Regardless of your religious affiliation, try praying. You’re putting your struggle into words and asking for help. Prayer is a way to speak openly and honestly and put into words what you’re feeling in the moment. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the hardest thing about sobriety?
And one of those treatments is to simply (or not so simply) avoid consuming alcohol or whatever fear of being sober substance is the object of the addiction. The cost of alcohol adds up quickly, financial savings are one of the most tangible benefits of staying sober. Money that was once spent on alcohol can now be redirected towards more rewarding and fulfilling experiences, such as vacations, hobbies, or savings for future goals. Finally, staying committed to attending meetings and seeking professional help when needed ensures ongoing support and guidance throughout the recovery journey. Maintaining sobriety can be a challenge, but with time and practice, it becomes easier. Surrounding yourself with a supportive environment and accepting setbacks as part of the process can help in stay sober.
Sobriety Fear #9: You won’t be able to handle your feelings without alcohol.
More than likely, though, this meaningful journey of self-discovery will be a long, ongoing, and wonderful process. Instead of being afraid that you won’t recognize yourself, look at it as an opportunity. You get to define yourself from here on out, and there won’t be any regrettable drunk shenanigans doing that on your behalf. Every cell in your body might not know this, but a strong piece of you that is battling for airtime in your brain knows it.
- You’ll never finish everything you want to do, but if you set strict timelines, you’ll keep yourself on track for staying sober.
- Therapy can be an invaluable tool that can help you build confidence and address co-occurring anxiety disorders.
- This is a great statistic that shows the effectiveness of alcohol treatment programs.
- Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.
How To Stay Sober At Social Events
💙 Take your goal-setting one step further by getting clear on The ‘Why’ Behind Your Goals, which not only helps you gain clarity but also helps you stay committed to your aspirations. You don’t have to produce some hidden, superhuman strength to be successful at sobriety. But you do need patience, empathy for yourself, and a firm commitment to meeting your goal.
This is in stark contrast to alcohol and addiction in general which foster short-term rewards. So, use your sober brain to think about the long-term consequences to your short-term reward and recognize what it would do to your life. Strictly speaking, sobriety is the state of being sober—not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
