“I have healthy relationships, a career that I can show up to every day, and a deep level of self-worth that I never imagined I’d ever have before I got sober,” Natasha says. It’s important to note that the journey to sobriety may come with challenges, and it’s normal to experience ups and downs along the way. Now I am much more content with just knowing in my heart the reason I stay sober a day at a time. Grief and substance abuse can form a painful cycle of depression and addiction that requires professional treatment to resolve. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues also tend to worsen just before a relapse.
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It might sound counter-intuitive, but drinking or using drugs really isn’t that much fun. Think about it – being intoxicated might feel good for a while, but are you really enjoying yourself? Being sober lets you push your boundaries reasons to stay sober and have fun in ways that aren’t possible when you’re drunk or high. You can travel to different places, try new things, and just be present in your life – and that’s always more fulfilling than checking out with a drink.
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By not drinking and using today you get to discover your purpose. Sobriety doesn’t mean that everything is going to go your way and that life is going to be perfect, but by staying sober today, you get to chart a new route and truly live. While in active addiction, sometimes it’s easy to think that you’re only hurting yourself. But what about those who depend on you most, like your children? Being clean and sober today lets you show up for your children in a real way.
Stronger Relationships
- For those who face this daily challenge, it seems “easier” to just drown away the world’s troubles.
- If you are sitting you want to stand, if you are standing you want to sit.
- This can include toxic relationships in which you feel unheard, misunderstood, unsupported, demeaned, unsafe, and/or attacked.
- Sobriety is more than just abstaining from substance use, it’s a lifestyle that can bring about various benefits.
- Alcoholic beverages are a source of added sugar and empty calories.
In fact, being sober can make your life more fun and rewarding than it’s ever been before. Have you ever woken up unable to remember what happened the night before? Even if you don’t tend to black out under the influence, alcohol and drugs can make your memory foggy and unreliable.
- Establishing a routine with regular sleep and support group attendance can reduce stress and help you stay sober.
- By combining these strategies and staying committed to the process, individuals can achieve and maintain a fulfilling, sober life.
- Because the pain and discomfort can be so extreme, many individuals who attempt detoxification without medical assistance will relapse due to a lack of support.
- EAPs are confidential, ensuring wanted privacy around a delicate issue, and they can make referrals to programs outside of the workplace.
- However, we live in a culture where alcohol is a common ingredient in all social gatherings, making it difficult to discern what is typical usage and what is indicative of a greater issue.
- Addiction can lead to behaviors that individuals may later regret or feel ashamed of, contributing to feelings of embarrassment.
responses to “7 Reasons Why It’s Good to be Sober”
If you don’t know the person well, simply saying you have to get up early the next morning or you quit for health reasons should be enough. When you choose sobriety, you’re choosing a path of self-improvement and self-discovery. You’re taking the first step towards a healthier and happier future. Sobriety empowers you to break free from the shackles of substance abuse and reclaim your life. It opens doors to new opportunities, relationships, and experiences. By prioritizing your well-being, you can overcome the challenges of addiction and embrace a fulfilling life.
At Valley Hope, we have treated hundreds of thousands of patients with compassionate, evidence-based addiction treatment that is customized to meet your medical and mental health needs. We are here to work with you on building a successful, fulfilling path to lifelong recovery. Addiction is not just a chronic brain disease — it is a family disease. Family members are deeply impacted and often traumatized by a loved one’s substance use disorder. Addiction occurs in so many families, and its emotional side effects are felt by spouses, parents, siblings, children, and other people you care about and who care about you. The miracle of recovery is that it helps you reclaim your life and empowers you to repair your broken family ties.
- Substance misuse can also affect your immune system and your digestive system.
- Feeling embarrassed is a common and understandable emotion for individuals who have struggled with addiction.
- Alcoholism is a disease and requires effective treatment to manage its symptoms and the underlying cause.
- In sobriety, you will lead a healthier, more fulfilling life.
- Getting sober is when someone stops using an intoxicating substance.
- When you get sober, a new world of possibilities, hope and happiness will open around you.
By staying sober, you can naturally regulate your weight, feel more confident in your body, and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Your doctor can recommend medications that can help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms and cravings during your recovery. Naltrexone is one type of medication that can help reduce alcohol cravings, making it easier for some people to stop drinking. Volpicelli says that some of the negative effects of alcohol on mental health can be reversed if you stop drinking. People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money.
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In this case, someone at day 0 has to restart their daily count due to a recent relapse. And one of those treatments is to simply (or not so simply) avoid consuming alcohol or whatever substance is the object of the addiction. The answer was more negative consequences of drinking and more positive associations with God and/or spirituality. Interestingly, as of 2019, 73 percent of addiction treatment programs in the United States used a spiritual component,6 the majority referencing God or a Higher Power.
I was listening to this, and I looked down at my health infused organic smoothie, my clean jeans and collared shirt, my car and my iPhone 6. While those with minor issues with alcohol may be able to quit drinking without help, those with a genetic propensity or who have developed an addiction are not generally able to quit alone. Given the potential severity of withdrawal, quitting without treatment can be dangerous. Since grief can lead to depression, isolation, hopelessness, and physical pain, alcohol may seem like an escape. However, alcohol only serves to worsen the underlying sadness and damage existing relationships, making it harder to recover from grief and the addiction.