Getting clean sober and staying that way, will be the challenge of a lifetime, but it can be the most empowering and self-affirming thing you ever do! My journey to become sober started thirty years ago and continues today. The word sober for the purpose of this article means: not intoxicated or affected by the use of drugs.

Therefore, when I say getting sober, it is in reference to alcohol, or any other type of substance, which alters your state of being. There are millions of people on this planet who have experienced the pleasure and the agony of substance abuse. Addiction is a non-discriminating demon that can possess anyone from any race, color or economic level.

Your road to addiction may have begun very innocently, as an attempt to loosen up at a party or the mirroring of behavior seen at home as a child. I am in no way an expert, but I will share with you the steps that brought me to sobriety.

You need a desire to get Healthy: You will first need to have a desire to become sober. No one can make you get sober if you do not want to. It is you life to do with as you choose.

You also don't need to get to the point of loosing everything and becoming homeless and or going to jail, but you do need to be sick and tired of living the vicious cycle of addiction. When you feel you are ready, go get help. Do not get help as a favor to anyone other than yourself. Do it for you!

Get Support: Once you have come to the point of awareness and desperation, you will need to find someone to help you become sober. There might be an substance abuse treatment facility or seeking help from your local Rabbi, Priest, or spiritual leader. The point is you must collaborate with some who is committed in standing by you until you can be sober.

If you choose a treatment facility, do your homework and find one whose success rate is good and not merely a place that houses you for thirty days and then turns you loose. There are also Religious treatment centers that are helpful, like New Life for Girls, New Life for Boys, Rappha House, Celebrate Recovery, etc, (not endorsements).

You can go on line for an extensive list of Religious treatment centers. They tend to be strict and do not allow even smoking, so find a treatment center you think you give you a greater opportunity for success.

Get Spiritual Advise: If you choose a spiritual leader as counselor, choose someone you feel safe with and has a repetition for confidentiality. Though many clergy are not licensed to counsel in matters of addiction, they can address matters of spiritual healing and forgiveness. In addition, you might ask if they may know of someone in the congregation who has been successfully sober and they can be a non-judgmental support for you.

Seek Professional Help: Therapy can be painful, but it will help you to discover who you are and what lead you to this self-destructive behavior. It will uncover the, who, what, why, when, where or of your addiction.

Eventually you will learn what triggers that lead to your substance abuse and learn how to avoid them. When seeking professional help, ask friends of family if they know of a good counselor. If finances are a problem, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army or your local teaching hospital may offer, discounted or free help.

Clean up you Environment: Create a sober environment for yourself. Everyone at home must agree to partner with you in getting sober, this means not drugs or alcohol in the home at any time.

Let you old friends know that you are getting sober and that you will not be having any contact with them at this time. Stay away from your old favorite haunts. If necessary, do not even drive or walk past them. Do not watch movies or TV where people are drinking or getting high as this may be a trigger.

Eat Right: Once you have stopped using, you body needs to be restored to health. You may consider the holistic route, and seek the help of a Naturopathic Dr. They can help you back on the road to physical and emotional recovery without the use of drugs.

Ask your naturopathic physician about the benefits of doing a body cleanse. You can find several detox programs at you local health food store. Drink lots of water and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as this helps to cleanse your body from toxins.

Talk to God: Pray, pray, pray. Praying will address the spiritual part of you that has been lost for a very long time. Prayer will help you reconnect with God, who loves you. Praying will help you to reconnect with your own spirit. As you begin to establish a new connection with God, He will give you strength, He will guide you and He will give you peace.

Forgive and Make Restitution if Possible: Eventually when you are over the hump and feeling stronger, you will need to go to those you have hurt and ask their forgiveness. Ask your counselor when he/she thinks it is time to do this.

Remember, because you are now sober, everyone will not necessarily be ready to forgive you. Your substance abuse have hurt many people.

If they do not forgive, you do not worry about it. You have made the step to begin to make amends. Most of all, you must learn to love and forgive yourself. Your addiction was a part of your past and it does not define who you are now. Begin to move forward.

Get Positive Friends: Keep you life filled with positive people and activities. The things that you think your lost through your substance abuse have not been lost, just put on hold.

Begin to write a novel, begin to draw, go back to school and take a course or get your degree, begin to exercise. This is your time of rebuilding a new life and establishing new positive behaviors. This is you time to live life again.

Ask for God's Help: Ask God to give you grace. Grace is the state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. If you should relapse, do not beat yourself up.

Forgive yourself immediately, get up, dust yourself off and continue on you path to sobriety. Stay close to your support system, remember to avoid, people places and things that may trigger your desire to use. As you stay on your path to healing, you are getting stronger and stronger each day!

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