You can then consistently look back, see how far you’ve come, and assess what you have accomplished along the way. When you feel better, your mood is elevated, you’re more likely to ignore the little annoyances, and you’re less likely to feel like a relapse is your only way out of any uncomfortable situations that may arise. You can always improve how you fare in sobriety by looking at where you can improve your quality of life.
Seek Support
I treated myself like I was worthless, and my life was a direct reflection of what I told myself. No wonder my life was going nowhere, it’s hard to accomplish anything when you can’t function because of your addiction and the inevitable come-down. Now that I’m on the other side, in sobriety, I’m back in school, in a great relationship and have some really supportive Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In friends and colleagues at work who challenge me to be better each day than the day before.
Create new habits
This is the version of yourself that allows you to sleep at night, who wants to be a good person and live a fulfilling life. She (or he) is the one with the friends, the one who got the job, or was charming on that date. As the days turned into weeks, maybe I wasn’t a failure, maybe I was under the influence of something that I could escape, and I started to feel proud. That sensation was my self esteem as it started to grow,and maybe, it was all due to an act of self-love. How did I used to live the way I had been?
Involve family in your recovery process to improve communication
You learn the hard https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ lessons, And you evolve. There are days you will persevere at embracing the suck and others when you will fail at some aspect. Part of my sobriety journey involves forgiving myself for being a truly atrocious and high-maintenance friend to some pretty amazing people.
- It’s life, and you can’t take it personal.
- This year, after 7 years of not being sober (I started when I was 16, im 23 now), I quit drinking, smoking cigarettes/vaping, and smoking weed.
- When I quit, I worried that I’d confirm every stereotype about women being too uptight, too worried about being out of control and un-ladylike.
- Instead of isolating and giving into feeling bad, reach out and connect with others who might be going through the same thing.
Published in Exploring Sobriety
At the end of my shift, I’d have a drink at the bar, to congratulate myself for making it through another dismal day, and give myself the energy for the two block walk home. Surround yourself with people who support your sobriety. This could include friends who understand your journey, family members who encourage your choices, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery.
A therapist specializing in addiction recovery can offer personalized advice and coping strategies. Participating in regular sessions can help you maintain focus on recovery and address any emerging issues before they become significant obstacles. A therapist who specializes in addiction and recovery can offer invaluable support.
- Whether it’s improved health, better relationships, or greater productivity, focusing on these benefits can motivate you to maintain your sober lifestyle.
- This helps you settle in before any anxiety creeps up.
- This can help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed by fears and cravings.
- I was inspired to revisit the topic after reading a recent post by Heather Lowe, called Sober is Boring and I Have Lost Friends.
- If you often drink out of routine (like pouring a glass of wine after work), try swapping it for a different ritual, like making an alcohol-free cocktail or brewing a special tea.
Why I Thought Sobriety Was Boring
This knowledge of benefits and challenges can empower you and reduce anxiety and alleviating fear by framing sobriety as a positive lifestyle change. Substances like alcohol and drugs may mask stress, emotional pain, or traumatic experiences so for those who experience those feelings deeply, being without that protective shield, if you will, can be scary. The fear of being sober usually has a mixture of root causes, including the discomfort of facing underlying emotional or psychological issues without the numbing effect of substances.
Why Is Sober Life So Boring?
Or maybe those crotchety old-timers like to complain about life. Or the newcomer has unrealistic expectations and judges others unfairly. Perhaps some just prefer to behave like jerks.
Gen Z are health conscious
You’ll wake up feeling refreshed, clear-headed, and proud of yourself. Shift the focus from what’s in your glass to the connections you’re making. Socialising is about people, not the drinks. Cutting back on alcohol freed up my weekends – no more days lost to hangovers or sluggishness. I started spending that time doing things that actually made me feel good, like morning walks, paddle-boarding, or trying out new hobbies. The confidence alcohol gives you isn’t really real.