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No one deserves the pain and heartbreak that addiction brings. You deserve better than a life ruled by drugs and alcohol, and you owe it to yourself to do everything you can to get better. Nothing keeps you in a haze quite like drugs and alcohol. If you want to be truly present in your life, sobriety is the answer. New Year’s inspires everyone to make positive lifestyle changes, which means people are more likely to be supportive of your decision around this time of the year.
- “Stay away from events or places that are solely focused on alcohol, such as going to a bar and hanging out,” says Hafeez.
- That self-control has to be a learned behavior for many drinkers looking to cut alcohol out of their lives.
- When you choose to become sober, you might worry that your life is going to become boring.
- Combine the calories in alcohol with the aforementioned junk food cravings and you’ve got a recipe for weight gain.
A person addicted to drugs and alcohol has only one thing on his or her mind. That’s because the chemicals within these substances change the brain’s structure, forcing it to focus on getting more drugs or alcohol. When you break free from this, you suddenly can experience life again. This includes everything from the way the sun feels on your skin to the sound of your child laughing. Addiction is an expensive lifestyle, as you constantly seek out the drugs or alcohol each time you have cash. When you are no longer funding your addiction and living a sober life, you have more money since it is not being spent on substance abuse.
Mental Health
Now that you’re sober, you can start working to develop real friendships with people who actually care about you and value you. Drugs and alcohol change the way your brain functions and may even cause long-term or irreversible brain damage. Fortunately, not all of the damage is permanent and as your body adjusts to sobriety, your brain will too. With time, the mental fog will fade and you’ll begin to feel more alert, focused, and present in your everyday life. This means you’ll have an easier time functioning at work, carrying out your daily routine, reading a book, and even just having deeper thoughts and ideas that add value to your life. 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.
Our primary purpose is to foster long-term sobriety through the cultivation of accountability, camaraderie, & character development. At Ethos, we understand that there are many ways to achieve and maintain sobriety. The first step is to know that your questions and feelings are normal. The next step is to talk to someone about those feelings.
If you want to practice a sober lifestyle
Aside from the obvious reasons that come with breaking bad habits to live a better life, the benefits of sobriety include improved overall health–both mental and physical. When you abuse substances for extended periods of time, it exaggerates any mental health issues that you have. This is especially true since you’re likely not taking care of your physical or mental health as it is while suffering from addiction. However, living a sober life will help improve your physical, and in particular, your mental health.
What happens if you’re never sober?
You may lose your job. You behave in ways that you never would have if you hadn't been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and you may end up getting arrested or having other legal problems. If you continue to drink or drug, you may develop major health problems, some of which are irreversible.
This is because alcohol and other drugs dilate the small veins in the eyes, causing them to leak. Alcohol and drugs also cause the blood vessels in your eyes to expand, making them more prominent. Yellowing of the whites is a side effect of a compromised liver resulting from 5 Tips to Consider When Choosing a Sober Living House long-term substance use. Puffiness, bags, and dark circles around the eyes are caused by lack of sleep, bad circulation, water retention, and overall poor health. When you’re under the influence, you’re likely to have bloodshot eyes from the low-quality sleep you’re getting.
Short Term vs. Long Term Sobriety
You feel more connected to yourself, your spirituality and life in general becomes something you look forward to each day. As you can see, all of the health benefits of sobriety go hand-in-hand. When you are not putting unnecessary toxins in your body and you are sleeping better, you’re naturally going to have increased energy levels. Drugs and alcohol are depressants, so in their absence, you’ll find that you can get more done without tiring.
You also reduce the health risks and give your body a chance to heal. 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.
A New Lease on Life
Happily married, she is the loving mother of 6 beautiful children. Through proper treatment with the 12 Steps, you can “reduce to a quiet condition” the feelings you are resistant to and be comfortable with being honest with yourself. When these feelings arise in the alcoholic who has stopped using alcohol to cope with these emotions, the reaction can be extreme. They also have a problem with their mind, which works to avoid and be resistant to feelings of anger, fear, shame, loneliness, and guilt. Our alcohol-free wines are also a great base for your new favorite mocktails, from white wine spritzers to virgin sangrias. Learn more about the difference a glass of Surely wine can make as part of your sober curious journey.