for your recovery. Contact our team today and step into the bath of sobriety.