How to Live Sober & Happy

Another reason why your energy is often lower while abusing substances than it is while sober is because addiction causes you to not get good sleep. Because you aren’t receiving good sleep when suffering from addiction, your body is not getting the proper time and rest that it needs to refuel itself. This also means that living a sober life will help you gain your energy back. When you choose to become sober, you might worry that your life is going to become boring. Am I ever going to be able to have fun again without drinking or using substances?

Self-love and addiction are two things that can never go hand-in-hand. When you are in recovery, you can overcome the symptoms of addiction and instead have a healthy lifestyle. You can replace substance misuse with exercise and physical activity. The sober life can also give you the opportunity to think about nutrition as well. You’ll enjoy general health and wellness that you can’t necessarily achieve if you’re drinking or using drugs. One big reason people feel so afraid of sobriety is because of what they see in the media, pop culture and even from people they know on social media.

How Do You Become Sober?

Emphasizing life skill development not only enhances the recovery experience, but also equips a person with the tools needed to support sobriety after treatment is completed. A focus on life skills is vital to success because it not only helps a person manage their own needs, but it helps them prioritize obligations and responsibilities in order to have a productive Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House life. It strengthens relationships and improves confidence, all of which contributes to successful sobriety. Under certain conditions, alcohol can negatively affect our bodies and personal relationships. However, in today’s culture, drinking alcohol is often encouraged in social settings, which can lead to becoming reliant on it and, in some cases, dependent on it.

• You can engage in physically and mentally healthy activities, such as regular exercise, eating nutritious meals, and taking care of your mental health.
• A co-occurring disorder is any mental health disorder, like depression or anxiety that occurs in the same person as an addiction disorder.
• However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts.

Here are some surprising (and not-so-surprising) occurrences that will inevitably happen to your relationships, your identity, even your free time, and how I’ve learned to deal with each one. It’s been over six years since I first started seriously questioning my relationship with alcohol and considered a life without it. 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. When one is an addict, any and all extra money goes towards getting drunk or high. Even money that should go towards things like eating healthy or getting the car’s oil changed on time eventually gets siphoned off towards fueling the substance abuse.

Things That Inevitably Happen to Your Personal Life When You Get Sober

It is important for individuals to be aware of their own genetic predisposition towards addiction in order to make informed decisions and seek appropriate help and support if needed. Research has shown that genetic factors play a significant role in an individual’s likelihood of developing addiction. In fact, according to one study, genetics account for 40-60% of a person’s vulnerability to substance abuse and addiction. Another 26% of people who are homeless are addicted to other substances. There are people who want to be there for you, even if you have a slip.

• You may speak to your sponsor daily and go through the 12 Steps, or you may just chat when you need to.
• Take it step by step, and discover how living clean can be more fun, fulfilling and joyful than you ever imagined.
• Self-love and addiction are two things that can never go hand-in-hand.
• If left unchecked, anger can have a negative impact on your health and your lasting sobriety.
• In the early days, I felt that it was my responsibility to answer the question, “How come you aren’t drinking?
• If you are withdrawing from opiates you need medical supervision.

A life in recovery gives you the unique opportunity to develop healthy coping mechanisms. These mechanisms will pave the way for overcoming hardship without relying on a substance. These healthy coping mechanisms are more sustainable than numbing pain or trying to drink away your past challenges. Without the influence of substances, you have the opportunity to enjoy sober relationships while ending toxic relationships. You can form authentic relationships built on mutual respect, interests, and understanding rather than just who is willing or available to drink or use drugs with you. Research shows that if you maintain these types of toxic relationships, your chances of relapsing are greater.

Surround Yourself with Supportive, Sober People

Throughout all of this, the most important thing I’ve learned is that not only is it possible to live life completely sober, I now wouldn’t want to have it any other way. When alcohol was the most important thing in my life, my wellbeing was the least important. By going through the healing process I have learned how to truly value myself.

If you’re ready to take control of your life and embark on a sober curious journey, reach out today and let us support you every step of the way. By seeking help and attending support groups like Refuge Recovery, Smart recovery, Celebrate Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous…, individuals can learn to live a fulfilling sober life. It may be difficult at first, but the benefits of sobriety – improved health, relationships, and overall happiness – outweigh any temporary pleasure from alcohol. Remember that you are not alone in your struggle and there is always help available.