When you are discharged from the treatment center, you are still not well. You will be encouraged to attend 12-step meetings, often with the instruction to attend “ninety meetings in ninety days.” When you step out the door of the treatment center, you step into early recovery.

Early recovery lasts about two years. Your main task at this point is to remain abstinent. At times this might be all that you can focus on, especially for the first few months.

Your 12-step meetings and support from other group members is crucial at this point. You are not likely to be able to do this alone.

Here are some sayings from Alcoholics Anonymous that you’ll probably find useful in getting through these first few months:

“One day at a time.” You don’t have to promise that you will never use or drink again. You don’t have that much control over the future. But you can do it for twenty-four hours.

“Keep it simple.” Just do the things that you need to do.

Don’t complicate your life, and don’t analyze things to death.

Go to meetings, read your “Alcoholics Anonymous”, talk to your sponsor. Just for today don’t drink or use.

“First things first.” Rome wasn’t built in a day. The problems you might have with your job, your family, or your finances are not going to get solved right away. Jumping back into work or into conflicted relationships too early is a common cause of relapse. Keep sobriety and recovery your first priority.

“This, too, shall pass.” You are not accustomed to feelings. You have been avoiding unpleasant sensations for so long that you may be surprised by feelings of anger, sadness, frustration, or grief. Learning how to deal with emotions is like building up muscle tone - you have to go easy at first, then gradually develop more strength. Your support group will help. And the feelings will pass. Try to remember that the better able you are to tolerate the bad feelings, the more you will be able to experience joy and contentment.

“Stay in today.” It’s easy to get caught up in worrying about the future or regretting the past. As some have put it, “Yesterday is a cancelled check, and tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is the only cash I have.” Keep your focus on what you have to do today, and do it as well as you can. It gets better.

Elizabeth Connell Henderson, M.D.

Glossary

Appendix A: Regulation of Addictive Substances

Appendix B: Sources of Additional Information