Celebrating your sober birthday or anniversary can reinforce your sobriety while also motivating you to continue to stay sober. Throwing a sobriety party is a great way to get all your loved ones involved in the celebration. Of course, if this is your first time celebrating sobriety, you may need some assistance throwing a party that doesn’t involve substances. Focus on the food rather than the drinks — whether that means having a local company cater it with lots of options or hosting a potluck where everyone brings something delicious. One great way to do this is to focus on a theme and choose activities that relate. Plan for a spa day and have others bring their favorite relaxing activities, go bowling, or opt for a barbecue with lawn games. Also, be sure to invite your loved ones who supported you and leave out anyone who didn’t. A challenge in finding new ideas to celebrate sobriety is looking for opportunities that don’t involve alcohol or drugs. When most Americans celebrate major milestones, be it an engagement, a job promotion, a vacation or a win by their favorite sports team, alcohol is usually involved. You’ll need to take some simple steps to ensure that you’re celebrating around safe and supportive friends who are in favor of your continued sobriety.

Hopefully, you have supportive family members and friends who have stood by you during your decision to get sober. After leaving treatment, you’ll probably need to rely on them even more to help you continue your recovery. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, whether it’s simply needing someone to confide in or a trusted friend who can lend a hand around the house. 1 day/24 hours — The first day of recovery is generally filled with new experiences, most tied to entering a treatment program. It can be a difficult but exciting time, and is your first step into sobriety. Followers of Alcoholics Anonymous mark this by giving the new member a white chip. Your friends must also understand that they are never allowed to offer alcohol to you. While your friends might think it’s okay to drink on this weekend getaway, it’s your celebration and you get to make the rules.

Think about why you started your journey toward sobriety

A sobriety anniversary marks a period that a person has remained sober after recovering from an addiction. Unlike birthdays or other anniversaries, sobriety anniversaries aren’t limited to annual celebrations. Early in the recovery process, most people celebrate sobriety milestones at one week, one month, six months and a year. Each day can be a challenge, so every milestone is celebrated during that first year. After this, it’s typical to celebrate on an annual basis, with a particular emphasis on milestones every five years.

Or, you could buy that expensive handbag you’ve been eyeing. As stated before, the road to recovery is not an easy one to trek. However, one should never give up hope when it comes to healing. It’s not you—it’s the cage you live in.” And when someone decides to leave that cage, that is a milestone worth commemorating. Sabrina Spotorno, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an affinity for working with children, adolescents, individuals, and families. She is a therapist on the Monument platform, and is trained in several modalities, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Narrative Therapy. Celebrating sobriety is an important aspect of your recovery. Remember what led you to make that decision and keep that in mind as you create new traditions. Bring excitement to your life by trying new activities like scuba diving or kayaking.

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If you don’t want to host a party or ask a loved one to host it for you, opting for a nice meal at a restaurant is another great choice. Invite some of your greatest supporters to join you for a meal at your favorite restaurant. Or you can treat yourself to a new place you’ve always wanted to try. Whatever you choose, make it something special to remember. Gather your friends and loved ones and show your gratitude for the support they have given you in your journey to recovery. If you like to cook, you can whip up something special for them. You may remind them not to bring any alcoholic beverages and request for them to bring desserts you can all enjoy instead. Battling substance use disorder is not an easy ordeal but it can be done. A study shows that 10% of American adults, aged at least 18 years old, are in recovery from alcohol or drug abuse.

Some people struggle with remaining sober for years, but most will arrive a point where they feel like they have their addiction under control. If this happens to you or a loved one, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the struggle that has gotten you to the point where it no longer feels like a daily effort. Whether it is the first 30 days, 6 months, a year, or several years, we can celebrate any recovery milestone that we choose. When I first got sober, I celebrated 30 days and every continuous month for my first year. Initially, I would mark those anniversaries with chips from 12-step meetings and celebrate Sober House with friends. Nine and a half years later, I still celebrate every single year I am in recovery, and I have no plans to change that. Volunteering on the anniversary of your last drink or use of drugs is a common way to honor how far you’ve come with the support of your community. Donate your time to an organization that supports sobriety and recovery like a sober living home. Pick a cause that is meaningful to you like an animal shelter, food bank or homeless shelter. Anyone in recovery will tell you that you don’t just achieve sobriety one day and have that be the end of your recovery journey.

Many people in recovery take up journaling as a way to process their thoughts. Alternatively, a watch, key chain or other frequently used item can be a constant positive reminder of what they’ve accomplished. A sobriety anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on where the individual used to be and where they are now. They can recognize and celebrate how they’ve turned their life around and how much it’s improved. Great Alumni aftercare program that helps keep you connected. I highly recommend Lighthouse for anyone struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. Giving back is one of the best ways to celebrate sobriety. You can make a donation in your loved one’s honor to a charity or organization that is important to them. This will help them feel appreciated and supported while also helping others in need.

If you had never gotten cocaine addiction treatment, you may not have earned your master’s degree. If you were still drinking heavily, you may not have found your future husband and made it to the alter. When these big life event occur, take a moment to reflect and remind yourself that this is why you got sober. You made it through a heroin addiction treatment program and now you are back in the real world. Some days are challenging, but life without drugs or alcohol is becoming your new norm. Sobriety may be a life-long journey but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate along the way.