Ocean Hills blogs & resources

Understanding stress, recognising triggers, and practising practical strategies are key to managing it effectively. Stress is a normal part of life, but in recovery from alcohol or other addictive behaviours, it can feel overwhelming. At Ocean Hills , we often see how stress can trigger relapse and amplify anxiety, making it harder to stay sober. Understanding stress, recognising triggers , and practising practical strategies are key to managing it effectively. Understanding

By attaching one behaviour to another, you create a small chain of actions that support your recovery. When people first arrive at Ocean Hills , one of the most common questions we hear is: “How do I start building a new life when everything feels chaotic?” The answer often lies in something deceptively simple – creating new habits. In early recovery, routine and structure are the cornerstones of change. And one of the most effective ways to build those routines is through ha

The experts at Ocean Hills don’t recommend using zero-alcohol drinks in recovery. When people start their sobriety journey, a question that often comes up at Ocean Hills is whether it’s okay to drink alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinks. Supermarkets and bars are full of these products, and they’re often marketed as safe alternatives for people who don’t want to drink. It’s understandable why many people are drawn to them. They look and feel familiar, seem harmless and promise

An attitude of gratitude can improve and maintain your sobriety. Gratitude is something most of us understand in theory. It's easy and natural to be grateful for moments which deserve special recognition. We're probably grateful when something good happens in our lives, like getting a new job, making a milestone, or receiving a long-awaited reward. But gratitude can extend beyond celebrating major events or moments of happiness. In fact, it can be practiced daily throughout e

A gentle approach to low-intensity exercise during the detox period is the safest way to go. There’s no doubt about it – detoxing from alcohol is stressful. It’s physically and emotionally draining in the short term, despite it being the best thing you can do for yourself in the long term to get and stay sober. Some people can view the detox period and early recovery as a time to change everything about their health – to get fit, lose weight and stop other bad habits. Ocean H

Relapse doesn’t have to be inevitable. As long as you aware of the risks, you can plan to avoid the triggers.

Give sobriety a go – I want you to know just what it's like to wake up without a hangover. This is a sober story - name has been withheld for privacy reasons. It's a new morning in a new year and today, I wake up with a clear head, a clear conscience and no hangover. It's been almost six years since I had my last drink and I still remember what it felt like to wake up as a practicing alcoholic. Back then, I was fearful and my thoughts were dark and brittle. My insides felt li

If you have an addiction to substances and also suffer with a mental health disorder, it’s often hard to see the wood for the trees.

About half of all people with ADHD will qualify for a diagnosis of substance abuse disorder (read addiction), at some point in their lives.

Life as a sober person doesn't have to mean staying at home every night, watching the world pass me by.

The most important decision you’ll make each day is to put your sobriety first. Then you can enjoy a rich, healthy and sustainable sobriety.

Drinking dreams be scary but can be can serve as an important reminder to double down on self-care in sobriety.

Sobriety milestones help keep you on track with your sobriety and provide accountability. Get support to honour them.

You can be strong, be kind and offer to organise them the treatment in rehab they need, when they're ready.

Just being free from alcohol is only one part of being sober. Another crucial element of sustainable sobriety is what is known as emotional

Why don't I feel better now I'm sober? PAWS and taking it easy after stopping drinking alcohol.

How to stay sober with self care.

What happens when you detox from alcohol

It might take a nasty drama - which can often come to a head at Christmas - to bring attention to a family member's drinking problem.

Getting sober doesn't have to be a New Year's resolution - you can start the process at any time with these six steps to sobriety.