One of the most obvious things you’ll love about being sober is the health benefits. Substance abuse can lead to a range of health problems, including liver damage, heart disease, sleep problems, and weakened immune systems. No one will come to change your metaphorical diaper, no matter how sorry you feel for yourself. You must sit in it, intimately acquainting yourself with the emotions you’ve repressed for so long.
Activate Calm: How Your Body Handles Stress Without Alcohol
Many aspects of some cultures revolve around alcohol — networking events, date nights, celebratory champagne toasts — so it isn’t always easy to avoid alcohol entirely. Don’t tempt yourself with a bottle of vodka or drug paraphernalia lying around the house. All it takes is one tough day or strong craving to derail you from your goals. If your partner or close friend is inhibiting your goals of being sober, it may be time to say goodbye — at least for a while, and maybe for good. By choosing sobriety, you’re investing in a future where health, happiness, and growth are within your reach.
More Time for Self-Care
Have some sober friends you can invite as your plus-one to a social event like a party or wedding. And stay in touch with your sponsor and call them if you’re feeling anxious or uncomfortable. Professional help can also include peer support and family therapy.
- It wasn’t until I saw a therapist that I received homework that determined what mental health condition I had.
- Feeling guilty or ashamed of past behavior or actions during active addiction is natural and healthy.
- Cravings, which are intense urges to use substances, can tempt you to break sobriety.
Sobriety Is a Lifestyle Choice
By integrating sober life these practices, the concept of sobriety extends beyond mere abstinence to a proactive approach for a balanced and enriched life. Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous are other ways to build a support network. You can try different meetings for the different groups to find one that’s right for you.
How to Stay Sober by Learning New Things
Without the burden of addiction, you won’t be forced to plan your life around your next drink or dose. Because you won’t be dealing with the effects of substances or spending hours seeking out drugs or alcohol, you’ll have plenty of time to devote to new hobbies, activities and friends. Unfortunately, people with substance abuse disorders commonly have low self-esteem issues. So it’s essential that you factor that reality into your recovery and have yourself a plan to change that poor self-image you’ve created in your mind.
Additional Resources on Sobriety
The sober curious movement has gained steam recently, such as with the rise of interest in “Dry January” — a time when participants decide to not drink for the month of January. As you go through your sobriety journey, you will have good days and bad days, and setbacks are part of the journey. It’s helpful to remember your “why” and consider writing it down. Maybe you even found yourself in legal trouble due to your drinking. Everyone has their own reasons why they stopped abusing substances. Sobriety refers to the physiological and psychological state of being unaffected by intoxicants.
- And keep your schedule loose enough that you have time for group meetings and other things that can help you through rough stretches.
- Each step towards rebuilding connections is a step towards a more grounded and fulfilling life.
- But if you’re sober curious, you can remind yourself that there are many ways to socialize that don’t involve drinking, like seeing a movie or playing a sport.
- Surround yourself with people who understand and support your journey towards sobriety.
- So if all of your friends drink alongside you, then there’s no issue, right?
- For a period it was, “I’m an alcoholic,” and that tended to silence anyone (for clarification, I no longer identify as an alcoholic).
- No matter where you are on your sobriety journey, removing any temptations around your house is a good idea, especially during the initial abstinence period.
- Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) provide a community of individuals who share similar experiences and challenges, offering mutual support.
- That’s why Recovery Centers of America (RCA) offers a range of addiction treatment options to help individuals overcome their addiction.
There are several options available, including treatment programs, counseling and therapy, and medication-assisted treatment. Cravings and withdrawal symptoms can be some of the biggest challenges when living a sober life. It’s significant to have a plan in place for managing these feelings. This can include reaching out to a healthcare provider or support group for assistance. Living a sober life involves making healthy habits and lifestyle changes.
That rate is one-to-three years after opioid detoxification or drug addiction treatment. These numbers are alarming, making it crucial that you equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to help you remain sober. And one of those treatments is to simply (or not so simply) avoid consuming alcohol or whatever substance is the object of the addiction. A large body of research exists examining—and proving—the efficacy of AA for sobriety. A 2011 study by Krentzman, Robinson, et al. sought to answer the question of why some people chose to continue going to meetings even after they achieved short-term sobriety. And in case it wasn’t already obvious, the only way to get to long-term sobriety is to first achieve short-term sobriety.
Your journey towards self-improvement begins with a single step, and we’re here to walk alongside you every step of the way. Setting realistic goals and expectations for yourself and celebrating your progress along the way is also essential. My biggest fears in life include being in large groups of strange people, standing at parties by myself, and really just people in general.
- We also offer a range of aftercare services, including support groups, alumni meetings, and counseling to arm you with tools and tips for staying sober.
- During that time, he developed a reputation for being seriously committed to his craft while simultaneously shunning events like award shows and interviews, which are de rigueur in the industry.
- It can also cause mood swings and exacerbated mental issues like anxiety and depression, which can further impair your mental clarity and overall well-being.
Things you’ll actually Love About Being Sober
You’ll also be able to regulate your emotions better without drugs or alcohol. This makes it easier to manage stress and create a healthier lifestyle. Sobriety isn’t just about abstaining from substances; it’s fundamentally linked to your mental health.