Defining Sobriety: What Does It Mean To Be Sober?

Once you understand that you have a problem and need help, knowing what next steps to take can be confusing. The more robust strategies you can develop to cope with stress in a healthy way, the more likely you are to stay sober without relapsing. Engaging with inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment will help you to strengthen your sobriety through a combination of MAT (medication-assisted treatment), counseling, and psychotherapy like CBT or DBT. Looking back to the early nineteenth century, both drunkenness and substance use were viewed as moral failings and heavily stigmatized. There was no treatment offered for alcoholism or drug addiction, purely punitive actions like imprisonment.

Recovery is the active practice of working towards your betterment, not just abstaining from a substance. At its simplest level, sobriety is the act of not drinking alcohol or consuming drugs. This is where most people in recovery naturally begin, first fighting the lingering effects of withdrawal and then working hard to maintain abstinence, all the while fighting cravings for alcohol, both conscious and unconscious. To help clients manage that usage, addiction treatment centers are careful to teach coping skills and provide them with support networks that they can access if they need help protecting their long-term recovery. The medical definition of sobriety refers to a natural state of physical health in which a person’s brain and body are unaffected by the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Programs

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. As these occasions can also put people around you who may also bring up old triggers, it’s important that you have a game plan and learn how to get through the holidays while in recovery. When you complete your treatment program, you should have a relapse management and prevention plan in place, and you should also have the right level of aftercare for your needs. Engaging with alumni groups and peer-support groups like AA, NA, or SMART Recovery can help you maintain your hard-won sobriety.

If you’re trying to maintain a sober lifestyle, those feelings can become toxic and contribute to relapse if you don’t manage them properly. A sober person remembers when they were new to sobriety, whether wanting to be there or not, and how they white-knuckled their way through each day. Now that they are enjoying the benefits of sober life, they find many examples in their lives when they can make a decision that keeps them in recovery without it being something they have to debate.

How Do You Determine If You’re Sober?

It’s amazing how the years add up when you’re taking life one day at a time. Many people attend and follow 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These programs allow you to be completely honest about your addiction and struggles with getting sober without the fear that what you say will get out into the public. 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.

The Ongoing Process of Sober Living

To learn more about how our recovery center can help you, please reach out to our friendly admissions team today. Shun toxic relationships and build as many new sober relationships as possible. You are https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview now sober – or at least sober according to the dictionary definition. Sobriety in its broader sense only begins once you are powerfully motivated to change, finally a stop to behavior you know needs adjusting. With that initial motivation in place, you can then begin engaging with the process of getting sober. Everyone faces unique challenges with addiction and there is no fixed blueprint for sobriety.

Dictionary.com

Depending on your primary substance of abuse and how long you’ve been using, you may first need the support of a medically supervised detoxification (detox) program. Drug and alcohol rehab centers are designed to keep you away from the temptation you may experience if you try to get sober alone. After completion of the detox process, these programs can offer you both the emotional support and a structured plan to avoid a relapse. According to a February article in the New York Times titled “What Does Being Sober Mean Today? For Many, Not Full Abstinence,” to be sober previously meant totally abstaining from alcohol and all other intoxicating substances.

Addiction was inherent in some people, an uncontrollable predisposition to substance abuse. Sobriety as a mainstream concept is widely understood as totally refraining from a substance or behavior. The process described here is abstinence rather than sobriety, though. Sobriety per the textbook definition simply means not being intoxicated at any given point. However, it should be noted that the typical sobriety definition also includes refraining from any type of substance that alters your mental or physical state.

Everyone is familiar with the saying “clean and sober”, believing them to be one and the same. Many people who are in the recovery community see a difference between being clean and sober. One is the initial step into sobriety, while the other only happens after a person begins to fully embraces their sober life. Another good idea is to find new hobbies that you find fulfilling.

