Full Answer
Why should I Stay Sober?
So now that you are sober, stay sober so that you can remain present in the lives of those you love and care about. Maybe there was a friend or family member that threatened to walk away if you weren’t sober—think about that individual NOW to help you remain on the right path!
Should you stay sober If you’ve lost someone to addiction?
If there’s someone in your life that you lost to addiction or that doesn’t do the right things because he or she is an addict, maybe you should stay sober just so that you are not like that person. While we don’t want to encourage pointing fingers, it is okay for you to have a goal of NOT being like someone. 5. Stay out of Jail
Is it difficult to get sober?
Some people may find that getting sober is difficult, while others may have an easier time. The level of difficulty depends on several factors. Relapse, or a return to using after trying to quit, can threaten your sobriety. The relapse rate for substance use disorders is estimated to be between 40% and 60%.
What is sobriety and how does it work?
Drinking and drugging take up a lot of time and energy. You have to spend time acquiring your substance of choice, using it, and then recovering from its effects. Sobriety gives all that time back to you. 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.
Why is sober living important?
Sober living is beneficial to those with chronic relapse problems. There are many people who feel great during primary treatment but are quickly overwhelmed by the problems and stumbling blocks found in everyday life. These addicts alleviate stress by drifting back towards their old habits and before long they’re using again. A few months of sober living helps gives you more sobriety under your belt, more lessons, and more ways to deal with triggers and impulses. A few months of preparing for the real world greatly increases the chances of sobriety sticking.
How effective are sober homes?
Sober homes wouldn’t be very effective if everyone was laying around the house all day. Sober homes are much more than alcohol and drug-free homes – they’re learning tools and building blocks. Sober homes require you to be out of the house during daylight hours, attend a certain number of recovery meetings per week, help the local recovery community, and talk with a recovery sponsor.
What is sober living?
Were you unemployed during your active addiction? Was your house constantly a mess? Sober living focuses on your addiction recovery but it’s also a transition for basic living habits. It’s a shame to admit it but many addicts let everyday living habits fall by the wayside. They don’t clean their homes, they don’t brush their teeth, they don’t look for work. Sober living arrangements require residents to work, attend school, or attend an alcohol treatment program, perform tasks or chores to keep the house in good condition, keep their rooms neat, and keep their personal hygiene in check.
What is it like to come back from addiction?
Coming back from addiction is like coming back from a personal prison. If you need help between primary treatment and a full return to everyday society, look too sober living for help. Sober living gives you the fellowship, time, and requirements to get back on your feet and growing.
The basics
Sobriety is more than just quitting drugs and alcohol. It is the ongoing process of embracing a substance-free life and improving yourself. When you become sober, your body and mind can experience many changes. At times, these changes can be difficult, which may cause you to question if it’s worth it.
Why trust us
Emily Guarnotta, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who offers her expertise in mental health as a contributor to GoodRx. She is a graduate of the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) in San Diego, California. Her specialty areas include the treatment of anxiety, depression, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
What does getting sober feel like?
Getting sober can be an emotional process. Some people report feeling anxious and sad at first but happy and empowered with time. Each person may experience sobriety differently. There is no “right” way to feel when getting sober.
How does your body change while you get sober?
You may experience uncomfortable and even painful withdrawal symptoms while you get sober. This is a normal part of the process. Withdrawal is your body adjusting to the absence of the substance. These withdrawal symptoms usually start within hours or days of stopping.
How do your emotions change while you get 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. However, after a year of sobriety, most people report improved mental health .
Is it easy to become sober?
Some people may find that getting sober is difficult, while others may have an easier time. The level of difficulty depends on several factors. Relapse, or a return to using after trying to quit, can threaten your sobriety. The relapse rate for substance use disorders is estimated to be between 40% and 60%.
What to expect when you get sober
The process of getting sober may look different for each person. What you experience will depend on the specific substance you are quitting, how long you have been using, and the severity of your dependence and addiction.
Why do we need to stay sober?
Because you have goals for the future, ones that you can attain. Getting sober gives you the chance to follow your dreams – staying sober gives you more opportunity to reach them. Maybe you have dream job you’d like to land, or plans to go back to school. Perhaps you want to get married and start a family.
Why is sobriety important?
Because sobriety keeps you safe. Sobriety keeps you safe not only from the physical dangers of substance abuse, but also the convoluted feelings and situations that drugs can provoke. When you are sober, you are less likely to experience suicidal thoughts or get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
What does it mean to be sober?
