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I decided to get help for my addiction and to make a serious effort to change my life. I was sick of living a life of active addiction and tired of hating myself for it. Throughout all of this, the most important thing I’ve learned is that not only is it possible to live life completely sober, I now wouldn’t want to have it any other way.
It also gives you a sense of purpose that can help you stay focused. Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous are other ways to build a support network. You can try different meetings for the different groups to find one that’s right for you. Get productivity, intentional living and self-care tips so you can go from “busy” to “present” and show up as your best self in life and business in this weekly newsletter. Sign up to get productivity, intentional living and self-care tips so you can tap into a slower life and go from constantly doing to peacefully being. By acknowledging gratitude for a second chance at life, you help secure your future.
Seven Lessons I’ve Learned During Seven Years of Sobriety
At a certain point, I got sick of cleaning up the messes I made while I was drunk, especially when I couldn’t even remember what I did. It felt like I was constantly apologizing for someone else’s rude behavior. Since then I have learned how to have fun and deal with stress in healthy ways and I have found productive outlets for negative feelings.
Now that you’re in recovery, treat yourself to a massage or a new pair or shoes to celebrate how far you’ve come. For those on Moderation Management plans, that means no more than 4 drinks in one sitting for men and 3 drinks in one sitting for women. According to this plan, men and women shouldn’t drink more than 3-4 days per week. Those in recovery who haven’t addressed those root issues are often described as “dry drunk,” a term coined by AA. We’ve consulted Merriam-Webster, and the word of the day is sober. Being sober means a new way of life that is fulfilling, busy, and happy.
When is Someone’s Eating Disorder So Severe They Need Residential Treatment?
It’s about living a healthier, happier, and more productive life. Drug and alcohol abuse is harmful to nearly every organ in the body and chronic and long-term substance abuse can even cause life-threatening diseases or medical conditions. Fortunately, just as your appearance will improve as you spend more time sober, your overall health will also get better.
Ethos Structured Sober Living is an all male community in recovery located in the heart of West Los Angeles. Our primary purpose is to foster long-term sobriety through the cultivation of accountability, camaraderie, & character development. The idea of sobriety can feel boring or lame, and like it’s only an option for someone who’s hit Selecting the Most Suitable Sober House for Addiction Recovery rock bottom and had to become sober because they had no other choice. 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.
Finding Treatment for Alcoholism
Here are a few different ways to ensure you can enjoy being sober. 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. Exercise can come in many forms — from an aerobics class to yoga to a walk around the block. If you’d like to incorporate more exercise into your life, you can look up classes in your neighborhood or at a nearby gym, or simply call a friend and go for a stroll in a local park.
Therefore, it is sometimes imperative for your blood pressure and overall health to become sober. Staying sober requires a person to dive deeper and begin unraveling why they were using the substance, their triggers for relapse, and how to avoid falling into a pattern of use again. Milestones in sobriety are celebrated to recognize the challenging work you are accomplishing. For example, 12-step programs often have milestones or “sober birthdays” starting x amount of hours sober (i.e., 24 hours sober) and onward from there (i.e., a week, one month, three months). Developing a structured routine can help you stick to your sobriety goals, make healthy decisions, and reduce the likelihood of triggers and relapse.
But many people have found ways to not only get sober but enjoy life without a drink or drug. Many people start to rediscover hobbies and activities they used to enjoy before drugs and alcohol took over their lives. They start to exercise, play sports, take up painting or singing, and attend concerts.
- Movies are fun, entertaining and can get your mind off of drinking.
- Maybe you even spent some time in sober living housing and are now ready to live sober for a lifetime, without anyone holding your hand.
- While you were actively addicted, you likely had poor boundaries that contributed to self-harming behaviors like substance abuse.
You may not even be considered for long term treatment until all traces of the substance are gone from your system. Because of the dangerous side effects of kicking the habit, it is recommended that you do this in a hospital or professional facility where you can be medicated or otherwise treated if necessary. 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.
