Key takeaways:
- Addiction recovery apps are designed to help people recovering from addiction.
- They may have motivational quotes, a virtual community of fellows, and personalized recovery reminders.
- Think about what stage of recovery you’re in and download an app that can help you most.
- You can start with a free app and either upgrade to the paid plan or try a different app for your convenience.
What are addiction recovery apps?
Addiction recovery apps are designated apps to help people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction to recover. The reality is that your loved one may have different life circumstances that prevent them from being able to join an inpatient or outpatient rehab center for the long term. Maybe they’ve tried several different rehabs without success and no longer want to try another one. Perhaps they’re worried about losing their job, people finding out about their addiction, or that insurance won’t cover their stay at the rehab.
Either way, you want to help your loved one in any way possible, but you don’t see any path forward for them. You’re worried about them remaining in addictive addiction with no way to get out of it. But we’ve got a recommendation for your loved one struggling with addiction that changes everything: addiction help apps. These apps can supplement other recovery efforts, and are available 24/7 for convenience.
How do sober apps work?
Addiction apps have many features that can assist with addiction recovery and relapse prevention. There are many apps out there, each offering different features. For example, you can track your days of sobriety, join virtual recovery communities, learn tools to help you stay sober, and find the next virtual 12-step meeting on different addiction recovery apps.
Some downloadable apps simply boost your mental health or help you gain more serenity through reminding you to journal or add more things to your gratitude list. There are also apps that help you meditate with prerecorded guided meditations and meditation tips. These are all vital skills and resources that your loved one can access 24/7 on their phones, which can help them maintain their sobriety.
Best addiction apps:
Here are some of the most useful drug and alcohol recovery apps, as well as apps that can help your loved one increase their general mental health:
- AA Big Book app- As you may know, the Big Book is the bible for all Alcohol Anonymous 12-step recovery meetings. Although initially written for people in recovery for alcohol, it is also used for NA and other 12-step meetings today. This app allows you to access the full Big Book text, as well as the ability to search for keywords, bookmark certain passages, and take personal notes on different sections. There are also other features like recovery podcasts and AA prayers.
- Sober Sidekick- They claim to have half a million members, none of which go without support. Their goal is to supplement recovery by providing a community of fellows who struggle with addiction, in addition to practical resources to help prevent relapse. They have features like a sobriety counter, daily motivations, and a chat feature with professionals for users to turn to when in need of more support. Having a network of support is vital for your loved one to achieve long lasting recovery.
- I Am Sober- This app encourages the users to make a pledge to get clean, and then holds them accountable with motivational quotes and a daily sobriety counter. The app also recognizes the power of community and support, so they have separate groups for addiction types and place in recovery journey, so the users can connect with people in the same situation as they are in. They ensure you never feel alone on the journey, and invite you to share your story and help others along the way.
- WE Connect- They claim to provide ‘Mental health support that’s personal, not clinical.’ In line with that motto, they provide trained coaches and peers who can help you in any area of mental health, including substance abuse, anxiety, depression, stress, and more. You can set personalized daily reminders like ‘remember to journal’ or ‘do my step work,’ and set a routine that makes space for activities that bolster your mental health throughout the day.
- Twenty Four Hours A Day- Based on the Twenty Four Hours A Day book by Hazelden Publishing, this app contains daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers for people recovering from substance abuse disorders. Once you download the app, you can just shake your phone and a quote will pop up to inspire you. Whether you shake it harshly out of frustration or give a gentle shake when you need a boost, it will reliably show you something you need just when you need it.
- Came to Believe in Sobriety- This app has a cute owl that guides you along the recovery journey. It awards you with milestone chips and helps you set goals for the day, including calling your sponsor and attending 12-step meetings. It also prompts you to take your emotional temperature 3 times a day, an awareness that is vital for people recovering from addiction. It also reminds you to complete daily exercises like writing a gratitude list, a God letter, and Plan of Action.
- Headspace- Meditation has proven to increase mental health and support recovery from substances. Studies have shown that people who meditate regularly experience less stress, accomplish more, and sleep better at night. This app provides guided meditations for every occasion and time of day. There are over a thousand meditations on the app, allowing you to choose the ones that speak to you the most.
- Sober App- Previously known as Sober Tool, this app helps you track your progress, with rewards for sobriety milestones. It allows you to form groups of people who are on the same challenge as you are, so you can keep each other motivated and on track. It also has information on local AA 12-step groups and provides data on how much money, time, and calories were saved by sticking to sobriety.
Which app should my loved one download?
There are many apps for addiction recovery out there. Which one should my loved one download for the best results? Think about their situation and position in recovery. Ask yourself questions like: Has my loved one already achieved sobriety and simply needs accountability to keep the on track? Or has my loved one tried many different sobriety tools and failed with every single one?
Your loved one may just need some motivational quotes to keep them going, or they may benefit from reminders to continue working at their recovery when the going gets rough. Other people are very social and need an app that allows them to be in constant contact with people who are also struggling with addiction. Or perhaps they may benefit from an addiction tracker app that helps them remember how many days of sobriety they have.
Think about what your loved one needs in their current state of recovery, and find the app that best suits their position. You may not have all the answers, but having an honest, nonjudgmental discussion with your loved one may give you more insight as to what they need to best support their recovery journey.
Free apps vs. paid apps
Some of the apps mentioned above are free for anyone who would like to download them. Others are free for a period of time, and then require payment in order to continue using the app. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of using an app or are unsure whether or not the investment is worthwhile, you have nothing to lose if you download one of the free addiction recovery apps.
Encourage your loved one to try an addiction app that can help them, and if they find it helps them a lot, they may decide to continue onto the paid plan. None of the apps require a lifelong commitment- you can always unsubscribe and delete the app if it isn’t working out for the person struggling with addiction.
When does my loved one need professional treatment?
You may be wondering when an app is enough to help your loved one struggling with addiction, and when it’s necessary to involve a live professional or perhaps admit your loved one into a rehab center. The truth is that creating an account on an app- or even being very active on an app- isn’t enough to become sober.
As you probably already know, it’s very hard for people with addiction to come clean and stay sober. Most people who want to stop using substances need intensive 24/7 care, like a rehab facility, to get them started on the journey to sobriety. However, apps can supplement their recovery, either during or after their stint in rehab. It can be used to help the person stay accountable and access the motivation they need to keep going when they’ve left the safe cocoon of rehab.
Conclusion
It’s extremely painful to watch a loved one in active addiction or trying and failing to gain sobriety. As the parent, sibling, or spouse of someone struggling with addiction, you may feel caught between trying to help while giving your loved one the space they need to go through the process of recovery.
It is crucial that you get the emotional support you need to help you get through the difficulties involved in a loved one’s addiction. At the same time, they say that knowledge is power. Do your research so you know what your loved one can do to move forward, when they’re ready and open to getting sober again. Feel free to reach out to Avenues Recovery so we can answer your questions, give you guidance, and help you support your loved one through the process of recovery.