Living sober means waking up with less regrets or worries about what you did the night before. It means making decisions that will improve your life and benefit your mental, emotional, and physical health. It means thinking before you act and making conscious choices with your best interest in mind.
Why is it important to stay drug free?
1. Because you’ve put a lot of time and hard work into your recovery. If you’ve been to drug treatment before, if you have been in recovery for some time, you know that this statement is true. Recovery takes patience, commitment, and dedication. It is an ongoing journey to stay drug-free.
What is the importance of staying focused on yourself?
Staying focused on yourself is a major aspect of the recovery process . Healing involves becoming self-aware, building self-esteem, and practicing self-care. It means identifying your own reasons to stay sober. At the same, though, it can help to acknowledge the fact that there are others cheering you on.
Is drug abuse harmful?
Drug abuse is detrimental, bearing many physical, psychological, personal and external consequences. And those who are using are not the only ones affected by it – their family members, close friends, spouses and significant others also carry great weight and distress knowing the dangers of drug abuse.
Can drugs make quitting hard?
The drugs you’ve been taking, or the drugs you used to take, have changed your brain in ways that make quitting extra hard. As much as you want to stay sober, as sick as you are of feeling sick, and as tired as you are of the temptations around you, long-term sobriety still feels out of reach. If you are here, you may be in or recently out ...
How to deal with anxiety when sober?
Below are some tips for dealing with anxiety when you are sober: 1. Accept that you are anxious. Sometimes just saying the words “I feel anxious” out loud puts the feeling into a language you can understand. It traps the multitude of physical feelings and wraps them up into one issue.
How many people with alcoholism have anxiety?
Understanding Anxiety and Alcohol Recovery. It is estimated that 20% of adults with alcoholism also have an underlying anxiety disorder. In reality, the number is most likely higher since such an increased number of people with anxiety go undiagnosed.
Can you treat anxiety without alcohol?
Treating anxiety without using medications or alcohol is not a short process, but it is possible. Learning about addiction, treating underlying issues, and building coping mechanisms are the learned behaviors we teach and support at BriteLife Recovery.
Can you handle alcohol and anxiety?
With the right coping techniques, you can handle anxiety and alcohol recovery while sober. Anxiety is a common occurrence in early sobriety. To avoid reaching for alcohol to cope with anxiety, it is crucial to prepare for these feelings. Going out into life without the learned tools of alcohol can seem like a newborn driving a car.
Is alcohol a do it yourself approach?
It may seem more comfortable than going to a doctor, discussing personal issues, or adhering to a treatment regimen. Some feel alcohol is a do-it-yourself approach to addressing social anxiety, family issues, or any stress-provoking issue in life.
Is it normal to be anxious during early sobriety?
Significant changes in your life, routine, friends, and hobbies can all occur at once. It is normal to feel worried and stressed about what life will be like. Dealing with so many unknowns without your usual crutch can seem impossible.
Is sobriety the same as anxiety?
Effects of Sobriety and Anxiety. Treating alcoholism and addiction is not the same as treating anxiety. Although related, they have separate diagnoses, and different tools need to be implemented. Removing alcohol in your life can sometimes unexpectedly uncover an untreated anxiety disorder.
Why is being sober important?
14 Reasons Being Sober Makes Your Life Better. Being sober can be a scary prospect. Much of our social behaviors involve the use of substances in one form or another. Even if you’re not an addict, living a sober lifestyle can seem like a difficult feat. However, once you give up drinking or drugs, your life will change for ...
What happens when you are sober?
5. You have more free time. Drinking and drugging take up a lot of time and energy. You have to spend time acquiring your substance of choice, using it, and then recovering from its effects.
How does staying sober affect your self esteem?
You’ll also build your self-esteem by sticking with your decision to stay sober. Sobriety isn’t boring or painful.
Why do I feel cranky when I'm sleep deprived?
It’s hard to overstate the importance of good sleep. When you’re sleep-deprived, you feel cranky, foggy, and unhealthy. Alcohol and drugs aren’t conducive to good sleep – they can keep you up late at night, make it hard to fall asleep when you want to, or make you sleepy during the daytime.
Why do I remember things better when I'm sober?
When you’re sober, you’ll feel sharper and more alert , and you’ll remember things better. 10. You have more energy .
What does it mean to be sober?
13. You can find healthy ways to deal with problems.
How does sobering affect relationships?
Your relationships get stronger. When you’re sober, you have more time and mental energy to spend on the people who matter most to you. Without the distraction of wondering when you can go get drunk or high, you’ll be able to stay physically and emotionally present with others.
