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My alcohol use closed a lot of doors for me and stole a lot of opportunities for success. I no longer needed to stay at a dead end job because they put up with my less than stellar performance and I no longer had to miss out on new opportunities. As time went on, alcohol wasn’t really fun anymore and it only gave me problems. At that point I was too dependent on it and the only way I could stop was by getting help. Now I’ve learned that there is a whole world out there of things to do that do not involve alcohol.
When you’re using drugs or alcohol, you can feel like you’re skating through life, but never really feeling or being in any of the moments. Living a drug-free life or an alcohol-free life means not only that you can be present, but that you’ll remember everything in your life in a clear-headed way. We hear a lot about practicing mindfulness, not just in the recovery community but in mental health in general. Practicing mindfulness means that you’re focused on the present moment and enjoying it for all that it is, rather than thinking about the past or the future. Life after addiction allows you to feel more in control of your activities and your relationships.
Support Groups
People may depend on you, so always take care of your responsibilities and never let your family down. We all have things that we love to do, so if you don’t already have a hobby, figure out what you love to do and do it. Keep trying different things until you decide what you like to do best. If you no longer wake up with a hangover, be grateful for that.
Golden emphasizes that even when she would have only one or two drinks, her body always felt it the next day, but not anymore. Here are some ideas to try that will help you learn to enjoy life sober and will help you stay active, social and entertained. For example, if you know that you are more likely to succumb to drinking when you are stressed, you can plan ahead to avoid these situations. You can also find healthy alternatives to drinking for stress relief, such as going for a run or enjoying a warm cup of tea. Hangover effects can cause you to miss out on even more of your life because you’re sick or in bed and unable to do the things you love or interact with the people in your life that you care about. Hangover symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headaches and brain fog can last for days in some cases and can diminish your quality of day-to-day life.
You’ll Sleep Better
Lean on close friends and family for support, even if your relationships aren’t what they used to be. Think about going to counseling or family therapy to help with that and to deal with other personal issues. Be selective about who you spend time with during this transition. Try to spend sober house more time with people who you trust to respect your decision to reduce or eliminate drinking alcohol, rather than those who will judge or pressure you. “The sober curious movement has led people to see the unhealthy habits that can go hand in hand with alcohol consumption,” she says.
Define sobriety in a way that makes the approach you take to healing from substance abuse as realistic and practical as possible. If you are just learning how to live sober, it is ever important to know that you are not alone. There are people in similar shoes as you, who also desire to make a positive change. They may be sitting next to you in your 12-step program or living in your sober dorm. Find friends who understand your struggle, and unlike your past drug-using buddies, will encourage you to succeed. When you suffer from addiction, you become so obsessed with obtaining more alcohol or drugs that you stop investing in your relationships with other people.
Life Skills Training: Learning to Live Life Sober
People in recovery can experience a lot of shame simply for having become addicted in the first place. A mental health professional can help you cope with some of the challenges you’ll face on your path to sobriety. Depending on the type of dependency, PAWS can last from six months to two years after you stop using drugs or alcohol. However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts.
What to expect after 6 months of sobriety?
6 Months Sober
By the time you reach six months of sobriety, you'll likely feel more confident in your sobriety, and it may not take up as much work and energy to say no to alcohol. Around this time, you might have a better understanding of the reasons why you drank.
This can lead to a more positive outlook on life and an increased sense of self-esteem and confidence. Another tool that’s available for recovering addicts is aftercare programs. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, we believe in integrating aftercare recovery programs to assist in long-term sobriety beyond our comprehensive treatment plans. Through these programs, we include life skills classes, relapse prevention techniques, and other treatments to help those in sobriety find joy and purpose in life. Living sober means abstaining from all mind-altering substances, including alcohol, prescription drugs, and street drugs. It is a day-by-day process that requires you to focus on the present rather than getting overwhelmed by the long-term.
You will have the opportunity to meet many people during your clinical rehabilitation program. There is often an ‘aftercare program’ in which patients have the opportunity to meet up after graduating from the recovery clinic for social events. The challenges and rewards of transitioning back to living outside the clinic will bring you even closer together. While every person on a recovery journey is unique, reaching out for help and utilizing available resources can greatly increase an individual’s chances of achieving and maintaining sobriety. Substance abuse can have negative impacts on relationships, causing conflict and distance between loved ones. Sobriety can help improve relationships by allowing individuals to be more present and available to their loved ones and to work on rebuilding trust and communication.
- Therefore, it is sometimes imperative for your blood pressure and overall health to become sober.
- Once you accomplish that, you can feel ready to take on the next.
- Sometimes part of the reason for the continued abuse of substances is familiarity.
- Have some sober friends you can invite as your plus-one to a social event like a party or wedding.
- A therapist can help you learn new coping skills, develop new thinking patterns, and address any co-occurring mental health conditions that may make recovery more difficult.
Alcohol use disorder encompasses a spectrum ranging from mild to severe, explains Dr George Koob, director of the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Hanging out with friends who drink alcohol in large quantities can increase the likelihood that you will feel pressured to drink as well. Consider taking a break from friends who might, whether they mean to or not, make you feel pressured to drink socially. Exercise increases endorphins, which are the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain. It can be a good replacement for the release of endorphins caused by drinking alcohol. “Most people find more power in themselves as they grow confident handling stress, sleep, and social situations without relying on alcohol,” he says.
