Content
Before I quit drinking, I never really used to care about dividing the bill down the middle with a group. At some point after college, it just didn’t matter if someone had a meal that was four dollars more than mine, or if they ate more edamame, or even if they had one more drink than I did. Not only because my portion of the check is significantly smaller than anyone else at the table, but also because I refuse to invest in Big Alcohol. It’s part of the sobriety package, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sobriety can be an incredible way to shed relationships you’ve outgrown as well as find new ones that align with your new values. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Amanda finds
immense fulfillment in her role as a mother to two wonderful
children.
If you are trying to maintain a sober lifestyle, those feelings can become toxic and contribute to relapse if you don’t deal with them properly. There is evidence that we would be healthier if we drank less. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledge that drinking any amount of alcohol can cause both short-term and long-term harm – from sober house accidental injury to the increased risk of cancer. They recommend that adults don’t drink at all or limit themselves to two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. Quitting alcohol for one month can lower your blood pressure and risk for alcohol-related diseases. Use the time to better understand the role alcohol plays in your life.
Health Solutions from Our Sponsors
Before you embark on your sobriety journey, think about what you’re going to do when a craving arises. That way, you’ll have already decided and won’t have to rely solely on willpower to get you through. Sobriety decreases your risk of serious illnesses like heart disease. When your liver doe not have the burden of alcohol and can function properly, your cholesterol levels can improve. An alcohol-free liver, in turn, helps to minimize your risk of experiencing heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues. If you want to explore your relationship with alcohol, it can be helpful to cut it out and note any changes in your life caused by its elimination.
Think about your sobriety like an extremely valuable sports card. If you have a Mickey Mantle rookie card and you leave it out anywhere and give it zero aftercare, chances are it will get dusty and bent up somehow. However, if you give the card proper aftercare, put it into a soft sleeve and then a hard plastic case and wrap it up, the card will gain value. A cold shower can give you a second wind, but it won’t reverse the effects of alcohol. In some cases, the shock of a cold shower can actually cause people to lose consciousness.
Is It Really Possible To Live a Sober Life?
Being honest with yourself means asking, “Am I ready for this? ” Maybe your family drinks to celebrate the holidays, or your high school friends want to meet at a bar over winter break. While addicted to alcohol or drugs, you might have only thought about the next time you would get drunk or high. Many recovering addicts now find that they have more time to fill without drugs and alcohol consuming their thoughts and actions. You can be sober and happy by focusing on your health and wellness in your everyday life.
If it seems like being sober is all about letting go, bear in mind this doesn’t mean you will be alone. With less toxicity in your life, you open space for building healthy relationships that are genuinely supportive and nourishing. These new relationships can help you in your sobriety. Since there are different reasons for using drugs and alcohol, there are also varying reasons why someone wants to get sober. Whatever your “why,” know that with treatment and support, getting sober is not only possible, but it’s also manageable long-term.
Why Do You Want to Get Sober?
By Buddy T
Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth. Guilt is having negative feelings about your past behavior. People in recovery can experience a lot of shame simply for having become addicted in the first place.
- “I think alcohol is a wonderful piece of social technology for people who can enjoy it and feel comfortable with it. It isn’t for me right now, but I can still talk about it,” said Brown.
- Again, if you’re fearing a relapse due to guilt, distress and shame, then close your eyes and imagine this scenario.
- These help boost mood and focus your attention away from urges to drink.
- Addiction devours your time which is a factor in many people’s relapse.
Here, the only other tenants were a drug dealer, an elderly man, and two gay Dutch sailors who’d gone AWOL together. None of us paid rent, because Viktor, the hard-partying guy whose family owned the place, enjoyed our diverse company. Follow us on social media for your daily dose of solutions to drug and alcohol addiction.
Give back.
Passing out after a night of heavy drinking isn’t uncommon. However, keep in mind that “sleeping it off” can be dangerous when someone has had a large amount of alcohol. Your blood alcohol level can continue to rise even after you pass out.
And keep your schedule loose enough that you have time for group meetings and other things that can help you through rough stretches. “It made me realize that I could still do the thing I’m doing. I could love the thing I love without compromising my mental health or my health in general.” The most important thing is to change your perception of fun.
Bartending While Sober Is Pretty Hardcore
He parked in front of the church, watched me walk inside, and spent the next hour in his car waiting for me. After it was over, he took me out to eat and made a case for what my life would be if I didn’t quit drinking. Do you want to learn more about drug and alcohol treatment? Are you interested in participating in an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or another type of program?
- Finally, in outpatient treatment, he accepted that he had a problem with alcohol, but that it wasn’t the only issue at play.
- If people press that response, I’ll either stare at them and hold an uncomfortable silence (this is enjoyable at some point), or just change the subject.
- It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
- Romantic relationships may also be built on the use of drugs or alcohol, and frequently become toxic.
- Metabolism rises and falls, bowel movements, and even one’s ability to focus on tasks.
- Self-love and addiction are two things that can never go hand-in-hand.
