If your life revolves around your next high or your next drink, then your friends most likely do too. Now that you’re sober, you can start working to develop real friendships with people who actually care about you and value you.

When I was drinking, at least 70% of my social interactions would take place in the presence of alcohol. Now, I seek different settings to socialise that make me feel comfortable and often, feel more wholesome. Upon re-entering society as a sober person, I was abruptly made aware that my relationship with alcohol had been even more sinister than I had realised. For many people – including my anxiety-riddled and clinically-depressed self – alcohol consumption is a tall glass of extrovertism that allows for immediate passage to a louder, more confident, more extravagant self. For me, the hardest chapter of sobriety was returning to the world of face-to-face socialising and reconnecting with my loved ones without the tantalising lubricant of alcohol.

Achieve the Sober Life at Washburn House

This is because when you suffer from addiction, you become consumed with getting more alcohol or drugs and that alone. But, when you become sober, you get to have all the time that you would have normally used to obtain substances while suffering from addiction. With all this newfound time, you can change your life for the better.

what does sober life mean

How long withdrawal symptoms last depends on how frequently you use the substance, the dose, the method of stopping , and more. Some people, for example, may experience symptoms of withdrawal from cannabis for days to six months to two years in some cases. Staying sober requires a person to dive deeper and begin unraveling why they were using the substance, their triggers for relapse, and how to avoid falling into a pattern of use again. Milestones in sobriety sober life are celebrated to recognize the challenging work you are accomplishing. For example, 12-step programs often have milestones or “sober birthdays” starting x amount of hours sober (i.e., 24 hours sober) and onward from there (i.e., a week, one month, three months). Old habits and toxic relationships no longer serve the sober version of yourself you are working hard to create. Old habits may include other addictive behaviors or self-destructive actions.

thoughts on “14 Reasons Being Sober Makes Your Life Better”

As a result, you develop a better understanding of the world around you, how it impacts you personally, and what actions you can take to stay sober for the long-haul. Well, these benefits of sobriety also mean you have time to be more productive. That being said, you might not be at a place where you want people to know you’re not drinking, and that’s OK. You can provide an excuse, like that you’re on antibiotics, or you aren’t feeling great or want to feel fresh for something you have going on the next day. It’s important to remember that you never have to give yourself up to make other people comfortable—ever. Whether you’re stating a one-sentence response (“I don’t drink”) or using a small excuse, the only thing to consider is whether you are comfortable, and whether your boundaries are being upheld. In the early days, I felt that it was my responsibility to answer the question, “How come you aren’t drinking?

what does sober life mean

However, if they’re still opening and actively consuming substances in your presence, you may still need to separate yourself. If you’re struggling with addiction to drugs and alcohol, a recovery community and support groups can also assist in your recovery. Living a sober life after going through addiction gives you a new perspective on life. This is because it allows you to see the world through new eyes after being clouded by alcohol and drugs for so long.

What Does It Mean To Be Completely Sober?

I am happy to hear that you are starting to feel like your old self. Recovery can be a long and hard fight but always remember it is worth it all. Like you said you will begin to appreciate your sobriety but most importantly you will begin to appreciate your journey. I’ve seen so many people get sober, and even after 10 years, some say that life isn’t worth living, and the rest just think it’s boring and depressive.

  • Once sober, you can use this ability to make up for lost time and make new friendships.
  • But I can’t say my life got better, Health yes but mentally I wasn’t worse off but now i see myself as really boring.
  • A drastic shift in society’s view of substance abuse happened and the need for medical treatment was introduced.
  • The most helpful activities are often ones that you know provide meaning, enjoyment, or a sense of mastery.

Learning sober coping strategies to deal with stress can help you stay calm and avoid triggering explosive emotional reactions or relapse. The goal is not to avoid feeling angry or upset but to self-soothe without substances. Breathwork, meditation, and yoga are all some ways you can work on your emotional regulation outside of a healthcare provider’s office. 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. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Building a support network is one of the best things you can do to build a strong foundation for sober living. Professional support can look like bringing your healthcare provider into the conversation about your drug and alcohol use, seeking an in-person or online recovery program, or attending various therapy types. This article will describe sobriety in more detail, the challenges a person faces while working to stay sober, the options for treatment, and tips for building a sober lifestyle.

Avoid Old Routines and Habits

This means you’ll have an easier time functioning at work, carrying out your daily routine, reading a book, and even just having deeper thoughts and ideas that add value to your life. However, some of us may find ourselves feeling down, lamenting past years and previous versions of ourselves. Maybe you’re newly sober and the pink cloud never showed up for you or you’re struggling to adjust to a sober lifestyle. Many people have a hard time making the transition after rehab, but all hope is not lost. You CAN do this and you WILL eventually settle into a sober life.

what does sober life mean

Calls to any general helpline (non-facility specific 1-8XX numbers) for your visit will be answered by a licensed drug and alcohol rehab facility, a paid advertiser on PalmPartners.com. Being sober and having emotional sobriety also means being able to acknowledge when all is not well.

Learn to Love Yourself

When you’re sober, you don’t have to worry about developing life-threatening complications from your habits. Addiction and alcoholism are terrible diseases that affect millions of Americans year after year after year. Some addicts will go into treatment several times and come out only to pick right back up and start drinking or using again. Sobriety is possible, but you have to want it more than anything in this world.

  • As a result, you may be able to rebuild relationships that broke due to addiction.
  • 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.
  • Stay strong by holding tight to a tangible idea of why you’re not drinking.
  • When you suffer from addiction, you become so obsessed with obtaining more alcohol or drugs that you stop investing in your relationships with other people.
  • It also covers tips on how to deal with the challenges you’ll face on your journey to sobriety.

Through strategic marketing campaign concepts, Alyssa has established Banyan as an industry leader and a national household name. Treatments at Banyan’s Stuart, Florida rehab, will focus on eradicating the need for substance use as a whole. This approach greatly simplifies the experience of sobriety and can make maintaining it in the long term that much easier. The answer to this question is not necessarily a straight yes or no. Cannabis still presents the risk of addiction but carries far less danger than using alcohol or hard drugs. For instance, it is nearly impossible to overdose on marijuana. It doesn’t present the risk of bloodborne diseases on its own, a clear improvement over intravenous alternatives.

Codependency in Recovery

It is also legal in a number of states, which means people in those locations can utilize it without risking judicial consequences. Recovery is an excellent opportunity to explore new hobbies and develop new passions along the way. These are the things that make life worth living and having them will help you find purpose and meaning in life at a time when you may feel very uncertain about the direction you’re headed.