Seval Köstüm Tasarım

Once a person is able to kick their habit and put in the work needed to get better they will begin to experience emotional equilibrium. The participants shared how they had to make a decision to stop using substances (drugs and alcohol) and had to commit themselves to making changes in their lives. This exploratory and descriptive https://ecosoberhouse.com/ strategy enabled researchers to gather and describe the information-rich data from participants [21]. A person with substance use is more likely to relapse when they have poor eating habits. Drug and alcohol addiction causes a person to forget what it is like to be hungry, and instead think of this feeling as a drug craving.

• For example, research indicates that people who stop drinking report improved stress levels, relationships, work performance, and self-confidence.
• And while there is virtually no downside to taking a break from drinking alcohol — or quitting altogether — science is just beginning to study the ways abstinence might be good for you.
• In essence, it is the change in the perception of self (“I am a recovering addict/alcoholic” and “I have a disease”. “I need help to become and remain sober” and “my new identity as result of my faith”) that helped them in their transition.
• You can also benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what others have done to stay sober.
• Therefore, following a gluten-free diet will likely change your nutrient intake.
• Categories of support according to Schlossberg’s Transition Process model can range from those closest to the individual (interpersonal relationships, such as sponsors and spouses) to those support systems furthest removed (institutions and communities) [11, 13].
• Escaping from these constant emotions and way of life provides a sense of peace that cannot be beaten.

Alcohol consumption will not be considered an excuse for misconduct, but rather as an aggravating factor to the misconduct in question. The goal of these programs is to reduce risky behaviors and harmful consequences of AOD abuse. Even though the potency of the substance has increased significantly, Marijuana is often perceived as a harmless drug. It’s not necessary to have all the above signs or symptoms before you seek medical help. A person with alcohol poisoning who is unconscious or can’t be awakened is at risk of dying.

Sober-Curious: Benefits of an Alcohol-Free Lifestyle

This may include attending regular in-person support groups or online meetings to help keep your recovery on track. Usually the first step is to purge your body of drugs and manage withdrawal symptoms. It’s also normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you know it’s causing problems in your life.

It can also trigger the release of endorphins and increase dopamine levels, resulting in a burst of energy and euphoria. After you ingest alcohol, its small molecules are absorbed by the gut before traveling to other parts of the body to impact organ systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems, Volpicelli explains. Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth.

Recovery Support

Primary care clinicians should continue to ask their patients about the
problem they were treated for at every office or clinic visit. During these visits,
the clinician can monitor the potential for relapse and take any necessary steps to
prevent slips from occurring (Brown, 1992). With a background in social work, I carry a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing women struggling with addiction. I am committed to providing the support and resources necessary for lasting recovery for the women of Friendly House. No mat­ter what your rea­son is for con­sid­er­ing a sober-curi­ous lifestyle, there are many health ben­e­fits to lim­it­ing your alco­hol con­sump­tion. If you are strug­gling with sub­stance abuse, con­sult with your pri­ma­ry care physi­cian.

Whether you have a problem with illegal or prescription drugs, addiction treatment should be customized to your unique situation. Medication may be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, or treat any co-occurring mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. This step-by-step guide can help you cope with cravings, deal with relapse, and overcome your substance use disorder. Now, if you’re worried that you are one of the 17 million U.S. adults who are alcohol dependent, and alcohol is causing you stress or harm, seek medical advice. As we’ve reported, there are a variety of treatments beyond Alcoholics Anonymous, including counseling, medications and support groups to help people who want to end that dependency.

Why Staying Sober Benefits Everyday Life?

Alco­hol can have an imme­di­ate, neg­a­tive impact on your immune sys­tem, reduc­ing its abil­i­ty to fight off germs. Over time, alco­hol can also reduce your body’s abil­i­ty to repair itself. As alco­hol intake is reduced, your immune sys­tem will begin to repair itself and strength­en, keep­ing you well. Alco­hol also affects the way your cen­tral ner­vous sys­tem func­tions. Ini­tial­ly, it can slow your breath­ing and low­er your heart rate and blood pres­sure. This can leave you feel­ing drowsy and can cause you to fall asleep quick­ly.

This thick­en­ing and hard­en­ing of your artery walls can cause seri­ous health con­di­tions includ­ing heart attacks, strokes or an arrhyth­mia (irreg­u­lar heart beat). Alco­hol is a depres­sant and can cause shifts in your mood and affect your men­tal health. Alco­hol boosts the sero­tonin lev­els in your blood stream, caus­ing you to expe­ri­ence tem­po­rary feel­ings of hap­pi­ness. How­ev­er, your sero­tonin lev­els quick­ly return to nor­mal lev­els, which could lead to feel­ings of depres­sion.

When you give up drinking, you will also be giving up the many colds, flu bugs, and illnesses that you may have been unable to ward off due to chronic drinking in the past. Quitting drinking can also help reverse negative effects on cognitive functions, including those related to problem-solving, memory, and attention. Heavy drinking can cause the hippocampus, the part of the brain critical to memory and learning, to shrink. While you can expect some sleep-related issues, particularly in early recovery, the longer you abstain from alcohol (and practice good sleep hygiene), the greater the improvements in your sleep quality.

As an alumnus of Friendly House, Julie knows first-hand how critical quality treatment is in the process of recovery. In 2011, with the help of the Friendly House staff, the 12-step program of AA, the love of her partner, and the friends she made in the house, Julie was able to build a solid foundation in her own journey of sobriety. As an educator with 25 years of classroom experience, Julie has learned to face challenges and obstacles with grace and dignity. When she left the teaching profession, she was determined to find her next passion. Julie knew she wanted to work in the non-profit sector, and it had always been her dream to someday work at the place that had set her free. Kaley is the Director of Operations at Friendly House managing the day to day functionality of the facility.

Narrating the journey of sustained recovery from substance use disorder

When this happens, it can be useful to stay with the urge until it passes. Imagine yourself as a surfer who will ride the wave of your drug craving, staying on top of it until it crests, benefits of living an alcohol and drug free lifestyle breaks, and turns into less powerful, foamy surf. When you ride out the craving, without trying to battle, judge, or ignore it, you’ll see that it passes more quickly than you’d think.