Learning how to stay sober in a society that normalizes substance use can be complex. Mental health care and addiction treatment facilities, like Driftwood Recovery, know the importance of teaching clients how to preserve and encourage their sobriety. Skills like peer pressure navigation, boundary setting, and more are highly useful in helping you and your loved ones stay sober. Putting these skills into practice, however, can be nerve-wrecking for those who have finished treatment. Practicing these skills under the guidance of a mental health care professional is one thing. Upholding these practices while out in everyday life is another thing entirely.
Luckily, it’s now easier than ever to manage and encourage sobriety. The fact that an average person has a miniature supercomputer in their pocket is nothing short of amazing. This ability to have quick and easy access to sobriety resources grants peace of mind to even the most nervous of people. To embrace the aid of technology for mental health and addiction treatment, some facilities like Driftwood Recovery have developed an app to assist their clients and alumni. Mental health professionals are now able to recommend digital tools to aid in healing. Consider these five technological tricks anyone can use to help promote sobriety in their daily lives.
#1. Sobriety Tracker Apps
Several apps have been developed specifically for those who want to track their sobriety progress. A core feature of these apps is letting you tick off each day you remain sober. This allows you to see yourself hitting sobriety milestones, which is great for your self-esteem. The days can blur together, especially when you fall into a routine. These apps allow you to see for yourself how far you have come.
Many of these apps also come with regular motivational messages to help you stay on track. Others still will send you programmable reminders and access to goal-setting tools. Some are designed to aid in the recovery of specific substances, such as alcohol, allowing for specific and tailored assistance.
#2. Digital Journals
Journals have been traditionally used as part of mental health treatment for many years. Journaling allows both the treatment provider and the individual to access a log of thoughts, feelings, and experiences. These can offer an insight into one’s mental health. Journaling is great as a diagnostic tool, but it’s also helpful for those wanting to preserve their sobriety.
Keeping a journal that’s easy to access, such as on your phone, lets you jot down experiences and feelings while they are fresh. This will allow you to look back and identify potentially triggering people or situations that can threaten your sobriety. On the flipside, when times are hard, reading about your past experiences where you overcame great hardships can give you the courage to face today. Creating and maintaining a digital journal is easy with the aid of private blogging websites and apps.
#3. Alumni Apps
As mentioned before, many mental health and addiction treatment facilities are developing apps that help current clients and alumni stay connected. The Driftwood Recovery app is one such example. This app is designed to help you stay connected to your support network, including peers and treatment providers. It also alerts you to upcoming events that you can join, such as alumni outings or dinner events.
Being reminded about how fun and exciting a sober life can be can make a real difference to your mental health. It’s especially true for those who otherwise have difficulty going out and having fun with peers. Alumni apps can open up the door to lasting friendships, which can be life-saving during hard times.
#4. Virtual Support Groups
Support groups are a vital lifeline in helping you find support during and after treatment. By offering an unbiased and understanding environment, it allows you to face upcoming difficulties with the aid of a peer. With how busy people get, it can be hard to find time to attend meetings in person. Some may be sick or injured, but still don’t want to miss out on essential support.
To meet this need, some support groups have moved to digital or run digital tools alongside physical meetings. Using tools like video calling or chatrooms allows people to join in, even from the comfort of their bed. This is essential for those with mobility or immune system issues, which present a barrier to physical meetings. You will always need support to have a healthy, sober life. These particular digital tools make finding this support more accessible.
#5. Help at the Press of a Button
Perhaps the most useful aspect of technology in sobriety is the ease with which you can get help. Some apps act like panic buttons. This allows someone to pre-program contacts into the app and, in cases of danger, send out a pre-written text or voice message to specified individuals for help. When you feel unsafe, these apps can quickly and easily contact a mentor or sponsor.
For example, imagine you are at an event without transportation and you are being pressured to use substances. Using a panic button app can summon a friend to come and collect you safely. In the event you feel like your mental health has taken a nosedive, you can press a button to get immediate contact with your treatment provider. These apps are especially useful when used alongside a mental health crisis plan. Talk to your provider first, as they can help you practice when to use these types of apps, as well as whom to contact in the event of an emergency.
With many apps and digital tools available, it’s always helpful to discuss their use with your treatment provider. By embracing digital tools, you can have the safety net you need to face your new sober life with confidence and courage.
The digital age has resulted in widely available tools to assist people in their sobriety. Apps can be downloaded to a phone and carried in your pocket, the ease of which makes sobriety feel more obtainable. Video calls and chat rooms also provide valuable support, showing you that you aren’t alone in your struggles. Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, has made sure to stay current with the digital age, offering the Driftwood Recovery app to all clients and alumni. Knowing where to start can be difficult, but Driftwood Recovery is here to help. If you or a loved one is struggling with or recovering from addiction, call us today at (512) 759-8330.