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Sober resources are essential for anyone in recovery, whether they are at work, at home, or on vacation. Indeed, such resources often are the difference between smooth sailing and rocky waters. In this article, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) reveals seven sober resources for making any weekend getaway or vacation safer and better. They reflect our Integrated Healthcare model. 

For example, this article relates closely to our outpatient programs. Using the tools described below might be similar to being your own outpatient counselor, available to you as needed. When you understand your own recovery, it helps you to maintain it.

In a follow-up article, we will examine how the recovery acronym HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) is an ideal maintenance tool to protect you in challenging situations. As the National Institutes of Health explains, “The acronym HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired), from Alcoholics Anonymous^®, offers a useful tool to give clients to help them remember to address important needs.”

Whether you’re on the road for work or traveling with your family, sober resources are effective in practice. With a bit of planning and forethought, you make your life that much better. You also avoid triggers, making your vacation a better experience without the stress of potential relapse.

Seven Sober Resources While Away

Yes, there is a reason why we chose seven: It is traditionally a lucky number. When on vacation, people tend to be a little superstitious. Thus, a lucky number can help relax the nerves. More importantly, these resources can help you manage difficulties if they arise. 

1) The Essential Revelation of Comfortable Shoes

Please opt for comfort over style when traveling. You can photoshop the six-inch heels or cowboy boots into the vacation photos later. Instead, remember that sneakers or your favorite comfortable shoes equal serenity.

2) Emergency Info and Passwords Written Down

If you lose your phone while on vacation, even with access to the cloud, you could still be cut off from your emergency information and passwords. When under pressure, I forget everything. Therefore, keeping such information written down in a secure location is a wise choice. It could be the difference between a pleasant night and restless pacing.

3) A Grounding Object that Honors Your Recovery

Whether you bring a chip from a meeting, a mini–Big Book, or a favored keepsake, it makes sense to have something that reminds you of what is the cornerstone of your life.

4) Mobile Resources: Recovery Apps and Guided Meditations

There are many portable recovery tools available for your phone. In iTunes, I have five to ten speaker meetings, including a talk by Bill Wilson, the founder of AA, that are easily accessible. Recovery apps are abundant, and the best guided meditations are right in your pocket.

5) Not Something to Bring, but Something to Remove

If you are staying in a hotel that has a mini-fridge in your room, please ask the hotel staff to remove the liquor from the bar before your arrival. You do not need the temptation of those little bottles. By the way, one of the advantages of an Airbnb is that hosts rarely, if ever, leave alcohol lying around. Unlike in a hotel, there is no bar in the lobby calling your name.

Moreover, you will not find yourself like Bill Wilson in Akron, Ohio, with a desperate need to find another alcoholic to talk to about such a challenge. Then again, if this had not happened, the 12-Step programs, beginning with Alcoholics Anonymous, might never have come into existence.

6) A Scarf that Doubles as a Blanket

Part of HALT should indeed be cold and chilly. You can purchase a stylish scarf that also doubles as a blanket for yourself or your children. It feels like having a warm friend in your backpack when the weather turns unexpectedly colder than you imagined.

7) Noise-Canceling Headphones or Earbuds are a No-Brainer

When you need to tune out the world and focus on your serenity, noise-canceling technology is a truly remarkable invention. What is impressive is how effectively the latest earbuds (AirPods) block the sounds that can irritate you.

Seven Sober Resources that Work in Practice

In the 12-Step Rooms, people often say about the program, “If you work it, it will work for you.” Indeed, the same is true of these sober resources. By planning for a work trip or family getaway, you can ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and your loved ones. To learn more about our integrated healthcare options, please contact us today.