Sobriety may look boring, difficult, and unappealing, but the drinking or substance use might be starting to impact the rest of your life, making things even more challenging to manage. I feel great, I love the energy and positive mood, decreased depression and anxiety. It’s so frustrating that I keep convincing myself it’s ok or not a big deal to go back. Then it’s depression and anxiety city all over again. I’m feeling great now and hopeful I can remember not to trick myself into forgetting the truth again.
I think I am able to connect more to the discussion and the person I’m talking to. The confidence alcohol gives you isn’t really real. When you stop drinking, you have to face tough and scary situations without alcohol and that helped me grown an innate confidence that’s stayed with me.
- A nightly booze habit will drain your bank account quickly—between drinks, cabs and a whole lot of cash that just “disappears” during a night out.
- But living a sober curious lifestyle is different, and here’s why.
- Someone who is sober curious may not meet the medical criteria for alcohol use disorder, or they may not intend to give up alcohol permanently.
- Anything that makes you happy and calm gets you outside your head.
- I feel grateful that a drink problem did not have to be my ‘story ‘.
You can listen to Amy Liz Harrison’s Eternally Amy podcast HERE as we talk about celebrating 12 & 17 years sober. It also turns out I can tell a 45-minute story that should have been only three minutes. So, with this knowledge of myself, I’ll wrap this post with the 17 things I love about being 17 years sober. I could be doing anything and an idea would pop into my head. Instead of thinking about it nebulously, I’d go do it. For instance, my buddy had a daughter who was always growling at him.
The Sober Stoic: How to Handle Life’s Difficulties
When using substances to cope with underlying pain or boredom, this short-term solution prevents one from achieving a state of thriving. Instead of just getting by, sobriety allows you to strive toward your full potential. Feeling accomplished everyday even when you have a day with less activity is a wonderful feeling. I concur with the statement about being able to accomplish goals as well. My oldest kiddo is almost an adult, and my two littles are “little” but they are getting so big. They still have that twinkle in their eye when they are spending time with me (the kind that seems to fade when they become teenagers and would rather be with their friends who are way “cooler.”).
I consumed both because I wanted to escape how bad I felt. I continue to suffer from anxiety and have to manage it, but it doesn’t ruin my life like before. My drinking was all about self-loathing, which I had done for almost twenty years at that point. We all have to go through it, but the AMAZING thing is that you’ll end up with really powerful connections with the people you choose to keep around. I’m talking about things like being at dinner with a friend and forgetting the mechanics of subtracting large numbers. And it wasn’t just the cute little forgetful moments when you walk into a room and immediately forget why you’re there.
Then two weeks ago, something really horrible happened. Someone I loved died unexpectedly and everyone https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ else tiptoed around me, as if they thought it might be too much for me to take without going on a bender. It made me realize (like a cartoon POW!) that, sad and shocked as I was, I did not even think about drinking.
There’s no more not caring if they see your cellulite or whatever you’re hiding under there; and you will, once and for all, discover that sex is never like in the movies. It is an awkward, vulnerable dance between two awkward, vulnerable humans. While making the decision to be sober was the best thing I’ve ever done, it’s also one of the hardest.
I Was One of Those “Homeless People” Elon Musk Despises
- The liver, heart, and other vital organs benefit greatly, reducing the risk of serious conditions such as liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and various cancers.
- Escape the wine witch with your FREE guide and vizualization audio.
- This one happened for me relatively early on, and that’s WITH pregnancy brain.
- There are zero alcohol-related regrets plaguing my life right now.
- I don’t feel awkward standing next to people or worry about where my hands should be.
- I endured the walk of shame at the school gates too many times the morning after the night before, with obligatory shades and chewing gum.
Alysse Bryson is a strong woman in recovery, an innovative media maven, marketing guru, and gal about town. “I’m just a laid-back old school Seattlite…with sober superpowers. You can take the girl out of the party, but you can’t take the party out of the girl.” I wanted to eat some meaty lasagna, but I was craving a particular kind my grandmother used to make with broccoli in the center (don’t judge).
I am more resilient as I drank to get through periods of stress, heartbreak or sadness, which meant I tried to avoid them – and you can never avoid them really! Without alcohol, I actually have to face those things so I feel stronger in myself to be able to deal with them if they arise again. If you often drink out of routine (like pouring a glass of wine after work), try swapping it for a different ritual, like making an alcohol-free cocktail or brewing a special tea. The IBX Insights Team is here to provide tips on using your health insurance and living a healthy life. Although these new activities are healthy and productive, they can be a stumbling block to lasting recovery if they become a transfer addiction to fill the void left by the original addiction. 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).
Stay Cool and Calm
It disrupts the sleep cycle, particularly the REM stage, crucial for mental restoration. Benefits of not drinking alcohol include deeper, more restorative sleep, which improves cognitive functions and overall daytime alertness. A lover of words, tea and trees, my gift is helping you to quit drinking in a way that feels good so you can return to yourself and find your own Sober Bliss. In these moments, I have to remind myself that recovery isn’t just about not drinking; it’s about remembering that I am first and foremost responsible for advocating for my own well-being and boundaries.
Adopting a Sober Curious Lifestyle
Sitting on the porch and watching the birds swoop from tree to tree and occasionally try to kick each other’s ass. Anything that makes you happy and calm gets you outside your head. Prioritize doing it for at least a few minutes every day.
You are a mirror now, a flashlight of sobriety in a society that is laced with the judgment that it’s abnormal to abstain from alcohol. People will assume you drink and will be very curious about why you don’t have a drink in your hand when they do. This isn’t to say that all of your friends will be threatened, or that all of your friendships will change.
Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. Some people may find that they’re more optimistic than I was, that quitting drinking feels like a good idea and one that’s entirely within reach. I hope those people are out there and their prediction comes true.
Owning a Successful Bar While Maintaining Sobriety – Cesar Vallin’s Story at Cloak & Petal
I’ve been on a few bad dates that made me wish I had been plastered out of my mind. But then I find myself doing things like going on a really good date (it does happen!), dancing at a friend’s wedding, at the movies with friends or taking a walk on a crisp, fall day. And during these moments I get to soak it all in – not drunk, high Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In or hungover.
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