Alcohol poses long-term and serious risks, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, liver disease and mental health issues. A 2023 Canadian study found that even low levels of alcohol consumption can raise the risk of mortality. Additionally, a study published in the journal Nature in March 2022 suggested that consuming one glass of alcohol per day may lead to brain shrinkage. The ‘sober curious’ movement is not just a fleeting trend.
- On the other hand, being sober curious means reflecting on why, when and how you consume alcohol.
- They offer non-alcoholic beverages in their packages as well as boozier options.
- Some studies find that this structure, along with a start date for sobriety and milestones, is important to some people in recovery.
- I know, I know, this website is called “Recovery Connection” and it is designed to encourage those who are suffering the slings and arrows of addiction to get help.
- Every minute that you avoid relapse, you are proving to yourself that you have the power and capability to make your life what you want it to be.
Remember the Cost of Addiction
Sobriety doesn’t necessarily turn you into Liz Lemon, but it can give you the clarity to understand that you’ve been Liz Lemon your whole life. In these moments, I have to remind myself that recovery isn’t just about not drinking; it’s about remembering that I am first and foremost responsible for advocating for my own well-being and boundaries. This is an opportunity to assert for your needs, and therefore assert your worth.
Avoid Old Habits and Toxic Relationships
It’s possible that’s been the struggle that I’ve had to deal with. I’ve got three bands,18 and I do solo acoustic tours. When I’m on the road, I go to soundcheck and there’s a jam at soundcheck. Then after the show I run to the bus and slam the door and start counting the minutes till next time. It’s “Close to the Edge.”15 I like “The Yes Album,” too. But what was cool about seeing those Dead shows was knowing that I was witnessing something important in Jerry Garcia.
Recovery Connection
This year, another band that had its moment in the ’90s, Sublime, is undergoing a similar renaissance. Is the culture primed for a Phish reappraisal? Trey Anastasio on the endurance of jam bands and the life of Phish.
Some people sober up, but they’re still jerks.
- Last year there was a new wave of appreciation — nostalgic or not — for Dave Matthews Band.
- Everyone would have their own private bathroom.
- Some will certainly remain, but even those aren’t necessarily long-game friendships.
When you handle the little things that are within your immediate grasp, you have an easier time handling other stressors and taking active steps to address them rather than getting bogged down in an emotional response. The good news is that you sober sucks have choices. You are not a slave to your emotions or your addiction. You can choose to sit where you are for a moment, assess, and figure out a way forward. Join Recovery Connection in celebrating your recovery with our sobriety calculator.
The 12 Things I Absolutely Love About Being Sober
There was no doubt that something about this guy was going to live on. Then in 1983 we started Phish, and I didn’t see the Grateful Dead again until 1994, when they were playing in San Francisco. But like I said, it was too easy to draw that connection.
Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
- As if, like that other killjoy Groucho Marx, I do not want to join any club substandard enough to have me as a member.
- When you handle the little things that are within your immediate grasp, you have an easier time handling other stressors and taking active steps to address them rather than getting bogged down in an emotional response.
- My biggest fears in life include being in large groups of strange people, standing at parties by myself, and really just people in general.
- People in recovery generally agree that abstinence is necessary but remains just a starting point for a new, sober life.
I have always hated the feeling that I’m putting people out or being difficult. Getting sober is when someone stops using an intoxicating substance. It can include a medically supervised detox, various forms of treatment including therapy and 12-step programs, and calling upon family, friends, and professionals for additional support.
My Mental Health Is Stronger
There are zero alcohol-related regrets plaguing my life right now. Friendships can be tricky things in early sobriety, especially when all of your friends are drinking buddies. The ability to think, read a book, engage in an intelligent conversation, actually have IDEAS again, and not just loop terrible thoughts on autopilot in your brain is liberating. It’s one of the best benefits of sobriety I’ve experienced. Three months ago I hit the benchmark called “Advanced Recovery” and suddenly things began to fall into place like they did not do in the early days of my sobriety. I do not mean to say it takes that long for everyone (I have always been a late bloomer), but for me the two year point marked the end of my resistance and the beginning of my overwhelming gratefulness.
