Relative to the other housing programs, this model was inexpensive and the houses were conveniently located near the outpatient facility. Typically, residents entered these SLHs after establishing some period of sobriety while they resided in a nearby shelter and attended the outpatient program. A significant strength of the Options houses was that residents were able to maintain low alcohol and drug severity reasons to stay sober at 12-month follow up. Staying sober keeps your brain active and engaged, reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving mood regulation and emotional resilience, and enhancing your overall mental well being and happiness. A clearer, healthy mind typifies the positive effects of sobriety.
Enhanced Mental Clarity and Cognitive Function
- Although these new activities are healthy and productive, they can be a stumbling block to lasting recovery if they become a transfer addiction to fill the void left by the original addiction.
- Plus, you get to be that friend who remembers all the details and can chat about them the next day.
- Use at any age can affect memory and concentration for days or weeks after the high wears off.
Substance use can have long-lasting effects on physical and mental health, making ongoing monitoring essential. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends comprehensive health check-ups at least annually for individuals in recovery. Whether you feel you may be abusing alcohol, or you consider yourself a social drinker, you may be displaying signs of alcohol abuse such as binge drinking which can lead to more serious issues in the future. Many people with alcohol use disorder also have other mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. A big part of alcohol recovery is taking steps to improve your lifestyle through changes like diet and exercise. If you’ve been trying to get to and maintain a weight that supports your health, quitting alcohol can help you meet that goal.
Focus on Personal Growth and Goal Setting
So, now that you are sober—stay sober so that you can continue to be a productive member of society. There are several limitations to the study that are important to consider. First, we could not directly compare which type of SLH was most effective because there were demographic and other individual characteristics that differed between the two types of houses.
Reasons to Stay Sober: Why Sobriety is Worth It
- Usually apparent within the first month, with continued improvement over the following months.
- Symptoms may include depression, irritability, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and exhaustion.
- Removing it from your life eliminates these sedative effects, boosting your vitality and enabling you to enjoy a more active, engaged life.
- As one drinks more over time, these disturbances get worse and become more difficult to reverse.
A large body of research exists examining—and proving—the efficacy of AA for sobriety. A 2011 study by Krentzman, Robinson, et al. sought to answer the question of why some people chose to continue going to meetings even after they achieved short-term sobriety. Self-care is any activity you do deliberately to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health.
- It is much easier to demand the respect of others if you are not using drugs or alcohol.
- It can offer a richer and more fulfilling way to connect with others.
- Studies suggest digital health options can improve access to care for some of the 15 million people experiencing alcohol use disorder each year.
- The short-term benefits of sobriety, including increased brain function, better physical performance, and better sleep hygiene, all contribute to a lifetime of enhanced physical and mental wellbeing.
- If the question comes from someone you know well, you may want to say that drugs or alcohol became a problem for you, so you’re staying away from them.
- Because of drug-related physical and mental health problems, addicts can be rendered unable to work, relying on welfare to survive.
For example, the National Bureau of Economic Research has shown that people who invest more in their education also make more money. Drug users are https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/can-alcoholism-be-cured/ also two and half times more likely than non-users to have absences of eight or more days, which can result in a loss of over a quarter months earnings for each instance. Because of drug-related physical and mental health problems, addicts can be rendered unable to work, relying on welfare to survive. These measures were taken from the Important People Instrument (Zywiak, et al., 2002).
