Why Get Sober?
You want a better life.
If you’ve ever thought about quitting drinking or drugs, you probably know how hard it can be. But there are ways to make it easier to get inspired. You’ll find out what those are in our latest article.
1. Your physical health.
Quitting smoking or any drug is one of the best things you can do for your physical well being. Smoking affects every organ in your body, including your heart, lungs, liver, bones, skin, eyes, teeth, mouth, stomach, kidneys, blood vessels, muscles, nerves, brain, and immune system. In addition to the obvious health risks associated with tobacco use, there are many mental health issues related to quitting such as depression, anxiety, stress, cravings, withdrawal symptoms, etc.
There are many different methods to quit smoking. Some people choose to go cold turkey while others opt for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT products include patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, nasal sprays, and sublingual tablets. These products contain varying amounts of nicotine, which helps curb cravings and ease the transition into abstinence.
Treatment programs offer support groups and counselling to help you through the difficult times of quitting. If you want to learn more about treatment options, call us today.
Physically, Addiction Sucks
Addiction is a very real thing. You know it when you see it. But what do we mean when we say “addicted”? What are some of the signs that someone might be addicted to something? And how does one recover from addiction?
There are many different types of addictions, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, shopping, food, workaholism, exercise, technology, social media, pornography, video games, and much more.
In fact, there are over 200 different types of addictions out there. Some are legal; others aren’t. Some are considered healthy; most aren’t. But no matter what type of addiction you’re dealing with, it’s important to understand what it is and learn how to avoid falling into it again.
Especially because it’s a known fact that addiction is a progressive disease. The longer the monkey stays on your back, the more wore down you’ll find yourself.
2. Sober Living is more Peaceful
Let’s face it, struggling with addiction leads to an endless cycle of regret, frustration, and self doubt. By putting the crutches aside, we can maintain a more even keel and start living life on life’s terms.
Failure to do so usually results in the chaotic vicious cycle we see so many addicts go through. So while it might be hard at first, almost everyone realizes how much worse it was in their addiction once enough time without the substance goes by.
3. Your productivity and success.
The most important thing about being successful is that it takes hard work and dedication. You must put in effort and energy into every aspect of life. If you want to succeed in life, you need to start now. Start working out, eat healthy, study smart, and do what you love. When you are doing good things, people notice. And when you are doing great things, people will recognize. So go ahead and take action today.
Your Goals
When we think about our goals we often forget what’s really important. We focus too much on the things we want and forget about the people we care about. Our goals are usually things like money, success, fame, etc. These are good goals, but they’re not always the most important ones. What do you want out of life? Do you want to make a difference? Are you looking to take control over your own destiny? If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, then it’s time to start thinking about your goals.
4. Your relationships
Your family members and friends will never stop loving you no matter what. They’ll always support you and want you to succeed. But there are some things you must do to keep yourself out of trouble. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to provide for those around you. You’ll become a burden to them. So make sure you stay clean and sober. Here are four ways to help you stay healthy and happy.
Your Children
Children have a way of making us feel guilty if we fail to live up to certain expectations. It’s hard to explain why this happens, but children tend to hold us accountable for everything. This means that if we drink or use drugs, it reflects poorly on ourselves as parents.
Your Spouse, Partner or Loved One
If you’ve been married for any length of time, you know that it’s difficult to get along sometimes. But if you’re having problems related to addiction, it could be because one of you isn’t taking responsibility for his or her actions. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help from someone who cares about you. But if you’re constantly blaming each other, you’re going to lose respect for each other.
Real and Authentic Relationships
Substance abuse makes it hard to build healthy relationships. People who struggle with addiction often feel like they don’t deserve love because of what they’ve done. But that’s just another way of saying “I’m sorry.” If we’re honest about our mistakes, we can start building authentic relationships. We can learn how to forgive ourselves and others. And we can begin to heal.
It’s Possible to Mend Relationships Destroyed By Addiction
There’s no reason to believe that most relationships can’t be repaired. The key is honesty and commitment. If you’re willing to admit that you made a mistake, you can start repairing the damage. For example, if you were unfaithful to your spouse, you might say something like: “I was weak and I let myself down. I’m sorry.” Or maybe you lied to your partner about using drugs or alcohol. You might say: “I was selfish and irresponsible. I hurt my loved one.” In either case, you’d be admitting that you did something wrong. And once youadmit that you messed up, you can commit to doing better.
5. You Enjoy Little Things Again
You probably don’t realize how much you stop enjoying little things when you’re drinking or using drugs. But when you quit, you start enjoying them again. When you’re sober, you notice the beauty all around you. You appreciate the simple pleasures of life. You may find yourself smiling more often and laughing at jokes you used to laugh at. You may even discover new interests.
6. It Creates Positive Self-Esteem
Alcoholics Anonymous defines alcoholism as “a disease characterized by compulsive drinking.” This is true. But it’s also a fact that many alcoholics are able to control their drinking without AA. And there are plenty of reasons why. For one thing, being sober doesn’t mean you’re perfect. In fact, most alcoholics report feeling worse about themselves once they stop drinking. They might lose friends, fail jobs, or break up with partners.
But getting sober does give you a new sense of self-esteem. You’ll find yourself thinking less negatively about yourself and others, because you know what you’re capable of now. Plus, you’ll start living life with a clear head, rather than a foggy one. When you’re sober, you’re more likely to make good decisions—and those decisions will help you live a healthier, happier life.
Your self-esteem.
