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Break down long-term goals into smaller, actionable steps. This makes them less overwhelming and easier to achieve. As you progress in your recovery, your needs and priorities may change.
- The key is to try a variety of activities to find what resonates.
- Being sober provides many benefits, including improved physical and mental health, better relationships, greater financial stability, and an increased sense of accomplishment.
- Discover ideas on how to enjoy living life sober and staying sober!
- Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth.
- For some, it is about reconnecting with family and friends.
The Recovery Village South Atlanta
Remember, the goal is to find activities that you genuinely enjoy and that support your recovery journey. Stress is a common trigger for many people in recovery. Learning and regularly practicing stress-reduction techniques can help you manage triggers more effectively. Be aware of changes in your social behavior, like isolating yourself from friends and family. Early warning signs are subtle changes in your thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that might indicate you’re at risk of relapse. Identifying these signs can help you take action before a full relapse occurs.
Reasons to Stay Sober in 2023 & 2024
When you are sober, you are less likely to experience suicidal thoughts or get behind the wheel while intoxicated. You are less likely to get angry and violent, or involved with a sketchy drug deal. You are also farther from self-medicating, overdosing, or putting the ones you love at risk.
Just be sure that your rewards don’t involve drugs or alcohol. Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle. When you’re in a cycle of addiction, keeping a steady job or advancing professionally can be challenging.
What does sober living look like?
Similar to getting a new job, another way you can fill your time is volunteering. Animal shelters, aquariums, homeless shelters or even AA meetings. There are plenty of altruistic organizations that are looking for volunteers. Put your time to good use and do something you feel passionate about. When you feel the pull of alcohol, stop and check in with what that Halfway house feels like.
Create SMART Goals for Your Recovery
The drugs you’ve been taking, or the drugs you used to take, have changed your brain in ways that make quitting extra hard. As much as you want to stay sober, as sick as you are of feeling sick, and as tired as you are of the temptations around you, long-term sobriety still feels out of reach. Drug abuse is detrimental, bearing many physical, psychological, personal and external consequences. We see this, and yet, many of us continue to use anyway. Sometimes, it feels easier to accept the consequences than it does to quit or ask for help.
Benefits of not drinking alcohol include deeper, more restorative sleep, which improves cognitive functions and overall daytime alertness. Warren is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who specializes in substance abuse and mental health treatment. If these emotions become excessive, they can hold you back from recovery.
One of the most significant benefits of becoming sober is repairing relationships. Addiction often strains relationships, causing trust issues, resentment and emotional distance between friends, family members and romantic partners. When sober, people can prioritize and nurture these relationships, rebuilding trust and demonstrating their commitment to positive change.
Depending on the substance, the effect can vary, but I’ve personally talked to many people who noticed a significant negative impact on their brain function. Although we may often hear this from medical doctors, it is hard to internalize unless we experience it first-hand. Your mind may tell you’re worthless and that you don’t deserve a better life. Your mind may tell you it’s hopeless and that no one will ever trust you again.
- If you feel yourself struggling consistently each day, then check yourself back into a treatment center.
- Choose activities you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, or yoga.
- When substances control your life, it’s easy to feel trapped, ashamed, or stuck in a cycle of poor decisions.
- And then I would wake up the next day feeling like shit and wouldn’t be able to work (or write) as well as I normally can.
Getting sober strips away the layers and gives you space to rediscover yourself. Orlando Recovery Center specializes in compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your needs. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Even those who use drugs and alcohol on an extensive level will find themselves battling embarrassment on a routine basis. From falling down stairs to explaining why you stole money from a friend, all of those awkward, painful moments are wiped away once you get sober. You no longer need to feel overwhelmed with what you did or did not do. And, you can feel more confident about the decisions you make. This information can ultimately give you the help you need in your most vulnerable state. Define what it means to you to be sober – does it mean a job, family, and friends?
The worksheets are formatted in standard 8.5 x 11 inches (A4 size), perfect for use in binders, journals, or standalone sheets. Simply download, print, and start your journey of self-discovery and motivation to stay clean and sober. Enjoy the flexibility of having your personalized recovery tools at your fingertips anytime, anywhere.
As we know, someone with no motivation to recover is unlikely to succeed in a treatment program. At Virtue Recovery Center, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to providing the compassionate care and expert guidance you need to start your journey to recovery. Contact us today, and let’s work together to create a brighter, healthier future for you. Your path to recovery begins with a single step – reach out now and find the support you deserve.
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