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. How do you feel about yourself when you’re drinking or using drugs? Maybe not, especially if your substance use has become a problem.
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Equally important is building a robust support system, comprising friends, family, and peers who understand and encourage your journey. Participating in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can offer both motivation and accountability, ensuring you’re never alone in your journey. Remember, every journey is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Finding the right combination of treatments and support is crucial in sustaining a sober life.
Police quickly assured the public that there were no signs of foul play while simultaneously assuring the public that no official cause of death would be announced for quite some time. There are many more interventions that may be used to help you recover from substance misuse. Getting support doesn’t have to mean going to rehab, although that is an option.
You can live a life of meaning and purpose
Joi Honer directs the operations that support our alumni in their recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. Ms. Honer, who has been in long-term recovery for over 40 years, has worked in the treatment field for over 33 years. She holds certifications in addiction and co-occurring disorder counseling and a bachelor’s degree in addiction studies, having graduated summa cum laude.
Your diet improves.
But people are diagnosed with these diseases every day, and if you abuse alcohol or drugs regularly, chances are high that you’ll eventually be one of them. When you’re sober, you don’t have to worry about developing life-threatening complications from your habits. Not everyone comes from an encouraging and supportive home environment. If your family and or friends aren’t motivating you to seek help for your substance misuse, make an appointment with a medical or addiction treatment professional. These individuals can direct you toward the resources you need for recovery, including the needed services and diagnosis of substance use and any co-occurring mental health disorders.
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As stated above, support can help the individual stick to treatment through the duration of the program. In addition, having a support network once treatment is over can ease the transition from rehab back to daily living. This support fosters the motivation and self-confidence needed for sustained sobriety. What type of treatment you need depends on several factors, including the severity of your addiction. For instance, if your substance use disorder is diagnosed as mild, an outpatient program might be recommended. Outpatient programs vary widely but typically provide a designated number of hours of treatment per week at a treatment center or facility.
By abstaining from drugs and alcohol, individuals can experience enhanced mental clarity and cognitive function, leading to improved overall well-being. Are you considering cutting out alcohol or drugs from your life? Sobriety is more than just abstaining from substance use, it’s a lifestyle that can bring about various benefits.
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- If you would like to reach out to Stephanie, you can find her on Facebook here.
- When you feel yourself needing a drink, start reminding yourself what you’re thankful for.
- If you experience physical pain when stopping opioids or constant shakes when stopping alcohol, your life may start to revolve around obtaining the substance to feel normal.
- Not only that, but it also contributes to better physical appearance and weight management, helping you maintain a healthy body.
- What type of treatment you need depends on several factors, including the severity of your addiction.
A lot of the alcohol free beers contain considerably less sugar too, so it’s good for the liver and for the waistline. When you’re under the influence, it’s all too easy to give in to cravings for something greasy, sweet, or salty. You have fewer cravings, and you’re not surrounded by temptations like bar food. Research shows that women tend to have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the enzyme responsible for metabolising alcohol in the stomach. This leads to higher concentration of alcohol entering the bloodstream, so women are more susceptible to its effects.
Spending more time with supportive loved ones and planning activities for the entire family can also help you develop a healthier lifestyle and avoid situations in which you would normally drink or use drugs. In fact, being sober can make your life more fun and rewarding than it’s ever been before. When you’re sleep-deprived, you feel cranky, foggy, and unhealthy. Alcohol and drugs aren’t conducive to good sleep – they can keep you up late at night, make it hard to fall asleep when you want to, or make you sleepy during the daytime. When you’re sober, you’re able to stick to a healthy sleep schedule and wake up feeling refreshed every day. Sobriety has the potential to significantly enhance your overall life quality in various ways.
Similar to getting a new job, another way you can fill your time is volunteering. Animal shelters, aquariums, homeless shelters or even AA meetings. There are plenty of altruistic organizations that are looking for volunteers. Put your time to good use and do something you feel passionate about. Prayer is a way to speak openly and honestly and put into words what you’re feeling in the moment.
Mental Health Resources
Besides saving all that money in the first place, you’ll be in a better state of mind to make good financial decisions. And having that extra cash opens up a whole world of new opportunities – you could decide to save for a house, take a vacation, or go back to school, for example. Without alcohol, I felt less anxious and more in control of my emotions.
Therapy is a great (and safe) outlet to discuss your struggles honestly. To prevent a relapse, one of the best things you can do is manage your time wisely. Again, there’s a lot of hours in the day and you will feel each hour tick by at a snail’s pace, especially when cravings occur. With time, it will get easier, but especially when you’re jumping back in, keep a strict schedule. A big part of getting sober is plugging you into a new environment, detached from your usual acquaintances, and receiving constant guidance from trained professionals.
Improved Relationships
Staying sober is a 24 hour ordeal and every minute, you learn to identify triggers, temptations, environmental hazards and — sometimes — the welcome distractions to help you stay sober. A journey can begin with community mutual-help groups, inpatient treatment, residential rehab, outpatient programs, and more. Depending on the severity of addiction and readiness to change, different options may be beneficial for different people.
Studies have shown that gratitude can improve your mental wellbeing and actually help you make better decisions. Whether it’s a hike or a nice park, heading into nature is a good way to watch the natural world moving and slow down your thinking. Get your mind off drugs and alcohol, by walking into nature and enjoying the colors, the sights, and sounds. Have an open mind, but for a few of us in recovery, this does work. When you catch yourself thinking of drinking, of wanting nothing more than to have one glass of whiskey, then stop and close your eyes.
Communication improves as you’re able to express yourself more clearly and understand others better. Rebuilding trust and fostering healthy relationships becomes much more achievable when sobriety is at the core. Sober House Rules: A Comprehensive Overview As you progress in your sobriety, engaging in new hobbies and social activities becomes essential. These can range from joining a sports team, picking up an art class, to volunteering in your community.
