It’s normal for DUI offenders to experience feelings of hopelessness after being convicted. A DUI conviction can be lifechanging and remains on your record after you have served the consequences. For this reason, many offenders may feel that it’s impossible to get back on their feet. However, many past offenders have successfully recovered and moved on with their lives with adequate help and support. You can, too.
In this article, we share with you some tips on recovering from a DUI offense.
Surround Yourself with Support
The legal consequences of your DUI offense may include a rehabilitative treatment program or first offender program. A multiple offender program can be mandatory for repeat offenders. While that is a good start on your path to recovery with the help of professionals and others who are in the same situation as you, you will need to surround yourself with supportive friends and family members as well. For instance, hanging out with people who constantly drink in front of you or are not supportive of your recovery efforts can hinder your progress.
Keep Away from Alcohol
For the majority of DUI offenders, substance abuse is the underlying reason for their offense. Isolated, out-of-character accidents are rare and amount for only a small percentage of infractions. If you have a substance abuse problem, be honest with yourself and keep away from your triggers. This can be anything from stressful situations, bad company or a certain time of day.
Although it’s easier said than done, putting in conscious effort to avoid these triggers can go a long way. If you need help, speak with a healthcare professional or counsellor about your triggers and follow their suggestions on avoiding them.
Occupy Your Time with Meaningful Hobbies
After cutting out alcohol from your life, you may find yourself with lots of spare time on your hands. It’s important to fill up this time to prevent yourself from drifting back to old habits. Find some hobbies to occupy your time, whether that is rediscovering something you used to love or trying something new.
Be Kind to Yourself
Often, what DUI offenders find hardest to live with is the burden of guilt they carry within themselves. If you cannot forgive yourself, you will never be able to move on and rebuild your life. Although you may wish you never committed the offense in the first place, it cannot be undone. The best you can do is forgive yourself and learn from the experience. Adopt a new perspective in moving on with your life and deciding where you will go next. Most of all, be kind to yourself as you navigate the world of recovery.
Rehabilitation from A Safe Distance
At Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group, we believe that rehabilitative treatment is the best way for DUI offenders to recover after being convicted. However, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, in-person sessions have been temporarily replaced with DUI telehealth sessions. These sessions are conducted via online platforms for a limited time only and will be resumed in person as soon as it’s safe for us to.
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