Getting sober is one of the most important decisions many of us will ever make. Whether you struggle with it or it comes more naturally to you, the truth is learning how to get off drugs is never easy.

Today, we’ve brought you five important tips to help you navigate the process and reclaim your life. For help, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline. They are available at 1-800-662-4357, today.

Table of Contents

• Self-Reflection
• Reach Out for Help
• Create a Schedule
• Track Your Progress
• Actively Work Through Your Cravings
• How To Get Off Drugs

Self-Reflection

The first thing anybody will tell you when you start the long road to a sober life is to really examine yourself. It’s important to start by recognizing you have a drug problem. This isn’t a minor issue or a brief mistake – it has escalated, and it’s time to call a spade a spade.

If your drug use has begun interfering with your work or school life, that’s a step too far. Your relationships. Your mental or physical health. These are all signs of addiction, and clear indicators you need to wean off of drugs.

Reach Out for Help

This might sound strange coming from an article on how to help yourself through this difficult process, but your best bet is always to ask for help. You might not want to. You might think you can, or that nobody would want to, but people care more than you think. Once you make that connection with someone willing to help, they can use their connections and reach even further than you may have on your own.

There is help available, in states across the country, and people willing to make it work right alongside you. 12-step groups. Trauma groups. Addiction centers.

Create a Schedule

Before you can start any major project, you need a clear image of how much work you’re doing and how long it will take. It’s the same with weaning yourself off of drugs.

Write down an honest account of what you’re taking and how much. Then, be very honest with yourself, and create a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule for how much less you’ll take until you’re taking none. Don’t be more drastic than you think you can handle. Small reductions add up over time, and you don’t want to interrupt your progress by backsliding, midway.

Track Your Progress

Weaning off medications and other drugs is a big step in your life, and you should treat yourself with respect. As you go through this change, take notes on your progress. How you feel. Your energy levels. Senses that may have been dull that come back to you. How much money you’re saving, and how many hours of work you’re getting in.

Think of it like a video game. As you regain your health, you’ll see yourself leveling up and getting stronger. But, in order to see the full picture, whether you’re learning how to wean off alcohol, drugs, or anything else, you’ve got to record what’s getting better.

Actively Work Through Your Cravings

The idea of “going cold turkey” from a drug addiction is very intimidating to many people. It can be difficult to suddenly not get the feeling you want from the thing you’ve been doing for so long.

What may help you through your cravings is swapping them out for healthy activities, which will not be as exhilarating, but are better for you. These could include:

• brisk daily walks
• warm showers
• salty, sweet or flavorful foods
• meditation
• spending time with friends

How To Get Off Drugs

Ultimately, everybody’s rehabilitation story is different. The things that work well for others weaning off alcohol may not work at all for you weaning off of prescription drugs. But it’s all working towards a greater good, and it’s all important. The best thing you can do in the quest to learn how to get off drugs is to reach out and ask for help, live honestly with yourself, and never give up.