One of the reasons I had such a problem with alcohol was that I used it for everything. I drank to have fun, I drank to deal with stress and I drank to try and forget my problems. The funny thing is that it actually not only made a lot of my problems worse, it also created brand new problems. Even if you don’t have a drinking problem, if you have ever drunk too much then I am sure you can understand what I mean by this. Alcoholics Anonymous originated in the 1930s and provided the steppingstones for sober housing by requiring strict sobriety, participation in the community, peer support, and a 12-step program. However, AA did little to address housing needs for its participants as they worked through the program. For example, if you know that you are more likely to succumb to drinking when you are stressed, you can plan ahead to avoid these situations.

By overcoming addiction, you’ll give yourself something amazing to be proud of. You’ll probably feel more confident in yourself knowing that you are making the best decision for your health.

Your relationships improve.

If you’re dealing with an addiction, consider seeking treatment and help with both the withdrawal process and the steps to come. When you suffer from addiction, you become selfish, toxic, and difficult to maintain a relationship with. As a result, you’ve likely broken and lost relationships that you’ve had in the past with family members and friends while suffering from addiction. Chronically abusing substances has many more negative effects on human health.

If you find that the cons about continuing to drink outweigh the benefits, you know you are ready to take your next steps toward sobriety. Over time, chronic substance abuse can even cause physical body issues such as heart palpitations and pain, diarrhea, seizures, diabetes, heart disease, and more. Why put yourself through all of that when you can live a happy, sober, and healthy life instead. You can always take to throwing your own get together where you choose a version of a party that resonates with you. Playing games or doing fun activities together that don’t involve alcohol is a great way to form new connections.

I was ashamed of my over-consumption of Chardonnay, and now I would be ashamed of no longer drinking.

Recovery and sober living homes can empower individuals to get the help they need, and the aftercare required to complete rehabilitation. Having a solid support system and a safe living environment allows residents to grow, and to get the accountability they need to sustain sobriety.

• However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts.
• However, sobriety and abstinence aren’t mutually exclusive.
• We treat a variety of addictions, ranging from alcoholism to heroin, meth, and prescription pill addictions.
• On the regular, substance abuse can lead to hangovers, excruciating withdrawal symptoms, and a weakened immune system.
• They no longer have to worry about what they did when under the influence.

Becoming sober isn’t just about abstaining from alcohol. It’s a subversive, hardcore choice to take your life into your own hands. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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.

Foundation Houseis extended-care, sober living in Portland, Maine.

If we want to improve our lives, we have to ask ourselves what we need to do to make it happen. Unfortunately, if one does have a problem attaining a sober life, ignoring it is never a solution. By living a sober life that definition, if there are no harmful consequences — health impacts, problems with relationships or at work — there is no addiction. We need to be careful not to throw the word around loosely.

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. This isn’t to say that all of your friends will be threatened, or that all of your friendships will change.

You’ll Gain More Time

It may be estranging you from your children or isolating you from important people in your life. There may be physical consequences of drinking which are already surfacing. There may be times where intoxication causes you to do embarrassing things, or to make poor choices. Creating such a list is another step toward bringing your fears out into the light, and examining them for what they are. After listing your reasons for drinking, and your reasons for not drinking, it will be up to you to assign a weighted value to each factor.

• No, you decided to go big, to do something meaningful – to do something that you can commit to.
• With time, the mental fog will fade and you’ll begin to feel more alert, focused, and present in your everyday life.
• If you are just learning how to live sober, it is ever important to know that you are not alone.
• At least I’ll die happy, and not bored, depressed and antisocial.
• It’s just a minor mis-step that requires recognizing it for what it is and getting back on track by finding ways to stay sober.

This is because it allows you to see the world through new eyes after being clouded by alcohol and drugs for so long. Unfortunately, there is a stigma surrounding those with addiction. In fact, many people view those suffering from addiction as being lazy and crazy. The only true way to avoid this stigma as an addict is to redeem yourself by becoming sober. Once you start living a sober life, people will respect you and your ability to overcome life’s obstacles. There are significant offerings for events and places to experience that will continue to show you how to enjoy your new sober lifestyle and nourish your soul.

You avoid alcohol- or drug-related health problems.

You can use it to work on your hobbies, learn new skills, spend time with your loved ones, work out, or anything else you please. But as with every other area of your life, once you’re sober, you’ll be able to see yourself more clearly. You’ll start to see all the wonderful things you’ve done in your life and the beauty you live in each day. But once you’re sober, those doors start to open back up again. You have more energy and resources to put into doing the best work you can at your job, and you discover that you don’t have to stay in that toxic relationship. One of the big barriers to sobriety for many people is a concern that they’ll lose their friends.