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“The benefits [of being alcohol-free] are it’s better for your kidneys, your liver, your skin. You’ll feel better, but you’ll also sleep better and eat better,” said Opland. Even though Golden was never a heavy drinker, she decided to make a lifestyle change and stop consuming alcohol four years ago, and the results were surprising. Golden emphasizes that even when she would have only one or two drinks, her body always felt it the next day, but not anymore. Recovery is an excellent opportunity to explore new hobbies and develop new passions along the way.
Just keep in mind that your improvements won’t happen overnight. People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money. If you were active in your addiction for a period of time, you may have developed financial problems. A structured routine will help you achieve other goals in your life, whether they are short-term (like being on time for work) or long-term (like going back to school and changing careers). A mental health professional can help you cope with some of the challenges you’ll face on your path to sobriety.
How to Choose the Right Sober Living
Many recovering addicts find that a respite from the pressures of work, family, relationships, and bills helps them start on the road to recovery with a firm foundation. By focusing on yourself and your health first, you start learning healthy habits. By surrounding yourself with others who feel like you do, you establish a foundation where you learn how to ask for help, how to share your feelings, and how to deal with the urge to drink or drug. At Turnbridge, the young men and women in our sober living program are all considered unsung heroes. With great strength and bravery, they have all made a considerable, yet often unacknowledged, change to better their lives and the lives of the ones they love.
In addition, exercise can help improve your sleep, which is vital for overall health and recovery. Regular physical activity releases endorphins, which can improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. It can also provide a healthy distraction and outlet for pent up emotions. Whether you volunteer at a soup kitchen or hold the door for someone in the grocery store, helping others is one of the best ways to enjoy living sober. Many twelve-step recovery meetings will focus on the importance of gratitude.
Things That Inevitably Happen to Your Personal Life When You Get Sober
For example, your friends can say they support your sober living journey and avoid offering substances to you. However, if they’re still opening and actively consuming substances in your presence, you may still need to separate yourself. Triggers for drug and alcohol use are typically defined as people, places, and things that remind you of your addictive behavior or encourage the use of substances you’re trying to avoid.
Part of recovery involves an honest look in the mirror and acknowledgment of our weaknesses. For this coping method, sit down and take stock of what feelings lead you to relapse or near-relapse. These can be feelings of anger, shame, loneliness or tiredness. Along with each feeling, list one or more healthy sober house ways to address the feeling, such as calling a friend for loneliness. When a craving starts to build, take out your list and ask yourself what you’re really feeling deep down. Then, address the feeling without resorting to your addictive behavior using the healthy responses you have included in your list.
