“I didn’t care as much about hurting myself as I did about hurting her. So, initially it was easier for me to say, ‘I’m doing this for her.’ And now, I’m doing it for myself.” The Parent Trap actor battled a cocaine addiction throughout the ’80s that sent him to rehab in 1990. As he later explained on Today, he grew up in the ’60s and ’70s when “there was a completely different attitude” towards the drug. The Fight Club star spent years struggling with alcohol before Cooper helped him get sober. “I got sober because of this guy,” he told the audience at the 2020 National Board of Review Annual Awards after Cooper presented him with a trophy. “That was the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol,” Cooper recalled during a 2022 appearance on the Smartless podcast.
What Is Sobriety?
A sober life has many benefits, and exploring each can empower you to choose a sober lifestyle. Even those successfully living a sober life and overcoming drug or alcohol dependence can still be met with new struggles. Working with professionals is essential to overcoming substance use disorder (SUD). Engagement with evidence-based addiction treatment and exposure to many therapeutic opportunities and approaches can help you create an educated approach to your developing sober lives. At its core, sobriety is avoiding the use of addictive substances or behaviors altogether. A therapist can help you learn new coping skills, develop new thinking patterns, and address any co-occurring mental health conditions that may make recovery more difficult.
Is It Possible to Be Sober Without Joining a Recovery Program?
Understanding these changes can help you navigate the complex terrain of rebuilding and nurturing relationships in sobriety. Upon embarking on a journey towards sobriety, you’re not just striving to eliminate substance use from your life. You’re also working towards gaining a profound sense of personal freedom. This freedom isn’t merely about the physical absence of substances but involves liberating yourself from the emotional and psychological chains that addiction can create.
Can Someone Be Considered Sober If They Use Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
The fear of failing in recovery is a significant barrier to treatment, and many may not pursue a professional treatment program because of this fear. Cravings, which are intense urges to use tommy lee alcohol substances, can tempt you to break sobriety. This broader definition acknowledges that different people have different paths to recovery and that what works for one person may not work for another.
A non-drinking person is not like a binge drinker, but he/she is someone who enjoys drinking on occasion. A non-drinking person is not attracted to alcohol and may not crave to grab the next one. Now if you have opted to live a sober life, then everything changes. In the first few weeks, you will feel that all your attempts are useless, and it will appear impossible to control your cravings.
- There are a lot of changes that occur during the first six months.
- “That was the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol,” Cooper recalled during a 2022 appearance on the Smartless podcast.
- The social drinkers, problem drinkers, high-functioning alcoholics, dry drunks, and sober alcoholics.
- However, there are various goals you can set for yourself to measure your success.
Research shows that if you maintain these types of toxic relationships, your chances of relapsing are greater. To avoid relapse and remain sober, it’s important to develop healthy relationships. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again.
You’ll find that decision-making becomes clearer and your actions more deliberate. This newfound clarity is one of the first steps in reclaiming your life and steering it in a direction that you choose, not one dictated by addiction. As you progress in your sobriety, engaging in new hobbies and social activities becomes essential. These can range from joining a sports team, picking up an art class, to volunteering in your community. Such activities not only fill your time with constructive and enjoyable tasks but also introduce you to supportive social circles that share your commitment to living substance-free. These synonyms help us contextualize sobriety beyond its basic definition.
While both sobriety and abstinence can positively impact mental health, sobriety often involves a deeper engagement with mental health issues. It includes actively working on emotional well-being, seeking therapy or counseling, and developing coping strategies for mental health challenges. Abstinence may not necessarily involve this level of mental health engagement.
Social groups change, habits are rewritten, and your brain and body are rewiring old coping mechanisms. While you may experience withdrawal symptoms, you can also start to notice positive changes in your mind and body. There are infinite reasons why pursuing long-term recovery and sobriety can be the best choice for someone struggling with drug or alcohol use.
However, there are some techniques and coping mechanisms that have been proven to reach results. One common mistake for those who are new to alcohol and drug recovery is substituting a new compulsive behavior for their old one. People new to recovery can find themselves approaching their new diet, exercise program, job, and even participation in support groups with a compulsion that echoes addiction. Many people who misuse alcohol or drugs have trouble dealing with anger. If left unchecked, anger can have a negative impact on your health and your lasting sobriety.
“Ryan has been battling from alcohol addiction for many years and unfortunately it has become a destructive pattern for him,” his rep told E! “He has acknowledged that he needs professional assistance to overcome his problem and will be getting help immediately.” Longbranch Recovery and Wellness provides affordable, top-quality drug and alcohol rehab programs at our facilities in Louisiana and Arkansas.