In the broadest terms, it simply means recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. If you dig deeper, however, you’ll find that sobriety is more than a definition or a mental and physical state. Sobriety is more than just abstaining from alcohol or drugs; it’s a journey towards personal freedom and clarity. It’s about rediscovering life without the haze of substances, where every emotion and experience is raw and real. In fact, around 60% of those recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) relapse after only 6 months of sobriety, and one study reports that up to 85% of those in recovery relapse at some point. Being sober means reevaluating the people you spend time with and the types of relationships you maintain.
Is one drink breaking sobriety?
You’ll also have the what does stay sober mean opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance. How do you stay sober and not lose all that hard work you just did? Let’s unpack what it means to stay sober, and how we can do so after recovering from alcoholism.
How Can I Achieve and Maintain Being Sober and Clean?
However, there is more to sobriety than not being under the influence at a point in time. Staying off intoxicants is crucial, but to truly stay sober, one must identify and overcome the factors that led to the addiction in the alcohol rehab first place. Engaging in effective NA meetings, Al-Anon meetings, 12-step programs, or continued outpatient care or a sober living facility can be instrumental to a sober lifestyle. Both sobriety and being clean involve a commitment to personal growth and often require the support of a community, such as 12-step programs, counseling, or peer support groups. They both represent a significant achievement in recovery and a dedication to maintaining that progress over time.
- It also involves having a network of family, friends, or a community of people that offer guidance and support on the journey to recovery.
- The path they walk on is a deliberate one, rather than one forced on them due to outside circumstances.
- Sober Living Houses (SLH) are alcohol- and drug-free living environments for people trying to maintain abstinence from substances.
- They may be looking for drugs or alcohol, but can’t afford it or find it.
- Located in sunny Los Angeles, La Fuente Hollywood is one of the nation’s leading LGBTQ addiction treatment centers.
- “Out of sight, out of mind” is a saying that applies considerably when dealing with alcohol.
- Your loved ones can play an integral role in your road to recovery.
Take Care of Yourself
Sobriety is about finding a healthy and sustainable lifestyle where you feel more like yourself, have more energy, and feel capable of reaching your goals. A sobriety date is the very first 24 hours you go without alcohol or drug use and is used to determine how long you have maintained your sobriety. Non-drinkers may experience a healthier and happier emotional state compared to binge drinking.
How Do Sobriety and Abstinence Affect Mental Health Differently?
During active addiction, many people have relationships that are based on enabling or substance use. Once you become sober, it’s important to surround yourself with people who support your recovery and encourage your growth. Recognizing that you may have a mental illness can be challenging. However, treating substance abuse becomes much easier once you receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
- However, be mindful of who you open up to, as it’s important your circle is on board with your goals and aren’t any trigger source themselves.
- When multiple people are working with you to help achieve a goal it becomes that much easier.
- Of course, simply looking up the dictionary definitions of these two words will further help differentiate and clarify what they mean in peoples’ minds.
- One may go to rehab, a detox center or engage a sober companion to start.
- This is why joining and attending support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous is a necessity.
Xanax Abuse: Warning Signs & Symptoms Of Xanax Addiction And Abuse
Society likes to tell us that getting and staying sober is simply a matter of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ willpower, motivation, or grit. If you want to live a substance-free life, you just have to want it badly enough and apply yourself. This seemingly straightforward definition has hidden aspects that go beyond just not using alcohol or drugs. It’s possible that in your journey to sobriety, you feel isolated from social events due to your inability to drink. If someone is said to be sober, it means that they are currently not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Those who are just beginning to balance their social and sober lives may want to avoid these situations while developing the necessary strategies to avoid relapse.