The actual recovery process of sobriety starts to get better around the 3-6 month mark, but the psychological recovery can take even longer. And when we self-medicate with alcohol, we enter into a vicious cycle of drinking to avoid our problems and then causing new ones because, well, we drink. Before you know it, you’re drinking to avoid the fact that you have a drinking problem.
Because here’s what sobriety alone cannot fix for you:
There’s no easy pass for me anymore, no more getting drunk and slipping past the part where you get to know each other. There’s no more not caring if they see your cellulite or whatever you’re hiding under there; and you will, once and for all, discover that sex is never like in the movies. It is an awkward, vulnerable dance between two awkward, vulnerable humans.
Spending sober time becoming familiar with your body intimately can help you better communicate your needs to someone else when you feel ready for that step. That being said, you might not be at a place where you alcoholism symptoms 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. In the early days, I felt that it was my responsibility to answer the question, “How come you aren’t drinking?
Getting sober allowed me to earn my time back and spend it the way I want to. It’s not spent in bed nursing a hangover, or on a 3-day cocaine bender, or at the club until 5am. I get to spend more time on personal development, my career, reading, writing, and anything else that feeds my soul. I’m glad I don’t have that sense of “wasting time by being wasted,” today. I even have time to find new hobbies and friends to dedicate my time to. Consistent drug and alcohol abuse take a toll on your appearance, wreaking havoc on your skin, weight, teeth, eyes, hair, and more.
Improved Relationships
For example, chronic abuse of substances can cause you to either lose or gain an unhealthily large amount of weight. Therefore, when you become sober, your weight will likely stabilize itself. For those seeking addiction treatment for themselves or a loved one, all phone calls are confidential and are available for 24/7 help. All calls will be answered by The Healing Place, a paid advertiser. Any treatment center receiving is life better sober calls from the site is a paid advertiser. Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center.
Sober Lifestyle Benefits: Health, Sleep & Social Tips
The life I had before I quit drinking was a lot like Groundhog Day; I was always waiting for it to begin and always reliving the same stuff, day after day, year after year. When I finally walked away from booze at 34, my life opened up. I can honestly say sobriety is the best thing I have ever done for myself. It was my jumping-off point into a life I knew I had buried inside of me. I got out of debt, started a company that provides digital recovery, launched a podcast, and am in the middle of writing a book.
It will instantly solve the problem of crippling hangovers, alcohol-induced anxiety spikes, and regrettable calls or texts made five drinks into your evening. Many of these problems enter our lives because of our drinking. It is natural to think that by quitting drinking, these problems will finally go away. Eventually, the stable people in our lives move on and are replaced by people just as dysfunctional as us. They offer a beautiful window into how sobriety is about so much more than just quitting alcohol. It affects every part of us and every relationship in our lives.
Better sleep
You’ll probably start noticing more free time immediately as your evenings and weekends are no longer spent drinking or recovering from drinking. Usually noticed https://ecosoberhouse.com/ within the first few weeks into sobriety as energy levels and motivation begin to improve. Some notice improvements within a few days, but it can take up to a month or longer for sleep patterns to substantially improve.
- When Brad Pitt found himself in the middle of a highly publicized divorce, he said he was “on his knees” and it was sobriety that helped him find his footing.
- That’s six hard, beautiful, glorious years during which I not only stopped drinking, but also finally moved on from all recreational drugs as well as a history of bulimia.
- By staying abstinent, the pathways that linked pleasure with substance abuse are no longer as strong and cravings begin to die down.
- One strategy often used when living a sober life is to always come prepared when going to a party or outing and BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage).
- Some will certainly remain, but even those aren’t necessarily long-game friendships.
When you are in recovery, you can overcome thesymptoms of addictionand instead have ahealthy lifestyle. You can replace substance misuse with exercise and physical activity. Thesober lifecan also give you the opportunity to think aboutnutritionas well. You’ll enjoy generalhealth and wellnessthat you can’t necessarily achieve if you’re drinking or using drugs.
RECOVERY RESOURCES
Instead of spending Saturday morning hungover in bed, you can get out and hike at a new park, bike a local trail, or go out for lunch with friends. All you have to do is get out there and go find some fun sober activities. It’s no secret that the financial cost of addictive substances really adds up quickly. As your addiction worsened, you likely spent more and more on drugs or alcohol, eventually blowing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in a matter of weeks or months.
- Without alcohol, the brain starts to heal, gradually restoring the natural function of neurotransmitters responsible for mood regulation.
- When you finally get over those first months of early sobriety, you’ll see that you’re not so bad after all.
- Maybe you’re newly sober and the pink cloud never showed up for you or you’re struggling to adjust to a sober lifestyle.
- Without substances distorting your emotions or numbing discomfort, you’re able to sit with your feelings, process them, and respond more thoughtfully.
Gender Specific Homes
Improvement might start within a few weeks, with more significant changes becoming apparent 1-2 months into sobriety. And if you just need some motivation to get through the day, here are 14 wonderful reasons to remain sober. Make a free, confidential call to a treatment provider today. Sunnyside is a private, anonymous way to start improving your relationship with alcohol. Don’t tempt yourself with a bottle of vodka or drug paraphernalia lying around the house. All it takes is one tough day or strong craving to derail you from your goals.
