Fried and overly sugary foods will also artificially spike your dopamine levels and cause your brain to overcorrect, leaving you feeling irritable, depressed, and cranky. These are all things you’re trying to overcome from drinking. Sobriety can actually lead to improved emotional regulation. Without alcohol to numb emotions, you can face and process feelings in a healthier way, leading to greater stability and fewer mood swings. A lot of people feel lonely when they give up alcohol. When your entire social life has revolved around getting wasted, it’s normal to feel like there’s nothing to do.

The 12 Things I Absolutely Love About Being Sober

I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. If your old habits included going to a friend’s house every Friday night, and that’s where your drug use began or where you abused alcohol, you’ll want to steer clear of this type of place. Keeping your promise to yourself to live a sober life sometimes means making difficult decisions about where you spend your time.

What Being Sober Really Feels Like

When you finally get over those first months of early sobriety, you’ll see that you’re not so bad after all. It was a horrible cycle of self-medicating my anxiety being sober sucks with alcohol which, in turn, only made my anxiety levels worse. I was stressed out all of the time and had no healthy coping mechanisms for that stress.

• Usually apparent within the first month, with continued improvement over the following months.
• This one happened for me relatively early on, and that’s WITH pregnancy brain.
• The list of benefits that come with a sober life is long.
• Johnson described a moment when a pastor was calling people up to the stage who were in need of God’s love.
• Once you’ve decided to go sober, know that it’s an ongoing commitment that will require ongoing effort and energy.
• My marriage is continuing to fall apart, just as it was before.

My Stress Levels Are Lower

I finally got the courage to quit a career I did not enjoy and throw my weight behind exploring new avenues. There are few things more liberating than being outside on a Saturday morning, and NOT because you’re squinting in the sun on your walk of shame back to your car or home. The weekends always felt like they flew by, probably because at least one of those days would be spent in hangover agony. I’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but in case you missed it, did you know the average person spends TWO YEARS of their life hungover? But I know for damn sure that I am not throwing away cash like I was when I spent the equivalent of $400 USD per week on alcohol and cigarettes (liquor is expensive in the country where I live). I consumed both because I wanted to escape how bad I felt.

• Setbacks don’t erase progress, though, and they don’t mean you’ve “failed” to stay sober.
• Choosing a life of sobriety means choosing a healthy life for you and keeping the promises you make to yourself.
• 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.

Sometimes I feel like sobriety’s Andy Rooney – the ironic, curmudgeon of the blogging set, pointing out the pitfalls and snafus that no one else will tell the world about quitting drinking. I have been known to sniff at the sophomoric crowing of those who extoll the benefits of living clean and sober. As if, like that other killjoy Groucho Marx, I do not want to join any club substandard enough to have me as a member. Finding happiness in sobriety is a process that takes time but is totally achievable with the right daily supports, priorities, and commitments. Healthy relationships, a regular practice of gratitude, finding your purpose, and living in the moment are some of the components of recovery that enrich the good feelings of sobriety.

This is the part where you figure out how to enjoy life without a little something extra to help loosen you up. By focusing on eating healthy, nourishing foods, you are actively working on reversing those symptoms. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ If you have the time, sign on to a longer-term project like helping with this year’s charity bake sale or the big 5K race your city holds yearly. You’ll get to meet new people and be a part of something positive.

Once you do return to work, it’s important to create a budget and take steps to safeguard yourself as work stress can be a relapse trigger. 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. Relapse rates for substance use addictions are around 40% to 60%.

• Sobriety is kind of like the fast-pass line at Disneyland, except the ride is growing up.
• You’ll also build your self-esteem by sticking with your decision to stay sober.
• Contrary to popular belief, alcohol does not help with achieving quality sleep.
• This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.
• Refer to why you quit substance abuse during the difficult times, or even daily if that’s helpful to you.

Quitting Alcohol Timeline: What Happens When You Stop Drinking?