Introduction
Addiction is a tough fight for someone to face. Destructive not only for the person themselves, but also for their closest family and friends, for the person’s daily existence. Mostly we are lost in our own existential riddle and are regularly asked, Do people get sober and stay sober? Good question, and there is no clear-cut answer to this. Healing can be done, but it is also hard unfair fucking work, and duty. Sober doesn’t just mean not doing alcohol or drugs. It’s constructing a healthier, more sustainable way of life that also has the solidarity to last.
When people first surrender to the process of getting sober, they might be consumed with fear and resistance. It’s the hardest to get through those first few months because the cravings, the triggers and the old habits have the most power. But a lot of people, with the help of counseling, therapy and group meetings, are able to get support and stay on the right road even with feelings like this. It won’t be easy, but sustainable recovery is achievable for those who are willing to put in the effort.
The First Step Toward Sobriety
To recover you need to be able to see there’s a problem. A lot of us lean on denial at this stage; it’s less painful than facing the truth. “What you’re really saying is, ‘Do people get sober and stay sober? begins by recognizing that change is potential, but in truth, rooted in honesty and courage. Making the call, taking that first, simple potential move in the direction of finding help, rehab program, support group or trusted professional begins the journey to success.
It is very important for family and friends to be supportive during this time. Someone in recovery can be flooded, and that support would offer public motivation to keep going in the race. At least in early recovery, the support of family and friends, testing patience and an open mouth for healthy options can make the first 30 to 90 days feel less isolating. It’s a process and it can feel torturously slow, but every inch in the direction of sobriety is an inch in the direction of freedom.
Challenges Along the Way
And the recovery isn’t necessarily linear. There are so many roadblocks to keep people down. Stress can also send some people back to old habits — or to a certain place, or to old friends. And the question that I always get is: “Do people get sober and stay sober?” The fact of the matter is that relapse is part of the process and it doesn’t mean YOU lost. Everything you encounter is just a thing to learn and a thing to help make a stronger sustainable recovery.
Another is confronting emotions without having to rely on drugs as a means of escape. Drinking, drugs can feel like the ultimate freedom and the only means of release, but it takes a little practice — not to mention some guidance — to know that you can choose other options. And from there, in therapy, or in mindfulness or in a support group, people can potentially find new coping tools that are available to them. It’s that process that turns the hard early days of sobriety into a lifetime of recovery.
Building a Sober Lifestyle
If you want to stay sober, you must create a life that has supports sobriety. That means developing good habits and staying out of dangerous environments and associating with like-minded individuals. Sobriety is not about limiting your life, but expanding it: freedom — particularly freedom from the Dumpster fire of addiction. When people ask, “Do people get sober and stay sober?” The explanation may be related to how well they set themselves up for life after treatment.
Others find comfort in new hobbies, exercise or volunteering. Healthy offers focus and fills the space where you used to attach these destructive habits. And over time, life in sobriety is far less about denying yourself the pleasure of cravings than it is about savoring a rich and varied life. The focus shifts from zeroing addiction to nurturing joy and personal development.
Conclusion
So, are we actually getting clean, and staying clean? Yes, many do. Recovery is not an easy path, but God is it a beautiful journey. It’s not an easy road but with dedication, encouragement and healthy choices it can be your path to recovery that will stay with you for a lifetime. Even if it turned out to be the wrong thing, every step was a victory. Sobriety is saying goodbye to the drugs, and saying hello to life, hope, and possible fresh starts.
Recovery looks unique for each person, but the end result is the same: to live in the freedom of a life not bound by addiction and in doing so, make the future brighter. For those desiring to embark on the journey, it’s important to know that there is help; change need not be some pie-in-the-sky fantasy. Not every road is straight. — but many, many people have shown that sober, sustainable sobriety is a thing.
