It can also dehydrate and deprive the body of essential vitamins and antioxidants. Living a sober life will give you way more time than living with addiction. 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.

Not because her drinking negatively affected me, but because I can see how sobriety has positively affected her. We offer unique treatment programs for any set of needs. The goal of CBT is to trace our thought patterns and identify our unhealthy coping mechanisms. Once this is done, we work on changing our train of thought and turn to good coping mechanisms. Please consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a way to treat your Dual Diagnosis. You might be ready to face these triggers, or you might not feel comfortable yet.

How To Avoid Dry Drunk Syndrome

When you’re under the influence, it’s all too easy to give in to cravings for something greasy, sweet, or salty. You have fewer cravings, and you’re not surrounded by temptations like bar food. You can live healthier and feel more comfortable with yourself when sober. Sober living is vibrant, fulfilling, and a way to enjoy real experiences and relationships. The idea of sobriety can feel boring or lame, and like it’s only an option for someone who’shit rock bottomand had to become sober because they had no other choice.

Or, you might need time to build a support system if your addiction negatively impacted friends and family members. Recovery can be a linear process, yet you might need to go back if you aren’t ready to move forward. For example, you might complete a sober living program yet do not feel prepared to get back in the real world. More likely than not, your family was very affected by your addiction. This can cause a lot of strain between you and your family members. Once you become sober, you will be much more pleasant to be around. You’ll be a much happier, healthier version of yourself – back to the “old you” that they love so much.

Living A Sober Life Isn’t As Scary As You Think

Long-term substance abuse can also cause chronic medical conditions and potentially fatal diseases. As you progress in your sobriety, your overall health will begin to improve.Your immune system will heal, causing you to get sick less often. Your weight will begin to stabilize, and your diet will be better as you crave fewer unhealthy foods. This can cause addicts to be less self-aware, making it easier to keep using. The world around you also comes into focus as you are more mindful of the things going on around you and how they are impacting your life. At its core, substance abuse is often a result of self-hatred.

• Services are provided to individuals with a primary diagnosis of substance abuse and/or alcohol addiction.
• It’s hard to concentrate on swimming and school with many people around me making bad choices.
• Aside from the obvious (no more hangovers, hospitalizations, jail time, etc.), there are so many ways life is better when you’re sober.
• It may take time and effort, but it’s possible to build a sober life community of others who share the same goals of sobriety.

It may take time and effort, but it’s possible to build a sober life community of others who share the same goals of sobriety. Therefore, one is not trading one addiction for another addiction. They have traded a life-threatening situation for a daily inconvenience of needing to take a medication , as some would a vitamin. Yes, the physical dependence https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to opioids still remains, but that is a vast improvement over addiction, is not life-threatening, and it can easily be managed medically. It’s also important to note that the physical dependence pre-existed the buprenorphine treatment and was not caused by it. For some people, one-on-one counseling is more helpful than group therapy.

Youll Feel Better About Yourself

Unfortunately, one can probably never totally resolve one’s childhood trauma, so there’s always more work to do in order to live with it. Federal laws and regulations do not protect any information about suspected child abuse or neglect from being reported under state law to appropriate state or local authorities. The disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency or to qualified personnel for research, audit, or practice/program evaluation.

• You were always used to having drugs or alcohol in your hands and spending all of your free time doing drugs.
• No, you decided to go big, to do something meaningful – to do something that you can commit to.
• Just as people can develop an interest in adding different liquors to mixed drinks, many people living in sobriety find themselves discovering an interest in healthy foods.
• In addition to managing your social network, you will also want to avoid situations that could trigger a craving.

And having that extra cash opens up a whole world of new opportunities – you could decide to save for a house, take a vacation, or go back to school, for example. Substance misuse doesn’t just affect your mental health. It affects your physical health in almost every conceivable way. You may not exercise because you’d rather drink or you’re spending time nursing hangover symptoms. Your sleep patterns may be altered and you may not think about eating healthy when you’re under the influence. Substance misuse can also affect your immune system and your digestive system. When you’re misusing drugs or alcohol, your relationships may be built on substance use.

