You can more easily sustain the positive effects of sobriety with a supportive community. Make note of online resources and helplines for particularly difficult times. Look to family and friends for your support to help ensure it’s a lifelong pursuit. Taking care of your organs is one of the positive effects of sobriety. Drinking alcohol can stress or impair these functions, leading to organ damage. The good news is, quitting drinking, even if it’s for only a month, allows your body time to heal.
What Does It Mean to Be Sober Curious?
No matter how much I disagree with someone, I am able to stay open minded and put myself in their shoes. I have learned, through time and through self analysis, that the world is gray. When I was an active drug addict, my perceptions were all backwards. These days I like to think I have it a little more figured out, although I know there is a lot more room for growth. If you are paying attention, you will see that there is a lot of beauty in the world.
More Time for Self-Care
From weight stabilization to lower blood pressure and a stronger immune system, living a sober life can make you feel healthier and more energetic. Alcohol and drug abuse can wreak havoc on your ability to manage emotions effectively, leading to mental health issues. This can create a vicious cycle of using substances, such as drugs, to cope with negative emotions, only to feel worse afterward. It’s common to go through ups and downs as you figure out your new sober lifestyle.
Your physical health.
- If you are thinking about addressing your relationship to alcohol or substances, you may ask yourself if being sober is worth it.
- A sunset, a pretty flower, a cool breeze, a walk through the park with children laughing in the distance.
- Warren is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who specializes in substance abuse and mental health treatment.
- By staying sober, you can enjoy better overall health and decrease your susceptibility to illness.
- One study found that after being sober for one month, people experience decreases in blood pressure and a lower risk for alcohol-related conditions.
- If you’re feeling like today is an okay day to let the past several months or days or years go down the drain so that you can use drugs or alcohol, just think long and hard about your why.
A 2023 study published in JAMA Network Open concluded that even low levels of alcohol consumption increase mortality risk. Drinking frequently or heavily has several serious health effects. In the short term, it can increase interpersonal conflict, cause hangovers, change behavior, and contribute to injuries and accidents.
- In addition, sobriety can boost your self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Remember, the journey to sobriety is unique for each individual.
- Strictly speaking, sobriety is the state of being sober—not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- I have my family, I have my health, I have my dream girl, I have my dog who has been with me through all of this and still wags his tail when I walk in the door.
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. One of the more immediate benefits of getting sober is a surge in energy. Alcohol is a depressant that https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can leave you feeling lethargic and fatigued. Removing it from your life eliminates these sedative effects, boosting your vitality and enabling you to enjoy a more active, engaged life. If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction, The Recovery Village can help.
Physical Health Benefits
If you suffer from addiction, it is likely that you are unproductive at your job, are unable to successfully complete daily tasks and are irresponsible with reasons to stay sober your finances. How many days off from work have you taken due to drugs and alcohol? What areas of your daily life have become unmanageable and chaotic?
The 10 Benefits of Being Sober and Why It’s Worth It
Sobriety is about regaining command over your life and making wiser choices. It necessitates hard work, determination, and a commitment to personal growth. Sobriety encompasses more than simply abstaining from drugs or alcohol; it involves enhancing your physical and mental well-being. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and are ready to live a sober life, contact The Recovery Village.
- If you can’t remember, again, ask someone you love to remind you how horrible life was when you were NOT sober.
- You’ll enjoy general health and wellness that you can’t necessarily achieve if you’re drinking or using drugs.
- If so, think about it the next time you consider using drugs or alcohol.
- Taking charge of your life and committing to long-term sobriety is one of the best decisions you could make for yourself.
I was listening to this podcast the other day about this guy named Justin Wren. (We already donated! you should too) After listening to this podcast it just hit me like damn… imagine if the only water I could drink was full of parasites and worms. Imagine having no clothes, and getting through the day with only eating a banana. I was listening to this, and I looked down at my health infused organic smoothie, my clean jeans and collared shirt, my car and my iPhone 6. No matter what, I will always have a nagging feeling in my mind that tells me I am not good enough or that I am not where I want to be.
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. Sober curious culture encourages a sober lifestyle, but welcomes individuals who aren’t willing, ready, or planning to give up alcohol completely. Nothing derails your productivity like a drug or alcohol use disorder.