Content
This includes having someone you can call for support, knowing what to expect, and having a safe place to stay during detox. Staying involved in your recovery is essential to remaining sober for the long term. The federal government offers many resources for those struggling with addiction. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a National Helpline that can help you find treatment and recovery resources in your area. Emotional sobriety is not about ignoring your feelings, but facing them.
If you’re worried about detoxing on your own, there are many resources available to help you through the process. There are also detox kits available for purchase that can help you through https://goodmenproject.com/everyday-life-2/top-5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-house-for-living/ the process. For example, if you were addicted to heroin and stopped taking it abruptly, then you may experience severe withdrawal symptoms within 24 hours after stopping use.
Learning to Enjoy Clean Living
This is especially the case if you’re taking depressants or downers. Abusing substances can also lower your energy due to the fact that substances often rewire the parts of the brain that control your mood. Since your mood affects your energy, the rewiring of your brain can cause you to lose energy as well.
Although the media may make getting drunk and using drugs seem appealing and fun, the effects of abusing substances are not. Meditation has been proven to have health benefits for everyone, including addicts. It calms anxiety, reduces stress and controls pain- many triggers which cause people to use. If you can calm your mind through this practice, you may have an easier time living without alcohol and drugs. Sober relationships will be a key factor in your recovery journey.
Developing Healthier Alternatives to Old Habits
Before I quit drinking, I never really used to care about dividing the bill down the middle with a group. At some point after college, it just didn’t matter if someone had a meal that was four dollars more than mine, or if they ate more edamame, or even if they had one more drink than I did. Not only because my portion of the check is significantly smaller than anyone else at the table, but also because I refuse to invest in Big Alcohol. This isn’t to say that all of your friends will be threatened, or that all of your friendships will change.
- Aside from the obvious (no more hangovers, hospitalizations, jail time, etc.), there are so many ways life is better when you’re sober.
- In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.
- There’s the misconception that if you’re sober, you aren’t fun, you won’t be able to enjoy your life to the fullest and you’ll have trouble forming relationships.
- It may help to pick a quit date, or a day when you choose to discontinue use of alcohol or drugs.
When you choose to become sober, you might worry that your life is going to become boring. Am I ever going to be able to have fun again without drinking or using substances? Well, we are here to tell you that the benefits of sobriety far outweigh the downfalls. In fact, living a sober life is the best decision that you can ever make. Many people who quit drinking find themselves with more free time than usual. Dedicating this time to self-care and satisfying hobbies can help you stay motivated to maintain a sober curious lifestyle.
How Do I Keep My Sobriety at Non-Sober Events?
On a deeper level, living a sober lifestyle can mean you choose not to drink alcohol for the long-term. That can be because of substance abuse issues or you just want to live healthier. Maybe you discovered moderation wasn’t for you after flirting with the sober curious lifestyle.
Why is it so hard to stay sober?
Your emotions can shift a great deal while you're getting sober. After quitting drugs or alcohol, you may feel more irritable, anxious, or depressed. The first year of sobriety can be challenging, and many people experience a mix of emotions.
The sober curious movement doesn’t work for everyone, though, and it’s absolutely OK to need extra support with addressing drinking habits. Maybe you used to abuse drugs and alcohol because you didn’t like yourself and you were trying to be someone else. Or maybe you hated yourself because you couldn’t stop abusing substances. Either way, as you continue living a sober life, you may learn how to love yourself (flaws and all), respect yourself, and feel confident and good about the new decisions you’re making. Drug and alcohol abuse is harmful to nearly every organ in the body and chronic and long-term substance abuse can even cause life-threatening diseases or medical conditions.
If you’re interested in learning more about it and living a sober life, this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything from what sober living is to how to How to Choose a Sober House: Tips to Focus on find a program that’s right for you. Sober living can be a life-saving choice for many people, and we hope this guide helps you make the most of it.