Sober Curious: What It Means, Benefits, and Tips for Living Sober

reasons to be sober

These days, unless I’m feeling generous, I simply say, “I don’t drink,” and leave it at that. It’s seen as normal to drink, and quitting that drug can feel like breaking a social pact. So your bold, life-improving decision to not drink will mean changes almost everywhere you look. Here are some surprising (and not-so-surprising) occurrences that will inevitably happen to your relationships, your identity, even your free time, and how I’ve learned to deal with each one. It’s been over six years since I first started seriously questioning my relationship with alcohol and considered a life without it.

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  • By maintaining your sobriety, you can demonstrate your commitment to change and work towards restoring relationships that may have been strained or broken.
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can provide some measures of counseling and assistance.
  • You’ll also build your self-esteem by sticking with your decision to stay sober.
  • “It doesn’t do anything for me now other than make me feel really sluggish and tired,” she explains.

The life I had before I quit drinking was a lot like Groundhog Day; I was always waiting for it to begin and always reliving the same stuff, day after day, year after year. I can honestly say sobriety is the best thing I have ever done for myself. It was my jumping-off point into a life I knew I had buried inside of me.

reasons to be sober

Reasons to Stay Sober: Your Ultimate Guide

If you recently had surgery or an injury, your doctor will be careful with the pain medication they give you, because some of those drugs can make you more likely to relapse. Ask your doctor about nonmedical ways to manage your pain, like massage or acupuncture. Finally, staying committed to attending meetings and seeking professional help when needed ensures ongoing support and guidance throughout the recovery journey. Another way sobriety enhances your life is by giving you more time and energy to pursue hobbies and passions that bring you joy. Instead of being consumed by addiction, you can now channel your focus and energy into activities that nurture your soul and bring fulfillment.

What is sobriety fatigue when quitting alcohol?

reasons to be sober

Drug use can lead to decreased inhibition and increased unprotected sexual activity, which, in turn, increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). When it comes to injectable drugs, sharing needles can also increase the risk of HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, chronic marijuana use during adolescent years has been proven to lead to an irretrievable loss of IQ points. Use at any age can affect memory and concentration for days or weeks after the high wears off. The severity of the memory troubles depends on how often the addict uses the drug, but memory is affected regardless.

How to Stay Sober

reasons to be sober

Seeking professional guidance and building a strong support system are pivotal components of a successful recovery. By combining these strategies and staying committed to the process, individuals can achieve and maintain a fulfilling, sober life. And when it comes to alcohol, people often are quick to adopt an all-or-nothing mentality.

Reasons to Stay Sober in 2023 & 2024

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. 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. Staying sober requires a person to analyze the reasons why they were reasons to stay sober using the substance, identify their personal triggers for relapse, and avoid falling into a pattern of use again. Milestones in sobriety (e.g., 24 hours, a month, three months) are celebrated to recognize the incredible hard work that’s been accomplished through staying sober for a certain length of time. They can help motivate a person to remain sober to reach the next milestone.

Benefits of being sober curious

  • It can include a medically supervised detox, various forms of treatment including therapy and 12-step programs, and calling upon family, friends, and professionals for additional support.
  • The severity of the memory troubles depends on how often the addict uses the drug, but memory is affected regardless.
  • Many people who misuse alcohol or drugs have trouble dealing with anger.

While drinking used to be fun, Albertson has noticed that she isn’t finding it worth the side effects. “It doesn’t do anything for me now other than make me https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/10-best-alcohol-addiction-recovery-books/ feel really sluggish and tired,” she explains. Thus, Albertson is limiting her drinks to just a few a month when she heads out with her friends or fiancé.

Avoid Old Routines and Habits

  • Detoxification and rehabilitation programs are available in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
  • Your physical health will start to recover when you abstain from substance use.
  • By choosing to confront and overcome addiction, individuals open themselves up to a newfound freedom and a fulfilling life free from the confines of substance abuse.
  • The reasons why someone begins to use drugs are too numerous to count.

Financial troubles and problems finding and keeping employment are major triggers for relapse, but it is possible to take baby steps and get your finances in order. Just keep in mind that your improvements won’t happen overnight. Having a chaotic or disorganized lifestyle can also hinder your recovery. It’s important to develop a structured daily and weekly schedule and stick to it.

Your diet improves.

  • One big reason people feel so afraid of sobriety is because of what they see in the media, pop culture and even from people they know on social media.
  • 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.
  • She also enjoys going to restaurants and bars that serve nonalcoholic beverages, which most are doing today.
  • In addition, she wants to work more toward practicing what she preaches as a health and wellness professional.
  • And in case it wasn’t already obvious, the only way to get to long-term sobriety is to first achieve short-term sobriety.

If you are invited to a bar or restaurant for a social gathering and want to take this approach to being sober curious, try to only attend events at places where alcohol isn’t the main focus. Before you completely cut out alcohol, try taking a moment or two to think about how your relationship with alcohol has changed over the years and where it stands today. “Most people find more power in themselves as they grow confident handling stress, sleep, and social situations without relying on alcohol,” he says. This gives you a quick and easy explanation for why you aren’t drinking. It also gives you a sense of purpose that can help you stay focused.