Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today. Yes, asking for help was already listed, but it is so important that it is worth repeating. Getting through recovery’s ups and downs requires you to do more than just occasionally show up and interact with people who may be able to support you. 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. Anything you can do to improve your overall health and wellness will serve double duty https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and improve your ability to stay sober. You can always improve how you fare in sobriety by looking at where you can improve your quality of life.
The Downside of Sobriety: The 6 Things No One Tells You Might Happen If You Quit Drinking
Everyone faces difficult situations, ranging from getting a rough night’s sleep to dealing with a death in the family or being sober sucks an unexpected divorce. Choose to recognize that the choices you make directly impact your experience. Even if things feel like they are beyond your control (a difficult boss, terrible landlord, legal problems, or financial difficulties), you always have the option to take the first step toward improving the situation. You have the power to make changes that will improve your life, make sobriety more interesting, and connect with awesome people who can help you enjoy your life in recovery. There are millions of other people in recovery, all at different stages, and many are having a bad day just like you are.
- People experiencing nifaliophobia may avoid situations where substances are absent and feel severe anxiety about living sober.
- So now I’m sober, and I have zero choice but to be me in all situations.
- While you may not wish for this scenario to happen, for there to not be attention drawn to you, or for you to potentially be seen as the difficult, high-maintenance sober chick, this is one of the best things that can happen!
- And when I couldn’t seem to get ready in time, or when my purse was a tangle of wadded keys and gum wrappers I felt so bereft.
- As you get going, keep a simple chart or use an app that tracks your progress.
Things That Inevitably Happen to Your Personal Life When You Get Sober
While it can be emotional and heartbreaking to watch some relationships veer off course, all you can do is trust that friendships will disintegrate or grow organically, and whichever direction they take is probably for a reason. 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. The life I had before I quit drinking was a lot like Groundhog Day; I was always waiting for it to begin and always reliving the same stuff, day after day, year after year. When I finally walked away from booze at 34, my life opened up.
- Just because it “seems” like things will never change, that is not actually the case.
- You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings.
- I was so afraid of being “single” that I stayed in a shitty “relationship.” And honestly, it could have gotten much worse for me.
- Some people define it as abstaining from all mind-altering substances (including psychiatric medications), while others introduce different degrees of nuance.
- Sobriety is not all roses and reggae, after all, and those who are in a position to help, will always stress the indisputable fact that being clear-headed is better than being a drunk.
- It’s a question Dr. Lee, who runs one of the world’s preeminent drug and alcohol treatment center networks, also asks.
This really sucks What should I do? Living Sober Sucks, But Living Drunk Sucks More.
That’s six hard, beautiful, glorious years during which I not only stopped drinking, but also finally moved on from all recreational drugs as well as a history of bulimia. That being said, you might not be at a place where you want people to know you’re not drinking, and that’s OK. You can provide an excuse, like that you’re on antibiotics, or you aren’t feeling great or want to feel fresh for something you have going on the next day. It’s important to remember that you never have to give yourself up to make other people comfortable—ever. Whether you’re stating a one-sentence response (“I don’t drink”) or using a small excuse, the only thing to consider is whether you are comfortable, and whether your boundaries are being upheld. Halfway house In these moments, I have to remind myself that recovery isn’t just about not drinking; it’s about remembering that I am first and foremost responsible for advocating for my own well-being and boundaries.
Programs
So your bold, life-improving decision to not drink will mean changes almost everywhere you look. Here are some surprising (and not-so-surprising) occurrences that will inevitably happen to your relationships, your identity, even your free time, and how I’ve learned to deal with each one. Alcohol can have many long-term effects on our health. It makes us more susceptible to developing diseases, cancers, and mental health disorders.
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