The New Definition of Sober

Please educate yourself about addiction and recovery to better understand their journey. Consider participating in support groups or family therapy sessions designed for the loved ones of those in recovery. Remember to take care of your own needs as well, as supporting someone through recovery can also be an emotional process for you. Certainly, it is feasible for an individual to be ‘clean’ but not ‘sober’. This could be the situation if an individual has ceased using drugs, yet continues to drink alcohol. Nonetheless, the goal of pursuing a substance-free life and recovery is typically to be clean and sober.

Evidence suggests that people who pursue psychological wellness during their addiction recovery are better able to maintain sobriety or manage moderate substance use. Together, these definitions of sobriety can help to create a layered and more flexible understanding of what sobriety is and how it affects people living with alcohol or drug addiction. Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster states that one of the definitions of clean is to be “free from drug addiction,” indicating that this word is used much more often to refer to recovery from non-alcohol drug-related addictions. That said, some do also use the word sober when speaking about drug use, such as someone saying that they are not under the influence of any substances whatsoever, not only alcohol. However, it is relatively rare for an individual to say that they are clean when they are referring to alcohol. Usually, in that latter example, they would instead say that they are sober.

Struggling to Stay Clean

Being sober is an individualized affair, with different risk factors and tolerances depending on circumstances and the abused drug. Usually, this can be accomplished in an addiction treatment center. Other people can get sober by doing the 12 step program at an A.A.

• The psychological definition of sobriety is similar to the medical definition but with some clear differences.
• Together, these definitions of sobriety can help to create a layered and more flexible understanding of what sobriety is and how it affects people living with alcohol or drug addiction.
• In the past, people believed that you had to “hit bottom” before you could successfully recover.
• One of the biggest obstacles people face in maintaining sobriety is getting through events and holidays where alcohol and other party drugs are going to be present.
• Substance abuse can create lasting changes in the brain, leading to heightened vulnerability to relapse even after extended periods of abstinence.

Learning Center

One may go to rehab, a detox center or engage a sober companion to start. The next https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview recovery support program may be slightly more difficult to find. Sober living can be confusing using any generic search engine.

How Does Emotional Sobriety Fit Into the Picture?

Eating nutritious meals and getting plenty of rest are important for good health. Many people neglect their health while they are in active addiction. If this is the case for you, recovery can be an opportunity to attend to health issues that may have gone untreated in the past.

By understanding what “sober” truly means, we can shed light on the journey to recovery and support those seeking a life free from addiction. Being sober encompasses more than simply abstaining from substances; it signifies a profound transformation of one’s life, fostering personal growth and a commitment to well-being. However, remaining abstinent from substance use can seem daunting for many, and you might be curious and wonder if it must be for a lifetime.

By working through the root causes of your addiction, you can reduce the risk of relapse and build a stronger foundation for the future. Setting small, achievable goals can help you stay focused on the long term. Whether it’s attending a certain number of meetings, staying sober for a month, or improving your physical health, having something to work toward can provide motivation. The Lighthouse Treatment Center strives to enhance the well-being of individuals dealing with mental health disorders or substance use through accurate information about health conditions, treatment options, and their effects. You’re at a stage when you are only realizing that your alcohol use is becoming a problem.

Address Underlying Issues

• Likewise, the terms sober and ‘clean’ help differentiate the groups.
• If you are still actively struggling with your addiction, it may be best to think of short-term goals—things that you feel you can accomplish within a few months’ time.
• In addition, it means not using any mood-altering substances.
• When sober and recovered from alcoholism or addiction, you cease fighting alcohol.
• Engaging with alumni groups and peer-support groups like AA, NA, or SMART Recovery can help you maintain your hard-won sobriety.
• Chronic addiction causes functional and structural changes in the brain.

Sobriety may refer to being clear of immediate or residual effects of any mind-altering substances. Colloquially, it may refer to a specific substance that is the concern of a particular recovery support program6 (e.g. alcohol, marijuana, opiates, or tobacco). „Clean and sober“ is a commonly used phrase, which refers to someone having an extended period without alcohol or other drugs in sober house their body. If you’ve been using substances heavily or for a long time, it’s important to seek medical guidance for withdrawal.

If you are a religious person, attending church may also help you to maintain sobriety. Attending church functions and following the church’s teachings about abstaining from drugs and alcohol can be effective for some people. Churches often host 12-step programs or other addiction support groups. You may also be able to find an addiction treatment center that caters to your religious beliefs, helping you invoke your faith as you start a new life in sobriety. Combining the teachings of a particular religion and the teachings of support group educators can be an effective way to help you stay abstinent from drugs and alcohol.

However, it is important to note that our information is not a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is recommended that you seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. You might even benefit from consulting with an alcohol treatment professional to get more clarity on your drinking habits and how they might be affecting your life.

Ultimately, the key lies in tailoring the concept of sobriety to an individual’s unique circumstances and needs. Slightly more than half (53.9%) of people who recovered from an addiction said they sought help to become sober. The most popular path to sobriety was through self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. Around half (45.1%) of people in recovery used these programs to get sober.

Help Getting Sober: How To Get Support

We with loved ones who have become addicted will get used to the shift and the new definition. After all, it’s to help them, and that’s what we care most about. These cravings can be triggered by various factors such as stress, emotional distress, or even certain social situations that remind you of past substance use. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

Because, without the fundamental influence of a sober character, power, money and status become tools of the ego. When I was sober, I told a friend (who lived on the other side of the country and who had admitted that I hadn’t seen the worst of what I was drinking) that I no longer drank alcohol. For some, sobriety means complete abstinence from all substances, including alcohol, drugs, and sometimes even nicotine and caffeine.

Whether it’s the cost of the substance itself, medical bills, legal fees, or lost wages from missed work, addiction is costly. Sobriety can help you regain financial stability and make better choices about how to spend your money. Substance use can strain relationships with friends, family, and loved ones.

• But it’s not an easy road—becoming and staying sober requires commitment, self-awareness, support, and perseverance.
• These benefits go far beyond just physical health—they impact nearly every area of your life.
• Sobriety and abstinence are terms frequently encountered in discussions about addiction recovery and mental well-being.
• Some AA or NA groups offer open meetings that family members can attend.

The main concern over simply ceasing use without getting to the roots of the problem is that the risk of a relapse goes up significantly. This is especially true in the early going but generally remains so for some time afterwards. That latter point is also why many recommend that those who are sober, even for years, continue to participate in these types of activities to help that remain the case.