It might feel like drinking or using drugs makes your problems go away, but as anyone who’s struggled with addiction knows, this is just an illusion. When you commit to sobriety, you can actually solve your problems instead of ignoring them. 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 and have fun in ways that aren’t possible when you’re drunk or high.
- Then read back those words and see if they are real.
- There are ways to become reasonably happy without drugs or alcohol.
- Know that it will get easier as you move through treatment and explore why you were using drugs or alcohol in the first place.
- Due to my condition I have on countless occasions been the only sober person in the entire, bar, house, street, boat, truck bed, swimming pool, etc.
- Reach out to a loved one when you’re feeling down.
- Even if you don’t have a strong support network right away, this is something you can seek out to help support your goals.
However, once you give up drinking or drugs, your life will change for the better in a multitude of ways. Whether you’re an addict or you are simply looking to improve your health, here are 14 reasons sobriety makes your life healthier, more fulfilling, How Long Can You Live With Cirrhosis? and more fun. Sobriety is a general term for staying away from mood and mind-altering substances. When it seems like all you want to do is forget, to go get high or drunk and be gone, if only for a few moments, remember what addiction’s cost you.
Avoid Old Habits and Toxic Relationships
Breathwork, meditation, and yoga are all some ways you can work on your emotional regulation outside of a healthcare provider's office. Common setbacks to https://g-markets.net/sober-living/when-does-alcohol-withdrawal-brain-fog-go-away/ getting and staying sober include withdrawal, craving, and pressure to use substances. Relapse rates for substance use addictions are around 40% to 60%.
So if you love someone with an unhealthy relationship with substances, please practice patience with their journey and remind them that you’re there for support. Little did I know I was living in a box within my addiction. My whole life revolved around the substances, from my social circle to how I spent my free time. You take the substance away and it’s like taking away all I know. I didn’t know that there was a whole world out there to explore.
The Downside of Sobriety
Yes, freedom from addiction and a life of sobriety is an incredibly amazing (not to mention totally worthwhile) journey. While getting and staying sober was the best decision I’ve ever made, in a lot of ways it’s also been the most challenging. Between messing up your sleep and taking a toll on your body, alcohol and drugs can make you feel pretty bad if you use them regularly. Cutting out these substances can make you instantly feel years younger. You won’t have to nurse any more hangovers or take afternoon naps to get through the day.