Money

In addition to being successful, your mentor’s values should match yours so that you will have a positive influence. Spending time with people who are confident and inspired will give your confidence and self-esteem a boost.

• You’ll be able to truly enjoy moments and experiences as you’re living them, rather than a constant nagging worry that is distracting you.
• While you were actively addicted, you likely had poor boundaries that contributed to self-harming behaviors like substance abuse.
• Many have found relief from seeing a psychiatrist and utilizing medications when medically necessary.
• If you are a dry drunk, chances are you also struggle with depression, anxiety, or some other form of mental illness.
• Instead of planning your life around your next drink or hit of drugs, the opportunities for having fun expand exponentially once your mind is clear, your body is able, and your spirit is willing.

For example, depression can cause feelings of loneliness or isolation. Symptoms of addiction are isolation and self-medicating. However, there are many various ways that one of these illnesses can lead to another. You can focus each day on doing something that will make you feel happy and fulfilled. According to a2014 surveyby Alcoholics Anonymous, 27% of members stay sober after one year, 24% for one to five years, and 13% between five and ten years. With the many types of groups available besides alcoholics and narcotics anonymous, you can look into what kind of program will help you or a loved one. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a list of online recovery resources.

I had been drinking way too much way too often since age 16. I’ve lost a big part of my life, time, energy, and activity to alcohol. These last three months have not been fantastic, but in balance so much better than when I was drinking. I’ve met a lot of people who’ve said sobriety living a sober life sucks and have never given AA or NA a try. Its not the only way to get sober mind you, but it beats staying home every night and doing nothing. We do a lot of things together to keep each other sober. It’s not hard to see why people get more done when they’re sober.

Sober Life Community

Since addiction tends to dictate the day – either finding the next fix, or spending useless time being high. You’ll suddenly have much more time to spend with family, friends or improving your life. You can start new hobbies, a new job, or be able to check something off your bucket list. Worrying about where and when you’ll be getting your next fix will be gone. You’ll be able to truly enjoy moments and experiences as you’re living them, rather than a constant nagging worry that is distracting you. Time with family and friends will be more precious, as will traveling and going to new places. Being able to break free that the prison of addiction has held you in will be one of the best benefits of becoming sober.

Not only can it help improve your physical health, but it can also reduce stress, help promote better sleep, and make you feel happier and more stable due to the release of endorphins. Perhaps one of the best things about a sober life is the relationship you begin to develop with yourself. You learn new skills, interests, and learn just how much you can overcome when you put your mind to it. This is one of the most beautiful things a sober life can offer you.

While your definition of “fun” will change once you are sober, you will absolutely have more fun and feel better about yourself once you’re sober. No longer having to live with feeling hungover, poor relationships, low money and shame from your addiction will make you feel better than ever. Being able to let go of all that and embrace life as it gives it to you will make you feel amazing. While in active addiction, relationships are often strained or completely fractured. Families and friends grow frustrated with their loved ones suffering from addiction, and have likely distanced themselves pretty far, if not completely. This comes from a place of your loved ones wanting to protect themselves from your addiction, so once you are living a sober life, they will be happy to become part of your life again.

Since your mood affects your energy, the rewiring of your brain can cause you to lose energy as well. You are completely right when saying you have to want to be sober for yourself. When getting well for someone else it can lead to resentment in the relationship and higher chances of relapse. I am glad to hear that you have been able to appreciate your sobriety and hope that your message is an inspiration for other readers in recovery. After I’ve now tried both lifestyles over a long period, my conclusion is that I will never quit drugs voluntarily again. They all seem to feed into one another, so the net benefit is massive, all things taken into consideration. Laurel House, Inc., the sponsor of and its free support services, has produced a 4-minute video about Resources to Recover and a family’s journey from heartbreak to healing.

When people drink or use drugs, it frequently starts as a way to deal with hardships but becomes a primary coping mechanism. Things that happen in life may feel as if they’re too difficult to deal with without the effects of a substance.

You might stay sober for years and relapse following the sudden loss of a loved one. Other unexpected life events can cause a relapse, which might make recovery seem impossible. Much like any other goal in life, long-term sobriety is more manageable in small parts. Take one step at a time and break everything into shorter goals.