I have found that the benefits of sobriety outweigh the benefits of partying. If I was magically granted a spell that would let me drink like a normal person, I would decline the offer. Sobriety has taught me so much and provided me with so much insight on life and on myself. For that reason, I thought I’d share why I feel good about being sober.
Identify Your Personal Triggers
- Although these new activities are healthy and productive, they can be a stumbling block to lasting recovery if they become a transfer addiction to fill the void left by the original addiction.
- Imagine having no clothes, and getting through the day with only eating a banana.
- There will be some hiccups and some bad choices along the way, but being clear headed definitely makes it easier to know what to and what not to spend money on.
- Sobriety often, but not always, follows a period of problematic use or addiction.
- You may again seek out the people and situations that support your alcohol use.
- Research shows that some damage to your brain, liver, heart, and gut done by alcohol will slowly heal when you stop drinking.
Sober nights out or chill evenings in mean you actually get to remember the show, movie, or concert you enjoyed. It’s all clear now, making those moments with your favorites or live performances way more memorable. Plus, you get to be that friend who remembers all the details and can chat about them the next day. Being sober means you’re always in the clear to help out with a late-night lift. You’ve now got the freedom to hop in the car without a second thought. It’s a pretty sweet perk, making you the reliable go-to driver, any time of night.
Build a Support Network
Exercise increases endorphins, which are the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain. It can be a good replacement for the release of endorphins caused by drinking alcohol. If you are invited to a bar or restaurant for a social gathering and want to take this approach to being sober curious, try to only attend events at places where alcohol isn’t the main focus.
Avoid Old Habits and Toxic Relationships
You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. If PAWS is severe or if you’re experiencing prolonged symptoms, a medical professional can help you work through them and remain in recovery without relapse. Depending on the type of dependency, PAWS can last from six months to two years after you stop using drugs or alcohol. The more tools you have for identifying triggers, coping with stress, and managing your new sober life, the easier you’ll prevent relapse.
- Sobriety, or being sober, can be defined as the state of not being intoxicated.
- You receive the needed tools like practicing gratitude to make your own happiness in recovery.
- You’ve now got the freedom to hop in the car without a second thought.
- Addiction has a devastating effect on the relationships in every facet of our lives.
- In addition, sobriety can boost your self-esteem and self-confidence.
Relapse, or the return to substance use following a period of abstinence, is common—an estimated 60% of people who receive substance abuse treatment relapse within a year. Sobriety, or being sober, can be defined as the state of not being intoxicated. In the fields of addiction and mental health treatment, sobriety typically refers to a person’s decision https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/psychological-dependence-on-alcohol-physiological-addiction-symptoms/ to maintain abstinence from substance use. Sobriety often, but not always, follows a period of problematic use or addiction. Substance abuse can have a profound impact on your mental clarity, affecting how you think, feel, and make decisions. It impairs your cognitive function, making it difficult to concentrate, process information, and recall memories.
Rock the SOBRLIFE: Get Sober and Stay Sober
Binge drinking can lead to consuming an extra 600 calories or more in a day. One of the most profound ways that alcohol affects you is through what it does to your body. After you drink alcohol, Volpicelli explains that the small molecules inside it get absorbed by your gut. From there, they travel to other parts of your body and affect organ systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems, along the way. If you want to explore your relationship with alcohol, it can be helpful to cut it out and note any changes in your life caused by its elimination.
- There are no hard-and-fast rules for this particular step—only you know the context and history of your relationships and your sobriety journey.
- If you want to explore your relationship with alcohol, it can be helpful to cut it out and note any changes in your life caused by its elimination.
- Treatment for addiction can help you address and safely manage any mental and emotional health issues and clear the way for a sober life free from the damaging effects of drugs and alcohol.
- Relapse, or the return to substance use following a period of abstinence, is common—an estimated 60% of people who receive substance abuse treatment relapse within a year.
- When you stop drinking, the first thing to come back is your health.
It opens doors to new opportunities, relationships, and experiences. By prioritizing your well-being, you can overcome the challenges of addiction and embrace a fulfilling life. reasons to stay sober Acknowledging and celebrating the hard work of recovery is helpful for keeping you motivated and reminding you why you took this brave step toward sobriety in the first place.
- “I would say the very first thing people should do is start to explore it,” says Greg Hobelmann, M.D., co-CEO of Ashley Addiction Treatment.
- I was listening to this podcast the other day about this guy named Justin Wren.
- I’d bet nine out of 10 of us won’t even answer, and we’ll just laugh because it’s such a ridiculous question.
- While alcohol might initially seem like a quick fix for calming nerves, it ultimately disrupts the brain’s chemical balance, worsening anxiety over time.
- No more overflowing recycling bins full of bottles to deal with.
More Time for Self-Care
