Recovering from addiction is a long and hard journey. It is pretty difficult as well; when you think about it, developing an addiction to drugs or alcohol can seem like a character flaw, a sign of weakness; but it is not. It is, in fact, a problem that needs to be dealt with strong willpower and commitment.
Abusing illegal drugs or prescription drugs makes you do things or say things you would not normally do or say. This is because drugs and alcohol rewire something in your brain that causes you to have weird cravings and compulsions.
Like they say in superhero movies, “fear not, because recovery is never out of reach.” No matter how many times you tried and failed, no matter how hopeless it seems, it is possible. Choosing the right treatment and facility you’re going to will make all the difference in your life moving forward. Change is possible all the time.
People struggling with addiction might have the toughest and roughest experience admitting a problem and then deciding that there must be a solution. Yes, you will be uncertain, uncomfortable, and unsure; but know that there are ways you can do it. Committing to sobriety involves changing many things, including:
- who you allow in your life
- what you do in your free time
- the way you deal with stress
- how you think about yourself,
- the prescription and OTC medications you take
It is also important to note that feeling conflicted is normal when deciding to give up your drug of choice that you know is causing problems in your life. Like what we say over and over, recovery needs time, motivation, and support, and by committing to change and doing something about your addiction, only then can you regain control of your life.
Think About Change
- First, ask yourself what is preventing you from changing. What could be done to help you make the change?
- Second, ask someone you trust about their feelings concerning your drug use.
- To better understand addiction’s role in your life, keep track of your drug use; include when, where, and how much you use, like a journal.
- Think about how your drug use affects your partner and kids, some parts, your career, and your health. Consider the important things to you, such as your partner, your kids, your pets, your career, or your health. How does your drug use affect those things?
10 Signs You Are Free From Addiction
Entering rehab could mean a whole lot of challenges. Yes, it is different for everyone, but the struggle exists for everyone.
Imagine leaving behind your old, destructive ways when you were still addicted to drugs or alcohol versus becoming a better you. This will take patience, practice, and a can-do attitude.
Taking your journey to sobriety might feel like you will be stumbling around more than actually moving forward. But that’s okay. After a while, when you can change your mindset, people around you, even you, will notice the subtle changes in your routines and discover that you are, in fact, on the way to sobriety.
Listed below are 10 signs that you are a sober person.
Being more of your true self and being able to check on yourself
By being yourself more, people will notice old habits they thought you lost while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Being sober and living in LA may sometimes render you like an anxious walking nerve with little things that can irritate or aggravate you. But when you are sober, you will have more patience for things you thought you would never have. Yes, it is challenging at first, but then it gets easier.
You are happy
It sounds cliche, but it’s true. You are happy again. Genuine happiness can be felt and experienced again by sober people. Yes, life is difficult, but you’ll still find something to be happy about.
You make plans
You are sober when you find it easier to schedule your day. You look for fun activities you can do with friends without using illicit substances. You could plan to start doing new hobbies or exercise and have fun doing it!
You have money
Yup, you read it right. Before, when you were still addicted to drugs and alcohol, you may find yourself without or lacking money because you were using it to finance your addiction, but this time is different. You now have a bank account to save your money in for your future and the future of your loved ones.
Your network!
This is not a scam. Addiction can cause you to lose family and friends. But a sober person creates more relationships that they can nurture. Which is something you can’t normally do when you are an addict. You can go out and get coffee, chat and share more stories with people that matter to you.
You want to learn more
As a sober person, you have overcome many obstacles and now have more time to find; a corner to have your thoughts to yourself and realize how many blessings you have while on this journey. You can reflect on your history and realize that whatever happened, you will come out of it stronger and better than ever.
You journal or chronicle your experience
You channel your energy to beautiful things and start journaling during treatment. As a sober person, you might find it comforting to be aware of your journey while enjoying sobriety through writing your thoughts and dreams, and even hopes for the future.
You have principles
You most likely have already created a guiding light for yourself at the point of sobriety. You want to continuously work on a set of principles to better yourself and the people around you. This does not have to be religious, but knowing there is a higher being does not only comfort you but heals you as well.
You are proud of your sobriety
You can do it any other way you want, but sober people usually have souvenirs of their recovery journey. You can have a tattoo, a piercing, a trophy, or a coin. Sober people express their appreciation in a variety of ways for their amazing recovery!
You pay it forward
Being sober is a blessing. And being able to finish rehab and discover sobriety successfully will always make room for individuals to express their gratitude for everything and everyone.
Summing It Up
You are the only one with the power to make things better for yourself, no one else. To realize that you need help and are willing to get help are two of the most important things to remember in your recovery. We have a wonderful team ready to help you any time of the day. If you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help. Call today at 818-351-1853!
