A music critic in recovery suggests great songs about sobriety : NPR

The benefits of sobriety can stretch to the reclamation of a spiritual path, a return to hobbies you used to enjoy, trying new things, creative expression, and so much more. Exploring what is important to you will help with long-term sober success. At the same time, it’s also a period when people may become complacent in their sobriety, and less engaged in their sobriety toolkit. This can make it more likely for setbacks to occur in light of triggers.

For example, if you had friendships that were based around drinking, you might find yourself isolated from those individuals. It’s important to remember that the reactions of others say more about their own relationship with alcohol than they do about you and your choices. Trying out new sober activities and joining sober communities can help you create meaningful relationships with those who share similar interests and values. By « sobriety, » I mean healthy self-control, a centered enjoyment of life, and inner freedom from drivenness. We typically apply this sense of balance and self-care to things like food, drugs and alcohol, sexuality, money, and risky behaviors. But you could bring sobriety to other things as well, such as righteousness, contentiousness, over-working, or controlling others.

Weight Management

The darkness around your eyes fade, wrinkles iron out a bit and even acne fades. Alcohol is a poison, plugging numerous toxins into your system. When you’re sober though, your skin naturally becomes healthier.

  • Addiction is a terrible illness that often causes people to die due to overdose or suicide.
  • As a young woman, the California native married a Wall Street executive, moved to Greenwich, CT and raised four children.
  • In fact, many people view those suffering from addiction as being lazy and crazy.
  • Many people are also surprised by how much money they save by adopting an alcohol-free lifestyle.
  • Although sobriety isn’t a cure-all for these conditions, it can certainly help lessen their grip, and provide the mental clarity to treat them.

VandenBerghe’s motivation to start Sober Dating was clearly personal. But she has, perhaps inadvertently, tapped into a trend – and a market segment – that is strong, growing and lucrative. Sobriety is no longer a taboo topic kept hidden for fear of judgment. VandenBerghe’s story is an inspiring example of how strong female leaders can turn tragedy into opportunity. As a young woman, the California native married a Wall Street executive, moved to Greenwich, CT and raised four children. At 49 years old, her marriage ended, and she spent the next 10 years celebrating her independence – with alcohol.

The Benefits of Quitting Alcohol

But she’s turned her pain into purpose, and in the process she has also found herself among a loving, supportive and understanding community of activists. « I got to the point where I knew it was something I couldn’t do on my own, » Brantley said. « Pissed me off to no end and embarrassed me. I’m a pretty strong-willed person but that was the one thing in my life that I couldn’t get to stick. »

  • When your immune system improves, your overall health improves.
  • Alcohol can also increase your risk of various cancers, particularly gastrointestinal ones, and cutting back can reduce that risk.
  • « Drinking caused weight gain, » he told Today in September 2022, « but it also weighed down my mental state. »

When your entire social life has revolved around getting wasted, it’s normal to feel like there’s nothing to do. It was a horrible cycle of self-medicating my anxiety with alcohol which, in turn, only made my anxiety levels worse. I was stressed out all of the time and had no healthy coping mechanisms for that stress. The ability to think, read a book, engage in an intelligent conversation, actually have IDEAS again, and not just loop terrible thoughts on autopilot in your brain is liberating. Because I’ve been there, I know what an unsatisfying answer can be, so to give you a morale boost, I want to go over some of the biggest https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/abuse-in-older-adults-a-growing-threat/ I’ve experienced in my journey. Doucette has also joined hundreds of parents, siblings, grandparents and spouses who’ve lost loved ones to opioids in protesting and advocating for change in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country.

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Speaking of work, you’ll likely experience increased productivity and concentration at whatever it is you’re doing, whether that be working, studying, or reading. No matter what you decide, one year of sobriety is something to be incredibly proud of. Most deeply, enjoy relating to the world and to your life, and not being gripped at the throat by desire.

Getting your liver or blood pressure checked by your doctor can help you feel motivated to continue the journey of recovery, and reduce long-term effects of alcohol on the body. Sometimes the second day can be even harder than the first, because many of the physical symptoms remain, yet that previous excitement around the initial decision not to drink may be wavering. This is natural, especially because you may start experiencing alcohol cravings at this time.

Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge. However, addiction often disturbs sleep patterns because it alters your brain’s chemical functions. Staying sober will help normalize your brain functions, improve sleep, and be more consistent. Over time, you’ll also reap the benefits of improved sleep, such as improved vitality, less sore muscles, and a calmer attitude. When you abuse substances to the point that it rewires your brain and consumes you, you struggle sleeping through the night. That’s why it’s so important to get the proper amount of sleep each night.

  • The only way to get you out of this rut of not taking care of yourself is sobriety.
  • People who abuse alcohol get to a point in their drinking where they cannot manage any emotion in a healthy way.
  • To avoid relapse and remain sober, it’s important to develop healthy relationships.
  • More than 380 million people around the world used online dating apps in 2023.

Your days of using may have become hazy, as you struggled to remember the better times and blacked out the times that were worse. By losing these memories, you may have also lost sight of family and friends. Sober relationships will be a key factor in your recovery journey. They will show you that you do not need to drink to socialize and you do not need to be intoxicated to have fun. One of the most notable benefits of sobriety is that you regain that desire and ability to put money away.

Research shows that if you maintain these types of toxic relationships, your chances of relapsing are greater. To avoid relapse and remain sober, it’s important to develop healthy relationships. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way. Some people experience many setbacks before they find lasting recovery. Your intentions may be good, but it takes more than willpower to avoid having a relapse.

The good news is, quitting drinking, even if it’s for only a month, allows your body time to heal. Being sober greatly contributes to liver health and regeneration. When your liver doesn’t have to process alcohol, it can maximize its effectiveness at processing blood and aiding digestion. Sobriety tends to improve interactions reasons to stay sober and connections with others. Without drugs or alcohol, you can approach relationships with a clear mind and healthy understanding of others – their feelings, expectations, and even social cues. In time, you will also open the gates to more genuine, meaningful, and long-term connections with the important people in your life.