10 Awesome Benefits of Getting Sober
Having a hard time imagining what your life will look like after getting sober?
Explore 10 of the biggest benefits you’ve got to look forward to when you stop using:
It’s a challenging process that requires dedication and willpower – and, for many, adapting to life without using is difficult.
To succeed, you need to see a light at the end of the tunnel – one that’s bright enough to pull you through the anxieties, doubts and feelings of inadequacy you’ll battle along the way.
You need to know that the journey is worthwhile.
Knowing what’s ahead can keep you going when times get tough, and even keep you from relapsing.
Below are ten of the most exciting things you’ll likely experience once you’ve sobered up.
10 Great Things That Happen When You Get Sober
1. Your Relationships Get Stronger
Addiction can seriously damage your relationships.
When you’re using, your substance of choice is all that matters.
As a result, it’s not uncommon to have difficulty maintaining relationships with friends, parents, children, romantic partners and even employers or coworkers.
While actively using, you’re probably not spending quality time with your friends or family.
And, to top it off, using is almost certainly affecting your personality, making it difficult for you to authentically invest in intimate relationships, even when you’re not under the influence.
All of that changes when you get sober.
You start feeling emotions that used to be blunted by using, and your self worth starts to return.
Your family and friends start seeing the ‘real you’ again – and you start investing in quality time with them.
Over time, your relationships improve dramatically.
2. Your Memory Improves
It’s no secret that addiction can wreak havoc on your memory.
At your worst, you may notice yourself living in a cloudy haze, making it difficult to remember even the most important things – like birthdays, appointments, or your work schedule.
Fortunately, that won’t be your reality forever.
Once you’re sober, your memory will almost immediately start to improve. Most importantly, you’ll begin to remember – or discover – who you are.
3. You Look Better
You know those bags you have under your eyes from long, sleepless nights?
When you stop using, those will be gone.
And that’s just the beginning. Some of your wrinkles will disappear.
You’ll look years younger. Your teeth will be whiter. Your hair will regain its healthy sheen.
But the shifts are more than skin deep.
When you’re using, it’s hard to smile from a place of genuine joy.
After you stop, you’ll notice yourself genuinely, confidently smiling much more often, making you more attractive to everyone around you – even if your appearance doesn’t change at all.
4. Your Weight Stabilises
There’s a good chance your weight isn’t what it was before you started using.
It’s really hard to get back to a healthy place while you’re in the throes of your addiction, but once you’re free, a healthy weight is within your reach.
Losing – or gaining – weight gets much easier.
And once you’re there, everything gets easier.
You’re more confident, your metabolism starts to function properly, and when you look in the mirror, you finally see yourself again.
You literally heal from the inside out.
5. You Save Money
There’s no way around it: addiction is expensive.
If your addiction is serious enough, chances are you’ve been dead broke (because you’ve spent all of your money on your habit) at least once.
You might have even had to resort to illegal or unethical methods to make enough money to make ends meet.
Once you’re sober, money will be much less of a problem.
And having more money will likely have ripple effects.
For instance, many former addicts report feeling a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from having the money to do simple things like buying a healthy meal or treating a friend to a night out.
For some, those experiences even satisfy cravings that they used to feed with substances.
6. You Have More Time
Addiction is an all-encompassing, full-time lifestyle, consuming all in its path and leaving little time for anything else.
It’s not uncommon for hobbies, hanging out with friends, going for walks and self care to fall by the wayside.
Once you sober up, you may find yourself a bit disoriented by the amount of free time you have.
Make a list of the things you enjoy, but haven’t done in a while – and do them.
Take time to explore nature, reconnect with old friends, make art or play music.
All of these things will help you restore the confidence you had prior to your addiction, and will keep you busy enough to forget about relapsing.
7. You Have Boundless Energy
Using messes with your energy levels from multiple angles.
Depending on your substance of choice, you might sleep way too much or far too little.
Either way, addiction leaves your body in a state of chronic fatigue.
When you first stop using, you’ll probably be extremely lethargic for about a week – but, slowly but surely, day after day, your energy reserves will increase.
Before long, you’ll be bouncing out of bed without needing a hit of coffee – or anything else.
8. You Actually Have More Fun
This one might be hard to believe, but it’s true.
For most addicts, there’s an undeniable correlation between substances and fun.
You might not be used to having fun sober, and you might not even believe you’re capable of it – but you are.
Once you get sober, you’ll start to discover who you are without substances, and you’ll develop new coping mechanisms to help you through the issues that led you to using.
At the same time, your body will start to rebalance its hormones and reduce its dependence on substances.
In time, you’ll feel better sober than you did when you were using.
You’ll finally be able to have a good time with your friends and family without needing a drink.
You’ll be able to be creative or play music without needing a hit. Eventually, these activities will completely fill the void that substances used to satisfy.
9. You Gain Respect, From Both Yourself and Others
Sobriety takes work – and the experience of putting in that work will restore your self respect.
You’ll begin to establish a trusted relationship with yourself, and in turn, others will begin to trust you too.
10. You Finally Feel Good About Yourself
Nobody should need a substance to feel good about themselves, but unfortunately, many people do.
When you feel like you need to be under the influence to be yourself, using becomes a vicious cycle of discomfort, using and starting all over again when the buzz wears off and discomfort returns.
At first, without using, you feel incomplete.
But, slowly, that changes. Before long, you start to feel good about yourself – not just in spite of being sober, but because you’re sober.
You begin to really recognise and appreciate the immense amount of effort and strength it took to get you where you are.
As a result, you exude determination, positivity and confidence.
You’re better able to take on new work opportunities and approach social situations.
You’re no longer tied to the shame and guilt of your addiction, which directly improves your self image.
Discover Joy in Sobriety – Starting Now.
When you’re still using, getting sober can feel like an overwhelming task.
But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and you don’t have to take it on all at once.
The journey toward recovery starts with just one small step.Contact us to take that first step now.
( These Articles are the sole property of “ The Cabin Chiang Mai “ , they are its original authors )
