This is a JOYOUS and wonderful thing because it easily sorts out the ones that have a weird relationship with alcohol, or the ones that just aren’t for you. It will hurt , but in time you will come to see it as the gift it is—and you won’t waste time getting to know the wrong person. This isn’t to say that all of your friends will be threatened, or that all of your friendships will change. Some will certainly remain, but even those aren’t necessarily long-game friendships. Sobriety is kind of like the fast-pass line at Disneyland, except the ride is growing up. You can remember everything and not feel that sense of terror of waking up and not remembering what you said or did the previous night. You don’t have to try and wrack your brain to remember who you were with or what happened.

This can turn into a terrible, vicious cycle and is a dangerous and unhealthy way to deal with relapse. Many alcoholics try to get sober and fail, so then they feel worse and they drink even more. This could be something as simple as heading to your local multiplex to catch a movie in place of happy hour at your favorite bar. But you can also tie these habits and traditions to important occasions. For instance, it’s always a good idea to celebrate your recovery milestones, so you could make it a tradition to go out for dinner or ice cream on your sober anniversary each year. Or if you’re ambitious, you might plan a nice vacation each time you’ve stayed sober for another five years.

You have more free time.

Some experts have even connected doing outdoor activities to elevated mood and improvement in symptoms of emotional disorders. According to a study of 49 veterans, cortisol levels are higher after gardening, leading to reduced depressive symptoms and certain biomarkers of PTSD . The sober living for men, women and couple facilities can be managed after going through the reviews offered by other clients. There will be productive support at all male and all female environment.

But if you’re sober curious, you can remind yourself that there are many ways to socialize that don’t involve drinking, like seeing a movie or playing a sport. Some people are scared to get sober because they think they won’t have any fun. In reality, though, sober people can have even more fun!

Quick and Smooth Recovery in West Palm Beach

When you suffer from addiction, you become so obsessed with obtaining more alcohol or drugs that you stop investing in your relationships with other people. 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.

Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to avoid repeating mistakes and build better sober life habits. Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.

Key Elements of Life in Recovery

Instead of spending Saturday morning hungover in bed, you can get out and hike at a new park, bike a local trail, or go out for lunch with friends. Instead of planning your life around your next drink or hit of drugs, the opportunities for having fun expand exponentially once your mind is clear, your body is able, and your spirit is willing. All you have to do is get out there and go find some fun sober activities. Personal growth is a big part of getting sober and creating healthy boundaries for yourself will help you achieve that. While you were actively addicted, you likely had poor boundaries that contributed to self-harming behaviors like substance abuse.

• Or, you might decide to benefit from entering therapy at your local mental health office.
• You will sleep more soundly, allowing the body to fully recharge and heal.
• You CAN do this and you WILL eventually settle into a sober life.
• It’s natural to wonder what ”fun” is like without drinking, partying or using drugs.
• New hobbies may be most effective when you haven’t tried them before but have been interested in trying them and think they will feel enjoyable or meaningful.

It’s a subversive, hardcore choice to take your life into your own hands. It’s an opportunity to grow into your bones, and every single crap thing that happens to you on the way only makes you stronger. I don’t have that much sex, and https://ecosoberhouse.com/ that’s more like me saying, I no longer lower my standards and sleep with just anyone because of beer goggles. There’s no easy pass for me anymore, no more getting drunk and slipping past the part where you get to know each other.

Benefits of Living a Sober Life

And there may be setbacks during this time, but it’s never too late to get up and try again; in fact, you’ll be stronger for doing so. If you’re dealing with an addiction, consider seeking treatment and help with both the withdrawal process and the steps to come.

Knowing what triggers you and what makes you behave in a way that you would otherwise avoid can be a valuable tool in your sobriety. Once you find these triggers, you can begin to create a plan of action to help you avoid the situations or behaviors that cause you to relapse. How many times did you have to apologize for things you said or did while you were addicted? Without the influence of drugs and alcohol, you’re bound to make better decisions, and as a result, you’ll make fewer apologies to the people you love. Although you’ll probably still need to make apologies here and there, they won’t be a result of drunken escapades and you can genuinely apologize and make amends with a clear and sober mind.

Not only are these kinds of things emotionally healthy, but they also give you something to look forward to. Additionally, these sorts of things help to keep you busy, which is good because a bored mind is more prone to falling back into old habits.

• This is what leads many people suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder to see all activities as a means to an end.
• As time went on, alcohol wasn’t really fun anymore and it only gave me problems.
• When you’re sleep-deprived, you feel cranky, foggy, and unhealthy.
• In addition to living a better, more fulfilling life, sobriety can also extend your years due to increased health and wellness.