You are a mirror now, a flashlight of sobriety in a society that is laced with the judgment that it’s abnormal to abstain from alcohol. People will assume you drink and will be very curious about why you don’t have a drink in your hand when they do. Most people who make their way into recovery have left a lot of pain and suffering in their wake.

• Whether they make a resolution to lose weight, read more, or be a better friend, self-improvement is a hot topic this time of year.
• One common mistake for those who are new to alcohol and drug recovery is substituting a new compulsive behavior for their old one.
• When you first quit drinking, it feels like the hardest thing you’ll ever do in life, like attempting to run a marathon without training first.

Although many people recover from SUD every day, recovery is often a long and complex process. Your partner may relapse one or more times before finally achieving long-term sobriety. A therapist can help you learn more about the role you may have played in a codependent relationship and learn healthier patterns.

You’re less stressed and anxious.

For a period it was, “I’m an alcoholic,” and that tended to silence anyone (for clarification, I no longer identify as an alcoholic). These days, unless I’m feeling generous, I simply say, “I don’t drink,” and leave it at that. It affects your physical health in almost every conceivable way. You may not exercise because you’d rather drink or you’re spending time nursing hangover symptoms. Your sleep patterns may be altered and you may not think about eating healthy when you’re under the influence.

• I was spontaneous, sure, but I was also aggressive and prone to exploding.
• You’ll be more engaged with co-workers and less likely to procrastinate small, tedious tasks.
• Every day you go without drinking boosts your self-esteem, even if you don’t notice.
• Recovery can also sometimes uncover underlying mental health conditions that have contributed to substance use disorder.

It may require an intentional and lengthy process for both partners to learn how to rebuild trust within the relationship. These codependent people take care of their partners that live with a condition. Remember, in the end, they are just dreams and don’t affect your current reality.

Identify the Reasons You Want to Be Sober

With less toxicity in your life, you open space for building healthy relationships that are genuinely supportive and nourishing. For example, your friends can say they support your sober living journey and avoid offering substances to you. However, https://stylevanity.com/2023/07/top-5-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-sober-house.html if they’re still opening and actively consuming substances in your presence, you may still need to separate yourself. Since there are different reasons for using drugs and alcohol, there are also varying reasons why someone wants to get sober.

• Al-Anon is a 12-step based peer support group for family members of people addicted to alcohol and drugs.
• Depending on the severity of the addiction or substance, a medically-supervised detox may be necessary to safely help you through withdrawal during the first few weeks when relapse risk is highest.
• I’d argue that many of us gravitated to a group of friends who have drinking habits that align with our own, and we did this because we didn’t want sober friends.
• Healthy living habits become routine, providing constant alternatives to drugs and ultimately preventing relapse.

Sobriety means not being under the influence of a substance. However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts. Many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence—never using the substance ever again.

Lakota Culture and Spirituality as a Path to Recovery

Triggers for drug and alcohol use are typically defined as people, places, and things that remind you of your addictive behavior or encourage the use of substances you’re trying to avoid. They don’t have to be direct triggers, like someone offering you the substance. Ask yourself if you stay silent even when you don’t want to, or you speak up when you’re comfortable doing so. Think about if the things you say represent what you truly feel and want. Likewise, observe if you use hard words with others to prevent vulnerability or protect yourself.

In fact, the selfish behaviors that often come with addiction often break the relationships that you have with others. One of the major benefits of sobriety is that you will regain the patience, time, and ability you need to build long-lasting relationships. Once sober, you can use this ability to make up for lost time and make new friendships.

More Time for Self-Care

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.

However, research suggests that while 12-step groups are effective, people often don’t continue their involvement at beneficial levels over the long term. Recovery allows you to get to know the real you and learn to love that person. Contact us to hear more about our community-centered approach to healing. Mastin is affiliated with the United Methodist Church where she serves many roles and sits on the board.

If you can stick it out through those first 30 days of emotions, it will get easier. Learn that you have choices and that you can maintain control. If any area of your life is out of control, it will not help you maintain lasting sobriety. Consider reaching out to a vocational rehabilitation counselor or career coach to help you update your resume, practice job interview skills, and locate jobs that match your skills and experience. For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member, friend, or employer may have been enabling you without even knowing it. You can take in every second, and not feel like your life is passing you by in a whirlwind of blurred memories.