Sobriety: The Ultimate Hangover Cure & Why Sober Is the New Drunk
You know, when you first quit drinking, it’s kind of like you’re in this honeymoon phase.
Everything is great and you’re like “wow, I’ve got this sobriety thing down pat.”
But then, as time goes on, you realize that triggers are still a thing.
And honestly, you can’t control when or where they’re gonna hit you.
But the beauty of it all is that, as you figure yourself out, you start to see things from a whole new perspective.
You become intoxicated with new ideas and epiphanies that make you question how good your greatest days drunk really were.
And you realize that the only thing you can control these days are your responses.
After all, it’s not like you’re broken or anything, but sometimes it feels that way.
That’s just part of the process.
Because think about it, if you’re not broken, there’s nothing to fix.
Not to mention that just because you’ve convinced yourself that you’re broken doesn’t mean it’s true.
And that’s kind of the point of being sober, right?
It’s not just about not drinking, it’s about creating a whole new way of life.
It’s also about taking care of your mental health.
Studies have shown that people who struggle with addiction often have co-occurring mental health disorders, like depression or anxiety.
(I don’t like the term “disorder” by the way)
That’s why addressing both is so important.
It’s kind of like trying to fix a leaky faucet with duct tape.
Sure, the water’s not coming out anymore, but the underlying problem is still there.
That’s why taking care of your mental health is so important.
It’s about learning how to cope with the things that led you to drink in the first place.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found that people who received therapy for both their addiction and their mental health issues had better outcomes than those who only received treatment for their addiction.
That’s because fixing the symptom doesn’t fix the person.
That’s the thing about sobriety.
Designing a new perspective of yourself and the wold that’s based on self-care and compassion.
Not to mention, that’s the truth that science backs up.
When you engage in self-compassionate behaviors you have fewer negative thoughts and feelings, and you’re more likely to engage in positive behaviors, like exercise and healthy eating.
And honestly, that’s what makes it so triggering when people try to gaslight you or tell you that you’re not doing it right.
Because you’re like “dude, I put in all this work to create this space for myself and now some random person is trying to tell me it’s not real?”
But that’s the thing, your sobriety is real.
So is your success.
When you’re sober, you’re not just surviving, you’re thriving.
And that’s worth any amount of pain in my opinion.
-Kohdi | Beyond Sober | Sobriety Wiki
