“Sober” has several definitions, but “easy” isn’t one of them.
We’re bombarded by images of substance use (and abuse) in media. Our social gatherings seem to revolve around substance use. When we tell people we’re sober, we sometimes get strange looks or get treated like killjoys.
Who cares! Our lives are our business, and we know why we don’t drink or use drugs. Sometimes, though, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the pressure and forget there are real benefits to living a sober, drug-free lifestyle.
Here are a few:
Sober living improves your health: When you abuse drugs or alcohol, your body takes a beating. Your organs suffer, and your overall health declines. Plus, you’re also at risk for injuries from falls and even assaults. Finally, substance abuse is associated with multiple long-term health problems.
When you live a sober lifestyle, your body has a chance to heal and repair itself. You no longer have to place yourself in risky or dangerous situations to obtain substances. Bottom line, you just feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally when you’re drug-free.
Sober living can help you avoid legal problems: If you get arrested for drug use or DUI, it can ruin your life. Possession and DUI charges can stack up, turning a one-time offense into a long list of trouble that affects everything from your employment to the way you obtain benefits. Ultimately, you could lose your job, your home, and your freedom.
Sober living can help you avoid these problems. You’re not using or driving under the influence, so you’re not at risk for these types of charges.
Sober living saves you money: When you’re using drugs or alcohol, your spending habits change. You might spend more money on substances than you would on other things. Or, you might start neglecting bills and important expenses in favor of supporting your habit. One of the easier things to forget about drugs is that they’re expensive. A drug problem can turn into a serious money sink in a pretty quick time, especially when you add in court costs, medical bills, repairs to vehicles from DUIs, and so on.
Sober living can help you get your finances back on track, too. You’ll have more money to save and invest, and you can finally start working towards your long-term financial goals.
Sober living gives you more energy: When you abuse substances, your body has to work overtime to process them. This takes a toll on your energy levels, leaving you feeling tired and wrung out. Substance abuse also plays havoc with your sleep patterns. While depressants like alcohol certainly can make you feel sleepy, the resulting sleep is of poor quality due to your body having to process the alcohol in your system.
There’s also the whole hangover thing to consider, too.
Without drugs, you’re likely going to start sleeping much better. Your quality of sleep will improve as well. You’ll feel better and more present during the day because you’re not dealing with the symptoms (or the aftereffects) of substance abuse.
Sober living can help you live a sober lifestyle: A lot of people think that once they get sober, their work is done. That’s not true. Getting sober is just the beginning of your recovery journey.
“Abstinence” and “recovery” are two very different things. It’s one thing to just avoid using substances; recovery is a complete mental shift in how a person looks at the world. A recovered, sober person not only avoids addictive substances, but they’re also armed with positive coping mechanisms and the confidence drug rehab gave them.
A sober living home can make this lifestyle balance far easier. First, you’re living in a supportive environment with people who genuinely understand your lifestyle and what you’re trying to do with it. Secondly, you’ve got support — sober homes are managed by house managers who’ve been through the recovery process themselves and have experienced the same pressures and uncertainties you have.
Finally, sober living homes are drug and alcohol free. With no addictive substances around, there’s fewer chemical temptations to deal with.
You have to work hard to stay sober, but it’s worth it. Sober living can help you stay on track and live a sober lifestyle.
How To Find A Sober Home
If you’re looking for a sober home, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you want to make sure that the home is actually drug- and alcohol-free. Secondly, you want to find a place that has structure and support. Sober homes typically have curfews, rules about guests, and other guidelines in place to help residents stay on track. Thirdly, you want to make sure you’re a good fit for the house itself.
Some sober homes are aimed at particular interests or demographics. One sober home may be for people who enjoy outdoor activities such as surfing. Another sober home might be for older people who prefer staying in. Either way, research truly pays off when looking for a sober home.
This brings us to SoberLivingNearYou.com. Our website is the web’s largest directory of sober home resources on the web. All it takes is a few clicks and you’ll find a sober home for you and your needs.
Get started today with SoberLivingNearYou.com!
