A life in recovery gives you the unique opportunity todevelop healthy coping mechanisms. Without the influence of substances, you have the opportunity to enjoysober relationshipswhileending toxic relationships. You can formauthentic relationshipsbuilt on mutual respect, interests, and understanding rather than just who is willing or available to drink or use drugs with you. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life.
Do you want to drink less alcohol? Here’s how to be ‘sober curious’
Substance abuse can negatively impact physical appearance, causing skin issues, weight loss, dental problems, and more. Getting and staying sober can be a catalyst to help you to change other areas of your life, including your overall physical health. Just getting sober does not automatically lead to health, but it can give you the ability to eat better, sleep better, and get more exercise. How do you feel about yourself when you’re drinking or using drugs? Maybe not, especially if your substance use has become a problem. Getting and staying sober can change the way you look at yourself.
- One way to factor in the cost is to break down the cost of an addiction by day, week, month, and year.
- Maybe you don’t like how alcohol makes you feel after you’ve had a drink or two.
- From 2000 to 2014, overdose-related deaths have increased by 137% and opioid-related deaths have increased by 200%.
- Define what it means to you to be sober – does it mean a job, family, and friends?
Those are mothers, children, fathers, brothers, sisters, and grandparents. They are all people who could have lived if a driver hadn’t succumbed to that potential addiction and gotten behind the wheel. In order to keep yourself and those around you (even strangers) safe, staying sober is key. That’s because addiction has a tight grasp around you – how you think and how you behave. The drugs you’ve been taking, or the drugs you used to take, have changed your brain in ways that make quitting extra hard.
- Moreover, staying sober improves the ability to focus and concentrate, enhancing productivity and cognitive function.
- For those who require a more immersive recovery experience, we deliver more intensive outpatient treatment – IOPs and PHPs, for instance.
- Through evidence-based therapies, personalized treatment plans and wellness activities, we help you uncover what gives your life meaning.
- You may also self-medicate your sleep issues using drugs or alcohol.
- You no longer need to feel overwhelmed with what you did or did not do.
Intermittent Sobriety
By cutting down on drink I’ve grown more confident and comfortable in who I am, and I now prefer the sober version of myself – a state of affairs 16-year-old me would scarcely believe. This doesn’t have to mean cutting alcohol out entirely either – “I drink, so it the impact of alcohol doesn’t worry A Guide To Sober House Rules: What You Need To Know me enough to stop,” Professor Nutt says. Without any weekend drinking sessions in my schedule, I noticed this impact subsided after a couple of weeks, which is par for the course according to Professor Nutt. “I like to say that humans are social creatures, but they’re not very good at it – that’s the problem. Small amounts of alcohol make humans what they want to be.” explains Nutt.
If you or someone you know experiences mental health issues, it is important to seek help from a qualified professional. Our Resource Specialist can help you find expert mental health resources to recover in your community. Contact us now for more information on this free service to our users. Loss of inhibition and a propensity for getting into risky situations are unfortunate hallmarks of living with addictions. Setting boundaries is an essential part of life that can be disrupted by liquor and drugs.
Purpose fosters hope and gives you a reason to make positive choices every day. When you’re sober, you’ll be able to experience life with greater clarity and positivity. The cloud of substance abuse will lift, allowing you to see things in a more positive light. Addiction takes away your joy, relationships, self-esteem, finances, mental wellness, physical health, etc.
Is Sobriety Worth It?
These groups provide a sense of belonging and different methodologies that may resonate better with some individuals, helping them stay accountable and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. Overcoming addiction is a testament to your strength and resilience. Staying sober can help you develop the skills necessary to face life’s challenges head-on and bounce back from adversity with greater ease.
It’s common to use substances as a way to cope with stress and mental health issues. If you’re struggling with the idea of relapse, it’s probably a sign that it’s time to reach out for help. Call a friend or family member to talk through what you’re going through, or reach out to your doctor or therapist. Although you may feel like avoiding your problems, working through them will ultimately make you stronger and more capable of resisting relapse. The term “sober curious” simply means you are asking questions about the role of alcohol in your life.
However, the road to recovery can be difficult, and many people struggle to quit on their own. Whether prompted by health, relationships or personal growth, the journey to recovery from addiction can be profoundly transformative. For many, the road isn’t easy, but the rewards of sobriety go far beyond the absence of substances.
thoughts on “14 Reasons Being Sober Makes Your Life Better”
These substances distract your attention and make it difficult to focus on tasks or responsibilities. Staying sober can help prevent drug-related legal issues, such as possession, trafficking, or manufacturing of illegal substances. Avoiding these legal problems not only saves you from potential fines and incarceration but also protects your reputation and future opportunities. Developing resilience is an important part of recovery because it gets easier for everyone differently. A strong immune system is vital for keeping you healthy and warding off illnesses. Substance abuse can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections.
Some find that sharing their experiences in support groups or helping others through similar struggles becomes their purpose. Sobriety offers the chance to create a legacy that reflects resilience, compassion and growth, motivating individuals to maintain sobriety as they find purpose in helping others on the same journey. Maintaining sobriety also means setting a solid example for those around you, particularly children or younger family members. By choosing a life free from addiction, you show others that it’s possible to overcome struggles and that genuine connections matter more than substances. You have to spend time acquiring your substance of choice, using it, and then recovering from its effects. You can use it to work on your hobbies, learn new skills, spend time with your loved ones, work out, or anything else you please.
Positive Impact on Society
They also recommend avoiding short-term rehabilitation, as three months is the minimum recommended length of stay, and more than one course of treatment may be required. As such, extended stay drug rehab is strongly recommended by the US government. If so, you must stay sober so that you can be a positive role model to them. If you don’t have kids—what happens when you DO https://thecinnamonhollow.com/a-guide-to-sober-house-rules-what-you-need-to-know/ have kids one day?
Drug-seeking or drinking habits can have a damaging impact on personal relationships, causing conflicts, trust issues, emotional disconnection, and financial stress. Your family members may find it difficult to rely on you and may feel that they can no longer trust you. 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. 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.
Hard work and motivation will lead to a healthier mind that can better serve you. If an addict is able to stop drinking or using, the financial savings are tremendous. One way to factor in the cost is to break down the cost of an addiction by day, week, month, and year. By calculating the actual number of dollars thrown away on the addiction, the money becomes more tangible, more real. Once those numbers have been calculated, think about what an addict can do with that money.
New instances of mental illness
Making the decision to stay sober is a difficult one, but it can be made with the right support and resources. It is important to remember that recovery is a journey and that it is a journey. One of the many benefits of sobriety is improved sleep quality.
