Making the decision to abstain from alcohol and drugs is a life-changing choice, and it may be a difficult journey, but the rewards of sobriety are transformative.
Choosing a sober life through the 12-step method delivers endless potential for a better life. And some benefits of sobriety are more obvious than others.
In this article, we discuss:
- How your self-respect can increase alongside your awareness of personal boundaries
- What clean living can bring to your life
- The feeling of freedom after addiction
- Increased appreciation of your support network
- Courage and connection with others
- How sobriety builds strength to cope with life
The Magic of Self-Respect During Sobriety
If you’re an individual who has suffered from addiction, the chances are that you also struggle with the concept of self-respect. This could be for a number of reasons, but what’s important to remember is that you’re in recovery and getting back to a life you want to lead, free from addictions that were once holding you back.
Liking and respecting yourself go hand-in-hand, and although it can be a challenging concept, this is a path from which only positives can emerge. Living under the influence of a drug or alcohol addiction usually breeds self-contempt, and getting away from that is an important stepping stone towards regaining your own self-respect.
Sobriety requires that you take a long, hard look in the mirror. The way you feel about yourself directly impacts the life you choose to live, and through self-exploration, you can begin to gain respect for yourself, your skills, and the choices you make.
Clean Living, Routine, and Stability After Addiction
Alcohol and drugs are toxins. The human body can process these toxins in small amounts, but their presence in your body can have negative effects. By living a clean, sober life, you enable your system to detox from your addiction and work more efficiently without strain on your internal organs and mental wellbeing.
Similarly, by choosing clean living and sobriety, you’ll discover the benefits of a stable routine. Being addicted to substances generally tends to culminate in a chaotic and unstable lifestyle. Since you’re ruled by the desire to be under the influence and escape reality, seeing beyond this can be difficult.
Routine is absolutely essential in a healthy, mentally stable life. Although this may be difficult in the beginning and early stages of sobriety, perseverance and sticking to a set timetable will pay off once the good habits have been formed. You’ll eventually see the benefit of choosing responsibility over a life of uncertainty.
Freedom and a Calm Life After Addiction
Addiction is controlling. During this phase of your life, you’re not dependent on yourself, rather, you’re enslaved to intoxicating substances. Sobriety cuts these chains and allows you to live your life on the terms you choose.
Although there will be many temptations in your daily life, times where you think “why did I quit?”, but staying true to your path of recovery will enable you to regain mental clarity.
Real freedom is the commitment to a worthy cause, and by creating a life focused on self-progression, self-acceptance, and clear consciousness will help you find peace in the midst of stressful or confusing periods of your life.
Appreciation for Your Support Network
After facing your issues head-on, you’ll begin to realise how much damage has been caused to yourself and those around you. Forgiving yourself for this is an essential part of the healing process, and practicing self-forgiveness must be achieved before you fully heal.
Hopefully you’ve had a stable support network around you, whether that be friends or family or a support group. Once committed to the path of sobriety and the actions required to stay on that path, you’ll realise how crucial these people are on your journey back to a normal life free of addiction. Before, you were unable to deal with your pain. Now, although difficult, you can observe problematic behavioural patterns in yourself and then you can make amends as necessary.
Living through an experience like addiction develops your emotional intelligence, empathetic awareness and resilience for life’s future events.
Courage and Connections with Others
It’s likely that while you have experienced addiction, you’ll also have engaged in numerous toxic relationships. Once you have chosen the sober path in life, you can begin to build positive, supportive connections with likeminded people.
It takes real strength of character to break away from addiction, so be proud of the bravery you’ve shown in trying to change your life for the better. The paid addiction causes can result in many casualties, and facing up to this can be overwhelming.
What really helps people stay on the right track is human connection. By sharing stories and supporting other people, you can unlock the key to long-term sobriety.
It has been said that “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but connection.” Don’t isolate yourself in your recovery. Keep your support network involved and keep talking. Addiction harbours a lonely life, and it’s time to choose a different path and reap the rewards.
Gain the Strength to Cope with Life After Addiction
Drugs and alcohol allow you to escape reality, but only temporarily, and only to a painful alternative reality. Waking up to life and responsibility in a sober frame of mind is scary but continuing a life of intoxication is much more dangerous.
Not only will you begin to develop the mental agility to cope with the world around you, but by choosing sobriety, you can gain the physical strength lost whilst surrendering to drink and drugs. Presumably, living under the influence of illicit substances has taken its toll on your body, but sobriety allows you to make healthy life choices like healthy food and regular exercise.
Sobriety rewards you in many ways. A clean life free from alcohol addiction or substance abuse allows you to connect with your true self, understand what makes you, you, and how best to live a peaceful, shame-free and content existence.
Get in touch with Cassiobury Court today if you would like additional support on your journey to sobriety on 01923 369161 or you can text HELP to 83222.
