10 reasons to get clean and sober during the summer

While there might be some truth to this, this explanation paints a picture of a generation overly concerned with their self-image. And, it tends to flatten the complex and often nuanced reasons young people are putting down their drinks. “The sober curious movement has led people to see the unhealthy habits that can go hand in hand with alcohol consumption,” she says. If you’re questioning the role alcohol plays in your life, you might be curious about what it’s like to lead a “sober life” without alcohol. If you’ve ever dealt with an addiction, you’ll know that being sober is the best thing that can happen to you. Most people underestimate the importance of sobriety until they’ve fallen into the hands of addiction.

Without the distraction of wondering when you can go get drunk or high, you’ll be able to stay physically and emotionally present with others. You’ll probably find that the important relationships in your life mean more to you than drugs or alcohol ever did. When an individual is addicted to drugs and alcohol, relationships with family and loved ones are compromised, responsibilities are ignored, and physical and mental health deteriorates.

Sobriety & Psilocybin: How Magic Mushrooms Help Keep Me Sober.

This list can help you put in perspective what you find so valuable that it’s worth the dedication, hard work and effort you put into ceasing alcohol consumption and walking away from drug use. These are just some of the glaring signs that you or a loved one may have a substance use disorder that requires addiction treatment. Addiction to drugs and alcohol comes with serious physical health risks. In the United States, approximately 70,000 people lost their lives from drug overdoses in 2019. Unfortunately, with the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic and barriers to mental health treatment, these numbers continue to climb.

Headaches, nausea, and general feelings of malaise are now a thing of the past with sobriety. No more throwing the covers overhead to escape the sunlight, think of all the free time that can be spent pursuing other hobbies with greater benefit and less risk. Financial troubles and problems finding and keeping employment are major triggers for relapse, but it is possible to take baby steps and get your finances in order. Just keep in mind that your improvements won’t happen overnight. If PAWS is severe or if you’re experiencing prolonged symptoms, a medical professional can help you work through them and remain in recovery without relapse. Some definitions of sobriety call for complete lifelong abstinence while others focus on developing coping mechanisms that can reduce harm with the understanding that setbacks are common.

#5: Focusing on Things that Truly Matters Become a Lot Easier.

When work performance improves, so do the chances for new opportunities. Being caught up in addiction makes it very easy to get into legal trouble in some form or another. That is because depending on the type of drug used, even just possessing that drug can land you in jail. The other thing is that problem drinking can easily lead to driving under the influence or other disorderly behavior while under the influence. Many people will often resort to stealing to get the money needed to maintain their daily habits. Finally, the longer a person uses drugs or alcohol, the more likely they will get in legal trouble.

What areas of your daily life have become unmanageable and chaotic? How has your financial situation been damaged by addiction? In addiction recovery, you will be empowered to achieve your true potential with clarity and purpose. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may be available through your employer. Addiction is not just a chronic brain disease — it is a family disease.

No. 10: You’ll Change Your Life

After all, you didn’t casually stumble upon this blog post while scrolling YouTube videos. Something’s gnawing at the edge of your subconscious, some little voice whispering that maybe it’s time to take a look at how much you drink or use and put the brakes on. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.

When you abuse substances for extended periods of time, it exaggerates any mental health issues that you have. This is especially true since you’re likely not taking care of Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House your physical or mental health as it is while suffering from addiction. However, living a sober life will help improve your physical, and in particular, your mental health.

Heavy users may experience blackouts or memory problems as a result of using drugs or alcohol. Over time, this takes a toll on the mind and impacts the memory both short and long term. In sobriety, there is no fuzzy memory or calls from friends and family retelling forgotten stories. In many cases, a person may use drugs or alcohol because they feel aimless or have misplaced aims. Frequent and prolonged substance abuse can slowly dismantle an individual’s life and the hopes they have for their future. The purpose they once had in life seemingly gets lost and contributes to deep anxiety or depression.

If you’re on your way to overcoming a substance use disorder and you still find it hard to think of reasons to get clean, maybe you need to undergo more addiction counseling. Most professional addiction treatment options actually start with getting clean (through a detoxification process). The idea of sobriety helps people struggling with addiction to fully focus on treatment so that they can then get on with their lives.