While you were actively addicted, you likely had poor boundaries that contributed to self-harming behaviors like substance abuse. Part of living a sober life is establishing healthy boundaries and understanding the negative or positive impact of the people and things you choose to surround yourself with. As you continue to live a sober life, setting these boundaries will become more natural and you will reap the benefits daily. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and are ready to live a sober life, contact The Recovery Village. One of our caring intake coordinators will be happy to discuss your specific situation and a comprehensive treatment plan to address both the addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders. Acknowledging and celebrating the hard work of recovery is helpful for keeping you motivated and reminding you why you took this brave step toward sobriety in the first place.

• The idea of rehab might seem intimidating to lots of people.
• Relapse prevention and long-term sobriety can include many different things.
• During inpatient addiction treatment, you might have gone through detox and learned about co-occurring mental health issues related to alcohol and substance use disorders.

It felt like I was constantly apologizing for someone else’s rude behavior. Since then I have learned how to have fun and deal with stress in healthy ways and I have found productive outlets for negative feelings. Heni earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Video Production from the Art Institute of Houston and went on to work in the media for 16 years, eventually becoming an Operations Manager for a television station. Most successful people are living sober and don’t think about getting high. They are a positive influence on society and don’t need to be under the influence to enjoy life. Successful people take care of their responsibilities sober, they deal with ups and down sober and enjoy life to the fullest also sober.

Embrace change.

When you’re suffering from addiction, your only concern is to get more substances. As a result, you neglect your physical appearance and personal hygiene. Therefore, living a sober life will improve your appearance. When you choose to become sober, you might worry that your life is going to become boring. You may ask yourself, is my life really going to get better? Am I ever going to be able to have fun again without drinking or using substances?

I have always hated the feeling that I’m putting people out or being difficult. It’s seen as normal to drink, and quitting that drug can feel like breaking a social pact. So your bold, life-improving decision to not drink will mean changes almost everywhere you look. Here are some surprising (and not-so-surprising) occurrences that will inevitably happen to your relationships, your identity, even your free time, and how I’ve learned to deal with each one. It’s been over six years since I first started seriously questioning my relationship with alcohol and considered a life without it.

Clean your mental house.

When your body perceives that you’re about to ingest the drug, it will go into that state in advance, anticipating a dose of poison. Some of the cues it takes to induce this response are environmental cues such as a room you used to use in, people you used to get high with or implements like crack pipes, syringes and wine glasses. This might seem like a terrible thing; this is not a terrible thing.

• Relapse rates for substance use addictions are around 40% to 60%.
• Once I got sober I realized that I didn’t have to make more money in order to pay all of my bills, I just had to be more responsible with what I did have.
• Therefore, becoming sober after suffering from addiction is no small feat.
• We have access to a lot of resources and should take advantage of this.

In order to live a life of sobriety after living a life of addiction, a person will need to make several changes to the way they live their life. After finishing my treatment program I realized how many other people there are out there who are struggling with situations similar to mine. I found out that I had an opportunity to help other people overcome the same adversity I had faced. By working with people in addiction I have had the privilege to show people that not only is a life of recovery real, it is also attainable.

Coming to Terms with What a Sober Life Entails

Old habits may include other addictive behaviors or self-destructive actions. Family and friends supportive of recovery can help by reinforcing new behaviors and providing positive incentives to continue with treatment. Opland added that one of the biggest barriers to people exploring an alcohol-free Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House lifestyle is peer pressure from society itself. With the start of a new year, many people intentionally choose to be a better version of themselves. Whether they make a resolution to lose weight, read more, or be a better friend, self-improvement is a hot topic this time of year.

The idea of rehab might seem intimidating to lots of people. When I was drinking I never had a savings account because I was living paycheck to paycheck. I wasn’t taking very good care of myself, my finances or my belongings. Once I got sober I realized that I didn’t have to make more money in order to pay all of my bills, I just had to be more responsible with what I did have. Not having to spend money on drinking made this a whole lot easier.

Additionally, helping others can provide you with a sense of purpose and meaning in your life, which can be very helpful in recovery. One of the most important aspects of long term sobriety is a dedication to helping others. By sharing your experience with someone who has just started to think about quitting, you are being of service. By acknowledging gratitude for a second chance at life, you help secure your future. It helps so you do not forget what it used to be like, and start slipping back into old ways. If you are one of the lucky few who have been able to stop, an awareness of how fortunate you are will help you from going backward.