The Downside of Sobriety: The 6 Things No One Tells You Might Happen If You Quit Drinking
I have a few episodes on dopamine, including this one. When a person stops using substances, their brain’s reward system doesn’t immediately return to normal. This period of adjustment, often referred to as the “dopamine deficit,” can last for weeks or even months. During this time, activities that would normally provide pleasure may seem dull or uninteresting. Boredom is a common experience for many people in early sobriety. It’s not just a minor inconvenience; it’s often a significant hurdle in maintaining long-term recovery.
Take what applies to you and leave whatever doesn’t. It’s hard to fill that time, especially when dealing with alcohol cravings and triggers. Now that you know the chemical reason for your boredom, let’s explore additional factors that might be contributing to these feelings.
- If I was sad, I drank alcohol to feel better.
- However, this process is gradual and requires consistent effort and patience.
- Remember, it’s not that sobriety is terrible, but that your brain is trying to grapple with the sudden loss of dopamine.
- From being outside sweaty, running around and playing with bugs in the mud, to laughing at farts (I still do that) and wrestling with your friends.
The Downside of Sobriety: The 6 Things No One Tells You Might Happen If You Quit Drinking
My second dog, the Yulin rescue, was a project because of his separation anxiety. But working with him and watching his progress made me love him even more. I don’t think anyone has ever loved me as much as my rescue dog does. And in case it wasn’t already obvious, the only way to get to long-term Substance abuse sobriety is to first achieve short-term sobriety.
- If you were a drug user like me, you may have drug cravings for a long time.
- And another thing about sobriety…who would want to know what his spouse thinks of him?
- It may be necessary to give up the compulsion to listen to the news, make time to face your feelings, express gratitude, and focus on the good in your life instead of what’s lacking.
- Your sobriety is heavily dependent on being both optimistic and realistic.
- Getting outside and communing with nature is scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve mental health and cognitive function in both kids and adults.
- And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get.
The Brain’s Reward System and Substance Use
You may still need to be resilient and firm being sober sucks in your decision to remain alcohol-free, but know that you’re not alone. This may also help create a lasting impression on those around you, showing them that you have a business-first mindset that is not affected or distracted by alcohol. This alcohol-free drink is light and refreshing, a festive addition to any celebration, and high in fiber.
Recovery Connection
Build a support network, develop healthy habits, and practice self-compassion. Remember, recovery is a journey of continuous growth. Long-term substance use leads to neuroadaptation – changes in brain structure and function that adapt to the presence of the substance. This process underlies the development of tolerance, where increasingly larger amounts of a substance are needed to achieve the same effect. The social aspects of maintaining sobriety present unique and often underestimated challenges. These social hurdles can significantly impact an individual’s recovery journey and require careful navigation.
Recovery Connection is the ultimate addiction recovery resource portal for information on the latest treatments, centers, and programs. Whether you’re looking for treatment or for aftercare options, we can point you in the right direction. Will eating salads and drinking water make your boredom go away? Not exactly, but it can make you feel better, which has a ripple effect on whether or not you enjoy your life. One of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re feeling bored in sobriety is to find a way to serve others.
Some of my friends have needed a little time to adjust to my significant life choice. A couple of others have drifted away without any trauma on either side—I suspect my sobriety may simply have accelerated an inevitable growing-apart process. My true friends were there for me when I was passing out at parties and throwing up in the back of taxis, and they’re there for me now. When we asked our alumna to describe what being sober feels like, she gave a detailed and inviting description that captured these key points. It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re running on a treadmill, getting nowhere, but feeling emotionally and physically exhausted.
The Role of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to connect with like-minded people who are fellow travelers on this path. This is probably new for your friends and family, too. Don’t be afraid to communicate how you’re feeling.
I could pour my heart out and every irrational thought onto the pages. Start with going for walks for minutes every day. Pursue outdoor activities like kayaking or fishing. I found myself planning little outings when I got sober because I needed to figure out what it meant to have fun again.
Well, there’s a concept in psychology known as “confirmation bias,” and it means that we often look for evidence to support something that we already believe https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to be true. If you’re like most drinkers, you’ve likely surrounded yourself at some point with a group of people who also drink. I’d argue that many of us gravitated to a group of friends who have drinking habits that align with our own, and we did this because we didn’t want sober friends. Similarly, there are many people who drink and use drugs because they feel more fun, daring, likable, and interesting when under the influence. Removing the thing that they believe gives them more charisma or self-confidence around other people can trigger the very real worry that they won’t like their sober self.
I will share my thoughts on how to go from feeling down to finding happiness and success. We can achieve this even with the challenges we all face. Based on my experiences with addiction and money problems, I will share practical tips.