8 Steps To Getting Back On Track After A DUI Conviction In Houston
When you judge all the days you’ve been through in your life, the ones that come immediately after a DUI are going to be high up there for awfulness.
You can’t deny that you’ve made a mistake, and now you need to deal with the consequences.
This is not a fun or easy process. But it’s also not impossible. Bear this in mind as you do what you have to to get your life back on track following a DUI conviction: Things get easier as you move forward.
Moving forward is essential; you are the one who is going to make things better.
Here are eight good tips to keep in mind when it’s time to put your life back on track after a DUI:
1) Get Strength From Your Family & Friends
Even though nearly half of the families in America are affected by alcoholism in one way or another, a lot of people never realize that they have a loved one struggling with an alcohol problem. That’s how powerful the feeling of shame attached to this addiction can be.
You need to get over that shame! Your relatives and friends can and should be powerful resources. They can give you so much support. There may be a little initial upset or shock, but they would far rather see you get better than let you slip away for reasons they don’t understand.
Sharing your mistakes with friends and family is an excellent step toward ensuring you don’t repeat them.
The road to recovery after a DUI conviction is a long one. It’s easier to walk if you’re not alone.
For one thing, your relatives and friends can provide tremendous practical support. Don’t hesitate to ask for help in getting to work and meeting your other obligations while you can’t drive.
2) Find A Support Group
Support groups for alcoholism (AA and others) are frightening. After you get your first DUI, you probably don’t feel like you’re an alcoholic. But a DUI conviction is an unambiguous sign that you do have an alcohol problem.
You’re not the first! This same problem affects people of every class, creed, and color. And other people who have walked the road to recovery can help show you the way.
Don’t pass over this step! Investigate the full range of resources available in your community. Alcoholics Anonymous might not be the right support model for you. It is far from your only option.
You may find it useful to simply get out and get involved with some kind of collaborative project. Check with your church, your local soup kitchen, and your nursing homes. Do a little volunteer work along with others.
Joining up with a team, even if it’s not strictly recovery-focused, builds a larger support network and holds us accountable for our recovery.
3) Professional Help (Therapy Or Counseling)
Taking this step might be mandatory based on your legal situation. But it’s worth considering whether or not you’re required to seek therapy.
Therapy is a terrific way to get strong, professional help with personal problems so that we can fix them before they spill over into others’ lives. Think of a therapist or counselor as a sounding board who can learn about your situation and suggest constructive ways to improve it.
4) Consider Rehab
This is another step you might be compelled to take after a DUI conviction. Even if you’re not, checking yourself into rehab might be an effective way to get a grip on serious alcohol addiction.
When it becomes serious enough, alcohol is undoubtedly a disease. And like any disease, your odds of beating it go up when you entrust yourself to experienced professionals.
Is going to rehab a dramatic step? It can be, yes. Does your life need a dramatic change? Sometimes going big is the only way to get a meaningful change started.
Rehab is an intensely personal decision. Before you make it, talk with people you trust – friends, family members, and your therapist.
5) Occupy Yourself With Hobbies
For many people who fall into the grip of alcoholism, drinking is a pastime. Changing your life means replacing alcohol as your go-to way to use up your free time.
This is the perfect time to consider more constructive diversions. Devoting your interest to something meaningful is a strong demonstration that you’re making better choices. It’s something your relatives need to see, and it helps you show yourself you’re healing, too.
Consider picking back up any old hobbies that you’ve abandoned since becoming an adult. What about learning to play a musical instrument or sing? What you choose to do specifically doesn’t matter, but the time you invest in healthy hobbies does.
6) Evaluate Your Social Situation Honestly
Every DUI comes at the end of a story. How did you get there? Who were you spending time with?
If you take a look at your social circle and realize that alcohol is the strongest (or only) bond between you and your friends, you may need to change things up to become healthier.
This can feel dramatic and even painful. It’s much easier to tell yourself that you can maintain all of your relationships while simply scaling back the amount you drink.
You absolutely can do that, and it can work! Until it can’t. Alcohol is a social problem as well as a physical one, and the very worst thing for you is sometimes a friend encouraging you to drink more.
Look for new social activities and pastimes that don’t revolve around alcohol. Game nights, escape rooms, and social sports are all great ideas for group activities that can be fully separated from drinking.
7) Apologize
This is an obvious step – so obvious that you risk overlooking it. A vital part of the healing process is to apologize for the mistakes you’ve made. Let your loved ones know that you deeply regret your errors and that you plan to do better in the future.
If your DUI involved an accident and someone got hurt, you definitely need to apologize to them.
The last person who deserves a sincere apology is yourself. After you’ve made amends with the others you’ve hurt and disappointed, forgive yourself for your mistake.
Your mistake was a big one, but you don’t have to punish yourself for it forever. Move forward to building a better life according to healthier rules.
8) Find A Lawyer
Most first-time DUI offenders don’t have to serve real jail time. This certainly doesn’t mean that you’re free of serious legal consequences, though. The actions taken against you can be especially severe if your DUI caused injuries.
It is fair and reasonable to make sure your trip through the legal system is fair and respects your rights. Getting pushed around in court doesn’t make your recovery process any easier. Hire an experienced attorney to safeguard you in this vulnerable time.
If you are dealing with a DUI or DWI in Houston, feel free to give us a call or contact Butler Law Firm to inquire about a FREE case consultation and speaking with a Houston DWI attorney!