It goes without saying that staying sober is a challenge. It requires a complete lifestyle modification that many people aren’t willing or able to undertake. For those that do, however, the rewards are beyond worthwhile. A sober lifestyle will open up doors and opportunities that you may have never thought were possible. You will be healthier, happier, and have a brighter future. It is important to do everything you can to stay sober, and with modern technology, there are plenty of Apps to help you achieve it.
Staying Sober? There’s an App for That.
In early addiction recovery, your life should revolve around staying sober and it should be your number one focus. It is important to make sure you have all the right tools and people on your side. For example, it’s a good idea to have:
- A sponsor
- Friends with long-term sobriety
- A long-term recovery plan
- Sober living
- Hobbies to occupy your time
Now, you can have an app to keep you on track and keep staying sober on the forefront of your mind. Let’s face it – having more reminders is better than less! Here are some of the top sobriety apps, in no particular order, to save you the time of sorting through hundreds of others that don’t quite make the cut. These four were recently highlighted in an article by adweek.com.
- A-Chess comes recommended by a leading scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It is a newer app that was developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin and is based on relapse prevention support for people in addiction recovery that recently left treatment.
- recoveryBox is designed to promote accountable behavior in people recovering from various addiction. The app is nice and customizable and behavior can be tracked daily. It is based on a light system – green, yellow, and red – that are given based on behaviors and how supportive they were of your recovery.
- Sober Grid is more peer-oriented, to bring sober support to your fingertips, literally. The app is based on your location, and rather than calling a sponsor you can simply press a key that says “burning desire” during moments of intense craving. Peers then respond with their support so that you are not alone. GPS and identity are optional for people who prefer privacy.
- 12 Steps AA Companion is a great tool to use along with AA, just as the name implies. You will have access to a mobile version of the big book and a sobriety calculator that tells you how long you have been sober to keep you motivated to stick to it! The app also offers a contact database so that you can stay in touch with other local AA members.
Use All Possible Resources When Staying Sober
It’s important to give your recovery the best shot you can. This means having an arsenal of defenses against temptation to prevent a relapse. These apps help to keep a daily reminder at the forefront of your mind.
The tools are out there, so use them! Staying sober is challenging, but success is possible and certainly worthwhile.
Dr. Joseph Ranieri D.O. earned his BS in Pharmacy at Temple University School of Pharmacy in 1981 and His Doctorate Degree in Osteopathic Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1991. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine Addiction Certification. Dr. Ranieri has lectured extensively to physicians, nurses, counselors and laypeople about the Disease of Addiction throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania since 2012.
