Are you having trouble maintaining sobriety after suffering from long-term alcohol abuse? Drinking may seem fun to some people, but it may have a lasting impact.
A study published by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that 14.5 million US citizens above 12 years of age had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Alarmingly, alcohol-related ED visits rose by 47 percent during the period 2006-2014.
Considering the numbers, going sober is much better than encountering any health issue. But, you will probably face a hard time initially.
However, once you decide to give up drugs and drinking altogether, you will see how your life takes a drastic change for the better. Whether you’re an alcohol addict or simply hoping to improve your lifestyle, sobriety is the key to living a healthy life.
Keep reading to find out.
What Does It Mean to Be Sober?
Sobriety Definition
Being sober means not being under the influence of any kinds of substances, whether drugs or alcohol. The words, Sobriety or Sober are being used in different contexts. But most commonly, sobriety indicates complete abstinence. This means a sober person will never use the substance again.
Here, the term “sober person” implies:
- One who neither drinks nor consumes drugs
- A formal substance abuser who has recovered from addiction
Recovery depends on the severity of substance abuse.
Getting Back to the Sober State
People with mild symptoms and high willpower may get over their drinking habits on their own. In contrast, those with uncontrollable drinking habits may need to enroll in a rehabilitation center.
Treatment facilities like the Heights Treatment adopt several coping mechanisms to eliminate alcohol or drug addiction. These facilities offer a healthy and stress-free environment to:
- Minimize chances of relapse
- Maximize immunity as well as the ability to restrain abusive substances
This is why, throughout their time in the treatment facility, patients will not want to return to their older state.
10 Impressive Health Benefits of Sobriety
Maintaining sobriety for the rest of your life after rehabilitation may seem complicated, but it is worth it. Apart from the emotional and financial benefits of being sober, there are also several health benefits of sobriety.
We are enlisting some of them below;
- Clarity and Mental Focus
The first and foremost benefit of being sober is having a clear mind and a better perspective. One of the first things that are affected when you start consuming alcohol is your mental health. You always feel groggy, unable to focus on yourself or anything else.
Once you ensure that you aren’t filling your body with toxins and chemicals that aren’t needed for its functionality, you’ll notice how you have a clearer mind.
When nothing is clouding your judgment or affecting your body’s potential to function, you will give your body the chance to work correctly. In addition, the longer you maintain your sobriety, the better your mental health becomes without having to wake up with hangovers or distant memories.
You will eventually realize that being present in the moment is much more enlightening than being numb all the time.
- Better Sleep Cycle
We can never emphasize enough the importance of a good sleep cycle. You may also develop insomnia when you’re having a mental health crisis. Now, not sleeping well enough will eventually lead to:
- Foggy memories
- Being cranky all the time
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Lapse of concentration and focus on work
Alcohol and drug use will probably keep you up till late at night or may cause trouble when you’re trying to fall asleep. This could even lead to sleeping at odd times during the day when you should be doing essential things.
Being sober allows you to follow a strict and healthy routine. For example, you can eliminate late-night parties from your practice and wake up fresh every morning, ready to conquer the day.
- Improved Eating Habits
It is effortless to give into unhealthy food cravings when you’re under the impression of alcohol. However, you might crave fast food or sugary snacks at an odd hour, damaging your health beyond your imagination.
Fulfilling these cravings every once in a while is okay. But overdosing on sugar or fried items every other night can be disastrous. Not to mention, you will keep skipping important meals of the day when you don’t wake up on time. All of this can lead to poor health and bodily weakness.
Another benefit of going sober is that you can have a healthy lifestyle. You will enjoy healthy meals while effectively eliminating these junk food cravings.
- Less Amount of Toxin Consumption
When you keep loading your body with chemicals and toxins, it affects your organs, especially the lever. After being sober for a while, your body will automatically begin to detox and eliminate all the toxins you previously consumed.
There are several health risks involved with the consumption of alcohol, such as:
- Stroke, heart disease, or cardiac arrest (due to high blood pressure)
- Blackouts, anxiety, and raised heartbeat (due to binge drinking)
- Brain damage, resulting in behavioral change, memory loss, lack of focus, etc.
- Oral, throat, breast, and liver cancer (due to alcohol abuse)
You give your bodily organs a chance to reset to start functioning as they should without additional strain. Once wholly sober for a long while, you will notice your body is working optimally.
- Maintain Healthy Weight
When you’re either not eating anything or overeating unhealthy food, it will cause an unstable weight gain or loss. Unfortunately, most people gain a lot of weight, considering the calorie count of alcohol combined with junk food cravings.
A sober person can maintain a healthy weight because they are more mindful of their eating habits. In addition, you stop gaining unnatural weight once you stop abusing substances and eventually can shed a few pounds.
- Your Skin Glows
When counting sobriety health benefits, better and glowing skin is another thing you’ll probably notice. Unfortunately, consuming alcohol leaves you dehydrated, which is a major reason behind pale and dull skin.
Those alcohol addicts in recovery mode begin to look more radiant than before. Their skin regains its color and looks clearer.
When you start eating healthy foods, your skin also begins to glow. It may even look cleaner in some cases. Within the six months of rehabilitation, you will notice an evident difference between your skin and what it used to be.
- More Energy
Alcohol causes depression and anxiety. It leaves you exhausted, and in most cases, it becomes even harder to come out of bed. But, as you might have noticed, all the health benefits of sobriety we discussed are interlinked.
When you start eating and sleeping better, your body begins to function optimally; you will realize you have more energy than before. As a result, your energy levels will increase, and you will be able to be more productive in your daily routine.
You should know that alcohol and drugs are depressants. They make it difficult for you to think clearly and grog your judgment. So, it is evident that in their absence, your body will respond in an enhanced manner, and you will feel more yourself.
- Better Immune System
Drugs and alcohol are like a curse to your immune system. As a result, you become more vulnerable to ailments such as flu, fever, headache, throat ache, etc.
Consequently, you relieve your immune system when you stop consuming these toxins. As a result, your immune system isn’t so vulnerable anymore, and you won’t have to fall ill now and then.
- Memory Will Improve
One of the significant health hazards that alcohol causes is loss of memory. As mentioned earlier, you lose mental clarity, weakening your ability to remember things. Most people who have had more than 4-drinks the night before can’t remember what happened after that.
It’s very unsettling and can have unforeseen consequences. So, someone who is sober will be able to improve their memory and won’t have to find themselves in unreasonable situations. You’re sharp and way more alert than you’re when drunk.
- Spiritual Growth
Sobriety brings a sense of calm and peace into your life. You enjoy every moment and live in the present. Those in the rehabilitation center know the excellent time for self-reflection and introspection.
You are much more aware of your present and will connect with yourself more holistically. This is one of the essential benefits of sobriety. You are given a new perspective on life, and with a clear mind, you can focus more on what’s vital and what isn’t.
So, to be concise and straight, the entirety of your being improves when you’re sober. You will feel happier and much at ease with yourself. You’ll look good, you’ll feel good, and your body will function at a higher level.
Final Thoughts
Being sober is a choice. It depends on whether you’d like to stay numb and not deal with what goes around in the world. Or take a stand for yourself and be more present in your life.
Unfortunately, many people fall prey to alcohol abuse while going through a difficult life patch. But, with a little bit of support and thorough determination, you can walk out of the hell you made of your life.
All these benefits should inspire you to be sober for the rest of your life. It will make your life worth living. We hope this article was worth your time and attention. Thank you for reading.
