These Unexpected Benefits of Sobriety May Help You
Quitting drinking has unexpected, positive benefits. Improved health and the ability to take better care of yourself are just a few. There are myriad benefits if you are looking for them. Learn more about it and how to tap into the benefits of sobriety.
Save Money
One of the important benefits of sobriety is realizing how much money was spent following addiction. Drinking and doing drugs costs a lot of money. It is easy to rationalize financial choices but nights out add up. The cost of a few drinks, plus tip, etc. can be multiplied by how many times a week a person uses drugs or drinks. Easily, a person can spend a few hundred a month if not more in keeping up with addiction.
12 Step Groups
People who have not been to AA meetings or recovery groups assume it is not fun. Movies tend to depict 12-step meetings as a place where dysfunctional people sit around thinking about past mistakes. That’s not true at all though! It is common for a speaker to make people laugh with a story or observation. It is common to find others who understand your story and share similar ones with you. 12 step meetings and support groups are often places where people connect, are heard, and make new friends.
Making Friends
Getting new friends is one of the challenges and benefits of sobriety. Fear of sobriety can come from releasing old friendships that no longer work. When you are drinking or using drugs, it is very isolating. When drinking is the worst, most people are hanging out with those who are also at their worst. Getting sober gives many opportunities to find new people. Old friends reappear but new friends who are sober can be the best gift.
Appearances
Now that you are not drinking or using drugs, you look better and feel better. You may lose weight, see your skin improve, and enjoy myriad benefits. Cutting out toxins can be very helpful for your recovery. Vanity is not the goal, but you will start to feel better now that you have not been drinking or using drugs.
People Reach Out
When you have a substance abuse problem, life is messy. It might be hard to imagine anyone ever turning to you for advice. Being able to spend an evening out sober means people may perceive you as someone who knows what’s going on. People may realize now they can trust you, reach out and get advice, and even feel supported by you in their own lives. This can be a confidence booster as you realize you are better off now than you were under the influence of substances.
A Step in the Right Direction provides quality sober living for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. We teach people how to live a sober life through community building, accountability, and healthy living. Our sober living program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information about sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (818) 921-7132.
