Recovering from addiction is hard work. It takes a lot of perseverance, a change of perspective, and the desire to change your life for the better. While recovery does bring positivity and a newfound joy for life, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking it is too much work and it would just be easier to fall back into addiction.This is when it is most important to remind yourself that living a sober life is better than one of addiction. Here are some reasons why a sober life is better for when you need to be reminded.
Substance abuse causes damage to every organ in the human body, causing progressive harm the longer the addiction continues. Long-term substance abuse can also cause chronic medical conditions and potentially fatal diseases. As you progress in your sobriety, your overall health will begin to improve.Your immune system will heal, causing you to get sick less often. Your weight will begin to stabilize, and your diet will be better as you crave fewer unhealthy foods. Just as your mindset will improve, your physical body will also heal little by little.Self AwarenessWhen a person is in the midst of addiction, they are often living in denial that substance abuse is not affecting their body and overall quality of life. This can cause addicts to be less self-aware, making it easier to keep using. However, sobriety and recovery cause you to directly confront those thoughts and justifications for addiction.By doing this difficult work, you are becoming more self-aware and are more in-tune with your needs and wants. The world around you also comes into focus as you are more mindful of the things going on around you and how they are impacting your life.
Addiction commonly starts by using drugs or alcohol to cope with stressful emotions and situations. However, addiction can also cause feelings of anxiety and stress as it progresses. Once you enter recovery and begin taking the steps towards healing, you learn to confront stress and anxiety rather than hiding from them or numbing their effects. The stress and anxiety caused by addiction are then reduced and you learn new coping mechanisms to deal with these emotions as they come to you.
It is common knowledge that drug and alcohol abuse have a drastic impact on your appearance. The state of your physical body deteriorates regarding your weight, skin, hair, eyes, and other parts of the body. The interesting thing is that most addicts don’t even realize the drastic changes until they begin recovery and their body starts to improve.Addiction makes your body look older, but sobriety can help it look young again. This can improve your overall self-esteem and keep you motivated in your recovery.
Addiction is an expensive lifestyle, as you constantly seek out the drugs or alcohol each time you have cash. When you are no longer funding your addiction and living a sober life, you have more money since it is not being spent on substance abuse. This money can now be used to fund savings goals, nutritious foods, activities with your family, and other things that you have always wanted to do and never could do because of addiction.
Addiction takes up a lot of time. This is because addicts spend most of their time looking for drugs or alcohol, getting high or drunk, or recovering from the bender. When someone is living a sober life, they have much more time to improve their life and spend it doing meaningful activities and hobbies with themselves, with friends, or with family.
When someone is struggling with substance abuse, their friends most likely also use or drink with them or introduce them to the substance they are now abusing in the first place. Sobriety alleviates this, allowing individuals to make real friendships that can develop and form deep connections over time.Some of your friends that you had before substance abuse may even be willing to work with you to heal the damage caused by addiction and support you in recovery. Many of these old friends are often waiting to welcome you back into their lives, wanting to see you heal and progress into a happy, healthy, and sober life.
Sober life allows you to seek new activities that you enjoy and learn new things about yourself. You may find out that you enjoy tennis and that you’re really good at it. During treatment, you may take part in art therapy and find out you are a good artist.There are a million different hobbies and activities that sobriety opens you up to that you can enjoy. You wouldn’t have the time to do so if you were still in the midst of addiction, and you can thank sobriety for the ability to learn new things.
Perhaps one of the best things about a sober life is the relationship you begin to develop with yourself. Addiction is often caused by deep-rooted self-hatred, either because you didn’t like yourself or you hate not being able to stop your addiction.A sober life allows you to cultivate a deep and meaningful relationship with yourself. You learn new skills, interests, and learn just how much you can overcome when you put your mind to it. This is one of the most beautiful things a sober life can offer you.
It is no secret that addiction recovery is hard work. It is an everyday commitment that you must work toward consciously and with an open mind. It can be easy to simply give up and return to the harmful life of addiction. During these times, it is important to remind yourself of the benefits sobriety brings you. There are hundreds of reasons to maintain a sober life, and it is understandable to need reminding of them on the harder days. To learn more about how a sober life can positively impact your life, call Northstar Transitions at (303) 558-6400 today.
