Despite what many people may think, getting and staying sober is much more than just going to rehab for a few weeks and then returning home to life as before, but this time without the Alcohol. Staying sober is more than not abusing substances; it is a culmination of many things that all add up to living a sober lifestyle.

What does it mean to be sober?

Abstaining from drugs and alcohol is a big part of being sober, and is often the first step toward living a sober life. But it is not the only thing that contributes to sobriety.

Living a life of sobriety also means changing more than just your drinking or using habits: it is a complete change from your former life. It means taking old, destructive behaviors and turning them around into healthy coping mechanisms that will help you get through the daily trials of life.

It means changing the very way you think, your thought patterns and everything that may have contributed to your substance abuse, into positive thought patterns.

It means staying away from old haunts and people who are still using and developing new friendships while strengthening your relationships with family and friends.

It means changing everything about who you used to be and becoming the new, sober you— the one who is able to cope with the various ups and downs of life through healthy coping mechanisms.

The idea of completely turning one’s life around and going to rehab for a drinking problem can be terrifying for many. Countless amounts of people wonder if they’ll be able to feel like themselves once all is said and done. Others worry that they won’t be as likeable, or as happy, once they are sober.

As many have testified before, being sober doesn’t mean that you never have any more fun, or that your quality of life goes down. What it does mean is that you are now able to live a life free from the prison cell addiction has created in your life. It means being able to discover who you truly are without the use of mind-altering substances that do nothing but slowly steal away all the things that make you, you.

Addiction limits and imprisons you; sobriety frees you.

Common Misconceptions

One of the more common misconceptions people have about recovery is that a person simply needs to go to detox and rehab, stop using and then are completely fine, with someone even using the term “cured,” at times. Many are unaware of all the work that goes on beyond the initial getting off drugs and alcohol.

While stopping the use of illicit substances is a key part of sobriety, there is much more to it than that, but as of now, there is no magical cure that exists for those who are addicted to a substance. Sobriety is something that needs to be worked on every day. You are either working on sobriety, or you are working on your next relapse.

That being said, there is a term for those who go through the process of stopping their usage of illicit substances, yet have not yet taken the steps necessary to truly changing themselves and his or her own life.

That term is “dry drunks,” and it refers to people that, though they may have stopped using substances, have not yet addressed or corrected any destructive behaviors that they may have.

The term, “dry drunk,” is often used to describe someone who is sober in only the most basic of terms: that is to say, not drunk. But they have a long way to go when it comes to fully embracing sobriety as a way of life. A life wherein one has healthy coping mechanisms, where one is no longer controlled by his or her emotions, but rather is in control of his or her emotions and reactions. A life where you no longer feel you are being controlled by some outside force.

What does sobriety mean to you?

Choosing to no longer abuse drugs and alcohol and get help is a big step, and it is a step that you will have the chance to choose again and again throughout your life. As you do so, you will find yourself growing more and more confident in your ability to not only abstain from drinking or using drugs, but also to turn your life and attitude around from one filled with darkness to one filled with possibility.