Even mental health symptoms improve the longer you stay sober and the more time you give your brain to recover. The medical definition of sobriety refers to a natural state of physical health in which a person’s brain and body are unaffected by the influence of drugs or alcohol. Being sober generally means abstaining from substances that cause intoxication, but it’s possible to be sober yet still engage in addictive behaviors.
- This article discusses the meaning of sobriety and arms you with information and strategies to smooth—and stay on—your path to wellness.
- Improved communication and healthier boundaries in relationships also result from sobriety.
- Communication improves as you’re able to express yourself more clearly and understand others better.
- This strict definition is commonly upheld by groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), where the focus is on total abstinence to avoid any potential triggers for relapse.
- The more people you can turn to for encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear, the better your chances for recovery.
Avoid Old Habits and Toxic Relationships
There are people out there ready to help with what you’re going through. If you cannot trust people, you can not get past the core issues of addiction. Be upfront about your history of drug use when seeking medical treatment. If you need a medical or dental procedure done, be upfront and find a provider who will work with you in either prescribing alternatives or the absolute minimum medication necessary.
- Continual support, whether through therapy, support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and a steadfast commitment to self-care, are critical components for maintaining sobriety.
- People in the throes of addiction are not capable of the best form of friendship.
- “It doesn’t matter what walk of life — addiction and alcoholism doesn’t discriminate,” she said at the Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in 2017.
- They are a good option if you don’t have a stable home or a drug-free living environment.
- Studies show that craving for alcohol peaks at 60 days of abstinence.
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The journey to sobriety is filled with accomplishments and milestones, each of which should be celebrated for the effort and dedication it took to reach them. Avoiding alcohol has been shown to lead to an increase in overall happiness despite the challenges of sobriety. There is never one path to sobriety, nor is there one strategy guaranteed to work for everybody. While “sobriety” is a commonly used word, its definition and what it truly means to “be sober” can be incredibly enigmatic. Whether from loved ones or specific groups, sobriety support entails numerous advantages. As previously mentioned, no one treatment is effective for all people.
Decide on Treatment and Get Sober
There are infinite reasons why pursuing long-term recovery and sobriety can be the best choice for someone struggling with drug or alcohol use. Support programs can also provide you with new friendships and communities that can make sobriety less difficult to navigate. These cravings can be triggered by various factors such as stress, emotional distress, or even certain social situations that remind you of past substance use. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Depending on the severity of the addiction or substance being used, a medically supervised detox may be necessary to safely help you. Support systems are also accountability systems, instilling a sense of responsibility toward oneself and others.
A systematic approach is crucial in recovery as it fosters logical reasoning and informed decision-making. Critical thinking helps individuals differentiate between beneficial and harmful choices, promoting resilience against relapse. By employing these problem-solving steps, individuals gain control over their actions, making them better equipped to handle the emotional triggers typically encountered in sobriety. Individuals can use journaling to reflect on their feelings and reactions, helping them identify patterns and triggers.
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Peer support specialists are certified workers who have lived through a substance use disorder and understand what it’s like. They act as a go-to contact for people in recovery, and someone who can accompany them to AA meetings, support them through periods of substance cravings, or even just meet up for coffee when they need to talk. Discover how inpatient detox programs empower change and support recovery with 24-hour care and personalized treatment.
Knowing relapse signs can help you recognize your risk of relapse, and they may include a return to addictive thinking patterns and compulsive behaviors. Some studies find that this structure, along with a start date for sobriety and milestones, is important to some people in recovery. Some research postulates that relapses have three stages, and becoming aware of them helps you choose the best methods to maintain sobriety. Jeffers recently celebrated 6 months of sobriety, and his life looks completely different than it did during what he calls “his dark spot.” He’s back to work full time and spending time with his son.
- Incorporating practices that promote general well-being, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and mindfulness exercises, can significantly impact your mental health.
- Engagement with evidence-based addiction treatment and exposure to many therapeutic opportunities and approaches can help you create an educated approach to your developing sober lives.
- In fact, people in recovery might be better off if the term “relapse” were abandoned altogether and “recurrence” substituted, because it is more consistent with the process and less stigmatizing.
- The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory functions.
- Even treatment professionals may differ in their definition of sobriety.
Cravings vary in duration and intensity, and they are typically triggered by people, places, paraphernalia, and passing thoughts in some way related to previous drug use. But cravings don’t last forever, and they tend to lessen in intensity over time. Many people believe that they are powerless to change their own addictive behavior, and often it is a belief that keeps people addicted. The evidence shows that every day, people choose to recover from addiction on their own. One way or another, they learn and deploy a set of skills that help them get through the strong cravings and urges of the difficult early stages of recovery.
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Also, keep in mind that living in recovery offers you the opportunity to make amends when possible. Having goals to work toward and something to look forward to can be powerful antidotes to drug addiction. It doesn’t matter what the goals are, just that they are important to you. When this happens, it can be useful to stay with the urge until it passes. Imagine yourself as a surfer who will ride the wave of your drug craving, staying on top of it until it crests, breaks, and turns into less powerful, foamy surf.
Regardless of the drug you experienced problems with, it’s important to stay away from prescription drugs with the potential for abuse sober house or use only when necessary and with extreme caution. Drugs with a high abuse potential include painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication. Sober living homes provide a safe, supportive place to live while you’re recovering from drug addiction. They are a good option if you don’t have a stable home or a drug-free living environment. Long-term follow-up can help to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety. This may include attending regular in-person support groups or online meetings to help keep your recovery on track.
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