No matter how many months you are sober, you could experience drinking and using dreams. These dreams (or nightmares) can make you feel anxious when you wake up and even cause cravings. Being sober involves much more than giving up alcohol and drugs and walking away. Recovery involves a lot of soul-searching, emotional work, introspection and a whole change of perspective.
Getting numb with substances impedes emotional growth and causes our moral compass to not work properly. Removing chemicals from the body is undoubtedly the first step, but it does not solve years of maladjustment to life. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and are ready to live a sober life, contact The Recovery Village. Being sober is a little easier when you know what to expect, so here are some things you should be prepared for in your first year of sobriety.
While it's not easy to stop drinking or using drugs, especially if you're struggling with addiction, the decision to be sober will change your life forever, so consider committing to sobriety today; you'll be glad you did. Big list Bill: I'm 5 months away from sober and I'm really enjoying the benefits of not drinking. After a year of sobriety, you can graduate from a sober living center and continue to build a happy and healthy life with your family and friends. A better life in recovery could include new relationships with other sober people, more opportunities to enjoy the things you love with a clear mind, and less drama and problems that seem to follow you when it comes to drugs and alcohol.
Attend twelve-step meetings and work with a sponsor, connect with sober friends and supports, be honest about their emotions and struggles, follow the post-treatment care plan (attending therapy or a recommended outpatient program), adhering to medication regimens, exploring new hobbies, and fun, and the use of healthy coping mechanisms (such as meditation) can prevent the addict or alcoholic from becoming a dry drunk. If this sounds like you, you may be surprised to find out how much more effectively you can deal with sober things. When you're sober, you can maintain a healthy sleep schedule and wake up feeling fresh every day. When you're sober, you don't have to worry about developing life-threatening complications from your habits.
I embraced my new sober identity and experienced events that I never thought I could endure without drinking. While making the decision to be sober was the best thing I've ever done, it's also one of the hardest. When I got sober and overcame my addictions, my life didn't magically improve, it just stopped getting worse. Mood swings are common in early sobriety because many addicts are not used to coping with their emotions as a sober person.
I really think you have to WANT to be sober for YOU, not by anyone else, not out of fear of losing someone but because of you and your sanity, and I don't think that until you really cross that threshold you can really appreciate being sober in the first place. When drinking and drinking are a person's whole way of life, he will absolutely need a new lifestyle to replace that lifestyle when he decides to sober up.