The Joys of Sober Living

Becoming sober after prolonged substance abuse means the ability to gain a fresh start in most aspects of your life. This fresh start can be full of promise, a time when the natural joys of sober living can be rediscovered. In fact, most people who enter recovery and start living life as sober individuals are overcome with pleasure upon realizing how colorful, fulfilling and productive life can be without drugs or alcohol.

Sources of Joy in Sober Living

When many patients first enter residential or outpatient rehab, they think life as a sober person is going to be boring. Some people dramatically equate the concept of sobriety to being sentenced to jail or other harsh treatment. In fact, the jail of addiction is what they are leaving behind. A life of addiction is dark and painful—a complete contrast to a sober life that provides so many possibilities for recovering individuals.

Part of addiction recovery is finding a balance in your brain chemistry. The unnatural euphoria from drug abuse is over and now you have to find the joys of sober living. As your body and mind continue to heal, you’ll find more and more activities that excite you.

In recovery and beyond, there are many joys to be found in sober living, including:

• Your dreams can actually be achievable and you will have the clarity, time and motivation to pursue them
• Inner peace is developed and you no longer have to hide from reality
• You enjoy time with loved ones and friends
• New relationships will grow with greater richness and honesty than those of addiction
• You become a role model for others seeking to overcome addiction
• You enjoy everything more and often feel there are more great things to experience than you can fit in each day
• Your life has more meaning and purpose than when you were seeking, using and lying about your substance of abuse

Finding Your Joys of Sober Living

When you enter into drug and alcohol recovery after a detox program at Tides Edge, remember that feeling joy will be a work in progress. While still in drug and alcohol rehab programs, you have to learn so much that life’s richness cannot yet be fully experienced. To ensure you start feeling the joys of being sober, remember the following techniques:

• Maintain realistic expectations and give progress time
• Living joyfully will never be a 24/7 experience
• Joyfulness takes effort, particularly at first
• Emotional sobriety takes more time than physical sobriety and is where joy will be found
• Surround yourself with others in recovery for shared appreciation
• Let go of stubborn preconceptions in order to give new methods a try
• Be open to lifelong learning and support group participation
• Share your life with others and be thoughtful

Experiential and holistic therapy programs can also be included in your addiction treatment. These programs help you find joy as well as build new skills and coping mechanisms. Therapy programs promote problem-solving and teamwork. Programs include:

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Hiking therapy
• Fitness and yoga therapies
• Bowling
• Art therapy

Beaches Recovery Is Where the Sober Living Can Be Discovered

To become a success story in recovery, you need a supportive, guiding rehab working with you toward sustained sobriety. Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville, Florida provides a comprehensive array of evidence-based therapies designed for your best chance of long-term recovery. Some of the therapies that we offer include:

• EMDR therapy program
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Individual therapy program
• Addiction group therapy
• Relapse prevention program

Put addiction and substance use disorders in your past. Contact Beaches Recovery today by calling 866.605.0532 to start working toward your more joyful life.