Sobriety is a goal that can compel and frighten. However, the benefits of sobriety can change your life for the better. For example, your health, overall well-being, and spiritual state will greatly improve throughout recovery. One advantage of sobriety is a clear mind and focused direction. You will find yourself far more in control of many things in life you may have thought were unrelated to your drug or alcohol use.

Getting sober often means giving up both the substance and all those negative relationships. That idea unnerves many people. Even so, there are many benefits of sobriety that help to offset that cost. Learn more about how your sobriety could provide incredibly positive changes to your life.

The Health Benefits of Sobriety

• Enhanced Relationships
• Sharper Focus
• Better Sleep
• Increased Energy
• Improved Health 
• Improved Appearance
• Financial Freedom
• Increased Enjoyment
• Inspiring Others

Facing your demons can be scary. Just imagining life without using alcohol as your crutch is often overwhelming. Chasing that high and trying to keep your stories straight is exhausting. Sneaking around so you can get your fix wastes so much time. Not remembering what you’ve done and where you’ve been can be very dangerous.

Individuals who suffer from addiction get so comfortable being uncomfortable that they forget or simply become afraid of living any other way. The feeling of unease becomes so familiar that the brain rewires itself and accepts it. Trying to escape reality takes precedent and trumps any concerns for personal health and safety. Thankfully, with a changed mindset and proper treatment, new neurotransmitters and connections can be made. Health and relationships can be restored. 

There are countless benefits to living a sober life.

#1: Enhanced Relationships

Forming and maintaining healthy relationships becomes easier once sober. Proving to your friends and family that you’re playing an active role in your sobriety will help gain back the trust that was most likely lost and/or broken. The family dynamic will improve. Your loved ones will no longer be preoccupied and scared to lose you. They’ll actually be happy to hear the phone ring as they’ll no longer be concerned for your safety.

Overcoming addiction will bring a sense of ease to them and, more importantly, to you. You will have a newfound respect for yourself. Your reliability factor will increase. Others will see you in a new light. You will begin to attract the right people into your life. You will subsequently be able to form and keep more meaningful and supportive relationships. Being sober allows one to become a better friend. You will no longer be wasting precious time chasing that high. Instead of manipulating people to get what you want, you can bond over non-alcoholic activities and ensure a more balanced and fulfilling relationship.

#2: Sharper Focus

Not having an altered state of mind can enhance your decision-making abilities. Once sober, you will be able to see things from a new perspective. You’ll be capable of looking at the bigger picture. Choosing what’s right for you becomes easier. With an increased and better focus, one will view life with fresh eyes. Your memory will improve. You will no longer miss out or forget to attend important events. You will become more aware of how your actions impact others. With a sharper mind, your daily activities can be managed better. Your path will become apparent, and living clean will take precedence. 

#3: Better Sleep

There are 2 main types of sleep. Non-REM (NREM) consists of four stages. Each stage leading to the next. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep (the most restorative period) gets interrupted by alcohol and decreases the ability to form memories while you rest. That’s why after a heavy night of drinking, it’s often difficult to remember what you did the night before. You wake up groggy and tend to look for an unhealthy way to feel better. It becomes easier when you are sober to flow from one stage of sleep to the next.

Thus, when you enter the REM sleep stage, your body will have a chance to restore itself. Going through the proper sleep cycles will enable you to wake up with a more refreshed mind. Your brain will be able to process things at its proper speed when sober. During REM sleep, your body will restore its muscles, and you begin the beneficial process of dreaming again. With a good night’s sleep, everything seems more manageable. It becomes easier to focus on solutions versus your problems.

#4: Increased Energy

Being dependent on drugs and/or alcohol can leave you exhausted, drained, and emotionally unavailable. So, living a clean and healthy lifestyle can produce the opposite effects. With the proper nutrition and a good night of restorative sleep, an enhanced sense of well being and increased energy will be yours for the taking. 