Alcoholism is a disease that impacts millions of people around the world. In fact, it is one of the most common diseases affecting men and women. Many people think of alcoholism as something that happens to someone else, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many ways to recover from addiction. You don’t have to live with the consequences of your drinking habits.
Finally, remember that you’re worth more than you give yourself credit for. People tend to focus on the negative aspects of themselves. They become critical of themselves and believe that no one likes them. But, the truth is that everyone loves you. Everyone wants to be your friend. And, even though you may not always feel like it, you are loved.
The key to self-esteem is to commit esteem-able acts. That’s almost impossible to do when bogged down by addiction.
If you want to learn more about recovery, give us a call at 928-846-7001
Be a Positive Role Model
Alcoholism affects everyone who drinks it. Whether it’s a family member or friend, there are many reasons why someone might drink or use problematically. Some people abuse alcohol because they want to fit into a certain mold; others use alcohol as a coping mechanism. Whatever the reason, alcoholism is a disease that requires treatment. If you notice signs of alcoholism in yourself or someone else, don’t wait. Get help now.
Your behavior will affect those around us. When we act like jerks, our friends and coworkers will see how we treat people. They’ll learn what to do and what not to do. So whether you’re dealing with a coworker who constantly gets angry or a spouse who doesn’t listen, take note. You’re setting the example. And remember, everyone deserves respect. Even if you think you know better, keep your mouth shut and let the person make his or her own decisions.
In order to be a positive role model, we have to start by doing things that you can be proud of. And most people active in their addiction spend more time doing things they regret than they don’t.
7. Your Mental Health
Drugs and alcohol are illegal substances. They can change how you think, feel, and act. If you consume too much, you could experience a drug-induced psychosis. You might hear voices, see things that aren’t there, or even believe you’re someone else. This is called a drug-induced psychosis because it happens due to the effects of drugs. A drug-induced psychosis isn’t caused by a physical illness like cancer or diabetes.
Long term use of drugs or excessive drinking can change the structure of the brain, making it harder to learn important skills later in life. These changes happen gradually over many months or years. But just because you’ve been abusing drugs doesn’t mean you’ll always suffer from problems related to substance abuse. Many people stop abusing drugs without experiencing long-term consequences. However, some people do develop serious problems such as addiction or dependence.
Your mental health depends on your sobriety. Abstinence helps prevent relapse and protects against future problems.
8. Your Emotional Health
Substance abuse affects everyone differently. Some people are able to maintain long periods of abstinence without experiencing any negative consequences. Others struggle with cravings and relapse frequently. For some people, substance use leads to physical dependence, while others experience psychological dependence. Regardless of whether you’re physically dependent or psychologically dependent on drugs and/or alcohol, it’s important to understand how drug and alcohol use impacts your emotional health.
Drugs and alcohol affect your brain chemistry, and can change your mood and behavior. If you suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or another mental illness, your symptoms could become worse because of your substance use. In addition, substance use can cause you to feel depressed, anxious, angry, guilty, ashamed, hopeless, or suicidal. These feelings can make it difficult to cope with everyday life, let alone deal with stressors related to recovery.
9. You Are Tired of Being Sick and Tired
Recovery is possible even after an overdose or accidental injury. A physical exam can detect much health problems before symptoms develop, such as substance abuse causing long term damage to the body. Substance abuse causes long term damage to the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, skin, bones, teeth, eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth, stomach, intestines, bladder, prostate, testicles, ovaries, uterus, cervix, breasts, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, fascia, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic system, immune system, and reproductive organs. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
You know what happens when you drink too much alcohol: You feel like crap the next day. But did you know there are ways to prevent these unpleasant side effects? If you want to avoid feeling sick and tired the next morning, it might be worth considering some recovery strategies.
Alcohol blackouts and hangovers happen because of dehydration. When you consume large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time, your body doesn’t have enough water to process the alcohol properly. This causes blood sugar levels to drop, which leads to low energy and fatigue. In addition, alcohol affects the brain, causing memory loss and impaired judgment.
10. Your happiness
The brain is a complex organ. It processes information, stores memories, and controls emotions. All of those functions are affected by addiction. In fact, the brain changes due to drug use. When your happiness is dependent on anything outside yourself, you will be doomed to suffer. When we try to fill that gap with substances instead of looking within, we only prolong the inevitable.
So, the choice is yours: Prisons, Institutions, or Death? Or a new life you can be proud of!
Getting Clean & Staying Clean
The first step toward recovery is getting sober. This might seem like a simple thing to do, but there is much to consider. For example, what does “sober” mean to you? Does it mean that you never drink again? Or does it mean that you go out once every week and have three drinks? These questions are very important because they help determine how you define yourself as a person.
If you feel that you’re just another person who can “quit whenever I want” but never does, then you’ll probably continue down the same path. However, if you define yourself as a recovering alcoholic, then you’ll begin to see things differently. Your self-worth will increase and you’ll start to make better decisions about your life.
Recovery Is Important
Another important aspect of recovery is maintaining sobriety. Once you’ve gotten sober, you must keep yourself healthy and avoid relapse. Relapse occurs when alcohol becomes a problem again. When you stop taking care of yourself, you put yourself at risk of relapsing. So, take some time to plan ahead. Make sure you have enough money to pay rent or buy groceries. Think about what you could do to improve your situation. Don’t let your health deteriorate while you’re trying to find your way.
If you’re struggling with addiction on your own, don’t wait to seek help. There are many treatment options available today, including medication-assisted treatments like Suboxone and Vivitrol. You can find support groups in your area and learn about resources that can help you recover from addiction.