In this context, “sober” usually means abstaining from all drugs and alcohol, not just at the moment, but for an extended period. While this approach may not be suitable for everyone, it can be a stepping stone for those who struggle with lifelong sobriety or face significant barriers to abstinence. You can handle the feelings that arise while not using alcohol, and you can even be helpful. If you would like more information about addiction treatment options available in your area, contact American Addiction Center’s helpful admissions navigators at for a free, private consultation today. You can also quickly and easily check your insurance coverage for free by filling out the form below. More people seek treatment for alcohol than any other substance.

• The dictionary definitions suggest that sobriety is only used with alcohol, but I think it makes sense to extend it to other drugs.
• If you’ve been using substances heavily or for a long time, it’s important to seek medical guidance for withdrawal.
• At GateHouse Treatment, we recognize that moxie might not get you far enough.
• Factors such as treatment adherence, personal commitment, and support systems play a significant role in achieving and maintaining sobriety.
• Various stages characterize the process of achieving and maintaining a clean lifestyle.
• Certainly, it is feasible for an individual to be ‘clean’ but not ‘sober’.

Additionally, someone who may be clean from drugs but might substitute alcohol instead. They may also benefit from seeking their own support in a family program like Al-Anon or Nar-Anon. If you don’t have supportive family, try to build a support system elsewhere. Many people in recovery don’t have strong family support, so it’s important to find other people they can count on. Many recovering people attend support group meetings in order to encourage those who are just beginning to live a drug-free life.

• Some people would even say that their partner can sometimes be in a better mood when they drink.
• The process described here is abstinence rather than sobriety, though.
• While abstinence is certainly a major part of the sobriety journey for most people, this definition fails to encompass the full meaning of sobriety for people who are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.
• You cannot achieve sobriety if you’re still using drugs or alcohol in any capacity.
• Sobriety can help you regain financial stability and make better choices about how to spend your money.

Remember, sobriety in the textbook means being sober at one period. This punitive approach to addiction prevailed until the start of the twentieth century and the end of Prohibition. Addiction was increasingly viewed as a medical rather than moral issue, laying the foundation for what would become the disease model of addiction. Since these tests rely on cooperation of the subject, the final result often depends on the presiding officer’s interpretation.

If you grew up in an alcoholic household, then you know that when mom or dad did not have something to drink they were not happy. I think in terms of “I get to.” As in, I get to wake up feeling refreshed, not depleted. I get to remember where I was the night before, and what I did and didn’t do. I get to know my psychiatric meds will work, because I’m not confusing my brain with competing chemicals. Some AA or NA groups offer open meetings that family members can attend. Attending an open meeting with you can help your family better understand what you are doing in your recovery.

• Around half (45.1%) of people in recovery used these programs to get sober.
• Beyond the absence of substances, sobriety implies a profound shift in one’s mindset, attitudes, and behaviors.
• Many people struggle with lapses and relapses throughout the course of their recovery journey, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you encounter temporary setbacks.
• When you try to “white-knuckle” your way through sobriety, you are only addressing the symptoms of addiction.
• Give us a call today to verify your insurance coverage or to learn more about paying for addiction treatment.
• Beyond that, achieving clean and sober status often involves significant lifestyle changes, such as healthier habits, therapy or counseling, and a commitment to personal growth and self-improvement.

In this first definition of sober, the person is only sober for the moment. It all depends on whether they continue to drink alcohol or not. The complexities of sobriety involve not just physical well-being but also psychological and social aspects that contribute to a holistic approach to recovery. Abstinence, on the other hand, serves as a foundational step in the journey to sobriety but lacks the comprehensive nature of the latter.

To model for the addict new ways of facing the challenges of life from a sober perspective. This may mean that you don’t spend time with someone you used to do drugs with or go somewhere where you used to drink. You could take a new way sober house home from work, for example, to avoid going past your favorite old hangout. Answering these questions honestly can help you determine if you need to cut back on your drinking or give up alcohol altogether. With many people struggling with alcohol use disorder, they are often the last to realize that they have a problem. If you’re concerned that your drinking might be out of control, it’s important to reach out for help.