The strain you have put on your body while under the influence will no longer be felt once sober. You will find you have more time for the things and the people you love. Living a sober lifestyle means you’re treating yourself better. You are no longer your body’s worst enemy. Being sober means the poisoning of your brain and body ceases, quality sleep ensues, and you’ll wake up refreshed, ready to tackle your day.

#5: Improved Health

Alcohol lacks nutrients and is full of empty calories. Filling your body with harmful substances is not beneficial. It leaves little room for the dense nutrients that your body desperately needs to function properly. When people are under the influence, they usually don’t make the best decisions. Their diet is not their priority. They end up making poor decisions, and their health suffers because of it. 

Once sober, you’ll be more aware and willing to fuel your body efficiently. Being sober gives your body the chance to operate at an optimum level. Anxiety levels will decrease. When you feel better, cortisol levels will drop, leaving you to feel less stressed. You will have more energy for the things you love. You’ll discover better alternatives, and a healthy weight will be easier maintained.

#6: Improved Appearance

Filling your body with toxic substances can wreak havoc on your system. Treating yourself badly is not only a detriment to your internal organs, but to your outward appearance as well. Once you eliminate all the poison from your system, your looks will improve. You’ll be smiling more and have a pep in your step. Your complexion will start to clear up. The bags and dark circles under your eyes will begin to diminish. When you live a sober life, you will not only feel better, but you look better too. You’ll love who you are and will be proud to look at yourself in the mirror. Oh, what a brilliant reflection you’ll see.

#7: Financial Freedom

How often have you wondered where all of your money went after a night out of drinking? Did you compromise your morals in order to get your fix? Simply being careless and misplacing your funds can be a frequent occurrence. It’s easy to spend money you don’t have when you are not in the right state of mind. Being drunk can cloud your judgment. You may find yourself spending frivolously or putting yourself in harm’s way in order to make a deal.  

When you’re high, it becomes difficult to think straight. On the upside, when you’re sober, you’ll suddenly find you have more money for the things you want and need. Noticing a surplus of funds seems to have a direct correlation to living a drug-free lifestyle. You will no longer be spending money on drugs and alcohol. You’ll become more mindful of your finances and care where and how you’re spending your money. Being sober will increase your chances of being successful. Not being hungover and subsequently sleeping well will allow you to perform better at your job. You’ll invite a steady income stream into your life and feel more secure about your future. Not wondering where you’re next meal or paycheck is coming from can be extremely liberating. The financial freedom you’ll feel will help ease your anxiety and help motivate you to stay clean.

#8: Increased Enjoyment

Sober people can appreciate and enjoy the little things in life. You no longer believe that you have to be high in order to have a good time. New opportunities and activities become of interest. Not riding a roller coaster of emotions or being in a constant state of angst will ultimately make one happier. Being sober will allow you to think outside the box. You’ll realize that there are many ways to feel well. You may feel compelled to take up a new hobby, read a good book, and or treat yourself to something special. The more you focus on naturally feeling better, the more enjoyment and the better you will be.

#9: Inspiring Others

Breaking the cycle of addiction can be very difficult and overwhelming to think about. Sharing your story, your struggles, and your triumphs with others can help inspire them to get sober too. The ripple effect of addiction and recovery can be felt by so many around you. It is important for people to know that they are not alone. Although most addicts feel helpless and defeated, seeing you come out the other side smiling offers them great hope. Witnessing you form new and healthy habits gives others the faith that recovery is possible!

Learn More About Crest View Recovery Center

Crest View Recovery Center offers a range of substance abuse programs. Crest View focuses on reality-based therapy that emphasizes life skills, as well as individual counseling. Through our programs, clients can find relief and the ability to live happily in their new sober lifestyles. This is key to their long term recovery.

Addiction is a powerful force, but you can take back control. With help from a quality substance abuse program, you can overcome it. For more information, reach out today by clicking here.