Combine the calories in alcohol with the aforementioned junk food cravings and you’ve got a recipe for weight gain. When you’re sober, you’ll probably find that you stop gaining weight (and maybe even lose a few pounds) without really trying. But with professional treatment, it is possible to make a full recovery from alcohol abuse. Since grief can lead to depression, isolation, hopelessness, and physical pain, alcohol may seem like an escape. However, alcohol only serves to worsen the underlying sadness and damage existing relationships, making it harder to recover from grief and the addiction.
- If you’re in recovery from a substance use disorder, you already know how much work it took to achieve sobriety, and you’ll want to do everything possible to avoid having a relapse.
- Methamphetamine use can lead to depression, paranoia, hallucinations, and anxiety.
- All of these things work hand in hand with sobriety to help boost your self-worth and self-love.
- Struggling to stay sober is part of the recovery journey, but the rewards are immeasurable.
- If you’re considering going back to addiction, consider how bad it sucked to be physically addicted!
Though it can be painful to do, you may need to distance yourself from those who are unwilling to spend time with you sober to protect your long term physical and emotional health. This is one of the many alcohol and drugs: untimely celebrity deaths during difficult times. Many “normies” have recently made the shift away from social drinking and towards intentional sobriety, and there is good reason for it.
For those seeking addiction treatment for themselves or a loved one, our calls are confidential and are available for 24/7 help. You may want to start an exercise routine — exercise releases brain chemicals called endorphins, which can make you feel good. Or you might rather spend time volunteering for a good cause, like an animal shelter or children’s hospital.
Broken and Bleeding: Emotional Trauma and Substance Use Disorder
Sobriety allows for clearer thinking, increased emotional balance, improved focus, and better decision-making abilities. Maintaining sobriety promotes mental clarity and emotional well-being. Free from the clouding effects of alcohol and drugs, individuals can experience increased self-awareness, emotional stability, and a greater sense of self-worth. Sobriety enables individuals to develop healthy coping mechanisms, manage stress effectively, and cultivate positive self-esteem. Striving for sobriety brings numerous health and mental well-being benefits. By choosing sobriety, individuals can improve physical health, restore mental and emotional stability, and cultivate a fulfilling life.
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Whatever it is, new activities can lead to new friends with interests like yours. This may mean that you don’t spend time with someone you used to use drugs with or go somewhere you used to drink. You might take a new way home from work, for example, to keep from going past your favorite old hangout. When you’re in recovery, you get a good amount of people asking you dumb questions. Milestones in sobriety are celebrated to recognize the challenging work you are accomplishing.
Stay Focused
While new activities may be beneficial, you should not use them to fill the void left by the addiction. The idea is to find balance in your life by engaging in productive activities in a non-compulsive manner. Discover the solutions you’ve been seeking with this new guide to living free of alcohol. Imagine walking into a supportive, judgment-free space, and connecting with those who can understand your experience. We will work with you to determine how to move forward with the treatment in a way that works for you and your financial situation.
What Does it Mean to Stay Sober?
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.
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. Just be sure that your rewards 7 ways to have fun at parties as the only sober person don’t involve drugs or alcohol. Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle. You need all the help you can get as you try to stay sober.
You can replace substance misuse with exercise and physical activity. The sober life can also give you the opportunity to think about nutrition as art therapy for addiction well. You’ll enjoy general health and wellness that you can’t necessarily achieve if you’re drinking or using drugs.
But for those who struggle with abuse, alcohol’s impact on brain chemistry can result in depression, anger, mood changes, isolation, and even suicidal thoughts. Research suggests that 40%-65% of alcoholism is genetic – meaning that for some individuals, moderate exposure to alcohol can quickly develop into a problem. This can be made worse by the fact that friends who themselves struggle with alcohol but are not yet willing to seek help may push you to drink again. You’ll be able to develop and maintain lasting relationships. Drug use can lead to decreased inhibition and increased unprotected sexual activity, which, in turn, increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). When it comes to injectable drugs, sharing needles can also increase the risk of HIV/AIDS and other illnesses.
One of the primary reasons to stay sober from alcohol and drugs is to restore and enhance physical health. Substance abuse takes a toll on the body, contributing to various health issues. By abstaining from alcohol and drugs, individuals give their bodies the opportunity to heal and rejuvenate. Sobriety can lead to improved organ function, reduced risk of chronic diseases, better sleep patterns, increased energy levels, and enhanced overall well-being.
However, the rewards that come with it are well worth the effort invested. With each step forward, individuals battling addiction find themselves reclaiming their lives, experiencing personal growth, and rediscovering a sense of purpose. We’ll also get deep into the positive impact of sobriety on personal relationships and careers. Whether you losing the booze for Sober October, No Drink November, or Dry January, we salute you! And, it doesn’t have to be the New Year or even any event at all great time to make positive changes in your life, and getting sober can be one of them.
Therapy offers a safe space with supportive individuals who want to see you maintain your sobriety. It is the place to honestly assess your situation and prospects of remaining sober. Therapy sessions usually include growth-oriented practices like mindfulness meditation which help solidify your resolve to stay clean. Going to work helps keep your mind away from drugs, but you need to find other ways to fill up your idle time. You can learn a new hobby or language, play sports, read, visit a museum, or take long walks.
It can include a medically-supervised detox, various forms of treatment, including therapy and 12-step programs, and calling upon family, friends, and professionals for additional support. Building a support network can take time, but the efforts are worth the benefits of having the right people in your life for your sobriety journey. Building a support network is one of the best things you can do to build a strong foundation for sober living. Admitting that there’s a need for a change in your life can be one of the most challenging parts of getting sober.
