17 Things I’ve Learned in 17 Years of Sobriety

Removing it from your life eliminates these sedative effects, boosting your vitality and enabling you to enjoy a more active, engaged life. Abstaining from alcohol can dramatically enhance your physical health. The liver, heart, and other vital organs benefit greatly, reducing the risk of serious conditions such as liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and various cancers.

Surprising Benefits of Sobriety That Will Transform Your Life

Suddenly, I had extra cash for the things that genuinely made me happy, like trips, self-care splurges, or even just saving for something special. Experiment with no- and low-alcohol drinks until you find options that genuinely excite you. From botanical spirits to craft alcohol-free beers, the choices are endless. Mini wines or spirits are great for portion control.

Personalised Support Just for You

It’s been proven to be very effective in helping people reduce their alcohol use or quit entirely. There are three medications that are FDA-approved for alcohol use disorder, but I’m only mentioning two. The third is antabuse, and in my experience, it’s punitive and ineffective, so I’m not getting https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ into it here.

i love being sober

Week of Events

These feelings of self hate and low self confidence would usually pop up in the middle of the night when I would wake up feeling panic, shame and regret about drinking again. When I was drinking, it never occurred to me that I was an introvert. I would have classified myself as someone who loved to be around people and go out with them at night. Thinking back to before I was sober, I usually had to drink to be around people.

How To Deal With An Angry Drunk: Critical Do’s and Don’t’s

  • There are also the added costs of paying for takeout food because you’re too drunk or hungover to function properly.
  • The best way forward for your recovery from alcohol or substance use is to incorporate a wide variety of strategies that will help foster success.
  • But by sharing my experience, strength and hope, I’ve been able to give back.
  • It’s not always easy and weekends can still drive me up the wall and I still lose my temper and my house is still a mess but I feel so thankful I don’t drink now.

It’s through that process that many people start to forgive themselves and see the value they can bring to the world. By the end of my drinking days, it was a wonder to me that I could do anything. Because I’ve been there, I know what an unsatisfying answer can be, so to give you a morale boost, I want to go over some of the biggest benefits of sobriety I’ve experienced in my journey. When contemplating sobriety, the voices in your head may be engaged in an endless debate. As described in my article on the Types of Denial in Addiction, our minds can make up many reasons why we don’t have a problem.

We help you remember your strength and find your solid ground through alcohol-free living so you can recover your balance and thrive….. Whether you’re just starting or need additional support, book a discovery call and chat it through with me. Your world is not going to transform completely in three months. Your sobriety is heavily dependent on being both optimistic and realistic.

i love being sober

But my sobriety has given me the ability to have many meaningful deeper conversations with her and be there for her (on her time of course, ha) when she just needs her mama to talk to her. Sip, Savor, and Celebrate Dry January with Juanita Unger, the NA Sommelier! Join us for a deliciously mindful journey into the world of non-alcoholic wines, herbal elixirs, and elevated mocktails. If Living in a Sober House: Fundamental Rules you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help.

Sobriety is a process, and setbacks are common. The best way forward for your recovery from alcohol or substance use is to incorporate a wide variety of strategies that will help foster success. Remember to care for yourself, seek supportive relationships, and consider seeking help from a therapist. Most people who make their way into recovery have left a lot of pain and suffering in their wake.

i love being sober

Using a substance to cope with daily life may take the edge off temporarily, but it further entrenches a person into patterns of behavior that make it more difficult to escape. Living in the moment and making those moments meaningful is so very important. And gaining a deeper connection with God as well of course because you can actually “hear” what He is trying to say to you with a sober mind. Another friend of ours got permits to build a deck but the contractor was pricey as all hell… so we looked up what we needed to do and gradually built a deck in their back yard. My free time is full of miscellaneous projects and activities.

In movies (and in life to a certain extent), people who “get sober” tend to hit rock bottom and are pulled unwillingly to rehab, or jail and then rehab. Blame it on my alcoholic dependent brain, but I believed I couldn’t be sober because a life without alcohol would be painfully dull. Having been sober for 5 years, here are four things that I’m continually grateful for in my sober life. Don’t get me wrong, none of that feels great now. But the second I started talking about it—first with other people in recovery and later for a broader internet audience—all of that shame started to lose its charge. There were still things I regretted, but I could talk about them.

My Mental Health Is Stronger

I lost hours upon hours of time and memories I can never get back. Luckily, in sobriety, I always know what I did the night before. And I remember the bad times, too, but at least I have many fewer apologies to make. Join Recovery Connection in sharing stories of hope and recovery. We invite you to share your journey of recovery and be featured on Recovery Connection!

  • If you experience physical pain when stopping opioids or constant shakes when stopping alcohol, your life may start to revolve around obtaining the substance to feel normal.
  • I doubt it’s technically “photographic,” but it feels that way compared to the alternative – murky, muddy, blur of time.
  • The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful.
  • I’m here to listen and help you get clear on your next steps for creating the life you deserve, a life of freedom from alcohol.

That being said, you might not be at a place where you want people to know you’re not drinking, and that’s OK. You can provide an excuse, like that you’re on antibiotics, or you aren’t feeling great or want to feel fresh for something you have going on the next day. It’s important to remember that you never have to give yourself up to make other people comfortable—ever.

Health benefits of going sober include losing weight due to cutting out these excess calories and enhancing metabolic functions. Many also find that sobriety leads to making healthier food choices and increased physical activity. Join me for two powerful, focused, dedicated one-to-one coaching sessions for the price of one! Truly transformational coaching that will lift your spirits and leave you feeling inspired and excited instead of scared and alone. You can quit drinking and I’m here to support you.

  • You might be tired of hearing this but really there is nothing more inspiring and nourishing to the soul than being in nature.
  • If a show – or if I’m being completely honest a commercial – played inspirational music and started to make me tear up, I’d push the feeling down and bury it.
  • Women’s rites of passage are key times for many of us to experience mental health challenges and increased alcohol use.
  • Drinks add up fast – especially when you’re treating yourself to that ‘just one more’ cocktail.
  • Overcoming addiction is a significant achievement.

I love being surrounded by people who just get it. I love that I can share openly and honestly and receive only kindness and wisdom in return. You know what it’s like to have no control over alcohol. You know what it’s like to go through a recovery process. You know what it’s like to live sober in a booze soaked world.