How to Get Sober and What to Expect

Those confronted by uncertainties like this should consider doubling down on some key reasons to get sober and stay sober. Early sobriety may come with feelings of fatigue and the stress of dealing with challenges (people, places, and things that stimulate the urge to use). It’s impossible to know how you’ll react and how your life will change when getting and staying sober. There are common setbacks to getting and staying sober like withdrawal, craving, and pressure to use.

One study found that 68% of people treated in a detox unit experienced moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. You can expect certain alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disruption to occur, though some people can experience seizures and other severe symptoms. Sobriety can be a fixed-term goal like staying sober for a set period (such as Dry January), or a lifelong goal of staying sober from all substances. A therapist can help you learn new coping skills, develop new thinking patterns, and address any co-occurring mental health conditions that may make recovery more difficult.

Can Enjoy a Healthy Lifestyle

Improved physical health and reduced risk of chronic diseases are just some of the many actual benefits of staying sober. By abstaining from drugs and alcohol, individuals can experience enhanced mental clarity and cognitive function, leading to improved overall well-being. When you’re sober, you have more time and mental energy to spend on the people who matter most to you. Without the distraction of wondering when you can go get drunk or high, you’ll be able to stay physically and emotionally present with others. You’ll probably find that the important relationships in your life mean more to you than drugs or alcohol ever did. Though it may seem overwhelming, it is possible to achieve sobriety and live a happy, alcohol-free life.

Immediate support can help by providing guidance to you in this difficult time. There are many others on there that also feel like giving up on a daily basis—maybe you could support them on your way and, giving and receiving support, will help you. If you’re considering going back to addiction, consider how bad it sucked to be physically addicted!

Build Friendships

Because of drug-related physical and mental health problems, addicts can be rendered unable to work, relying on welfare to survive. Switching to sobriety doesn’t have to mean giving up drinking or going out—it just means changing what you’re drinking while doing so. Whether you’re at a concert, out for a night on the town or at dinner with a group of friends, there are ways to feel included without partaking in booze. For instance, when Zarate quit drinking alcohol, he focused on making small shifts rather than just staying home in order to avoid social situations. Though it can be painful to do, you may need to distance yourself from those who are unwilling to spend time with you sober to protect your long term physical and emotional health. This is one of the many reasons to stay sober during difficult times.

When you quit drinking, you’ll probably notice that the colds, flu, and other illnesses you always seem to catch happen less often. When you do get sick, you’ll probably feel like you recover more easily when you’re sober. Cognitive, emotional, and sleep disturbances can occur at even moderate levels of drinking. As one drinks more over time, these disturbances get worse and become more difficult to reverse. At Renaissance Recovery our goal is to provide evidence-based treatment to as many individuals as possible.

How Sobriety Can Enhance Your Overall Life Quality

While the challenge of Dry January or Sober October may be helpful in embracing non-alcoholic options, putting that into practice year-round requires some focus and good alternatives. Restaurants and bars, both in the U.S. and around the world, are starting to catch on to sober and sober-curious customers. In fact, in 2024, 61 percent of Gen Z said they planned reasons to stay sober to reduce their alcohol intake, compared with 40 percent in 2023, according to a survey by NCSolutions. In the same survey, nearly half of millennials said they planned to drink less in 2024, a 26 percent increase from last year. Skip the Monday blues and give a big hello to Primary Therapist at Lantana, Chip Eggleton, on this #MeetTheTeam Monday.