There are countless benefits of sobriety related to physical, psychological, and even emotional health that people will experience once they are able to put down the bottle or stop using their drug of choice. Addiction isn’t an easy thing to overcome. It is a disease and just like all diseases, it is best to seek out professional help.
At Renaissance Recovery’s Orange County rehab, there are a number of different addiction treatment options to help you get sober. Not only that but through our sober living programs and alumni and community events, we can help ensure that even when you or your loved one leaves our doors, their needs are still being met and they can continue to actively work toward their long-term recovery.
If you need help, please don’t hesitate to give us a call immediately at 866-330-9449.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the many benefits of being sober.
The Benefits of Sobriety
The health benefits of sobriety include:
- Improved focus
- More energy
- Better memory
- Enhanced sleep
It can also reduce your risk for heart problems, liver problems, and several types of cancer.
It’s a well-established fact that alcohol abuse causes long-term damage to the body. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, abusing alcohol has many nasty side effects. Impairment of the immune system, harm to your organs, and an increased risk for cancer are among these. Anyone who’s ever consumed a little bit too much recognizes the effects on their brain. Dizziness, confusion, and disorientation are among the symptoms.
The next day, grogginess and a headache are gentle reminders that you’ve had too much to drink. Other of the not-so-pleasant physical side effects of alcohol include nausea, vomiting, and low body temperature.
These effects are warning signs of the internal damage that alcohol causes. Vital organs and other internal parts of the body can recover from infrequent, moderate drinking. But regular binge drinking and heavy drinking can cause long-term damage that can affect you for the rest of your life. If the abuse continues, you run a serious risk of developing any number of alcohol-related diseases.
Fortunately, the body can usually bounce back if you quit drinking soon enough. In fact, you might not even realize that alcohol is hurting your everyday health until you quit drinking and start to feel better, one of the many benefits of being sober.
Health Benefits of Sobriety for Your Brain
The most noticeable physical benefits of sober living occur in the brain. Depending on how much you’re used to drinking, you’ll see welcome changes quickly.
Within a few days/weeks. you’ll notice improvements in your, some benefits of sobriety you’ll notice include improvements in:
- Your ability to focus
- Your critical thinking skills
- Your ability to solve problems
- Better memory and recall
Benefits of Sobriety From Alcohol
The benefits of being sober are countless and can be utterly life-changing for someone struggling with heavy substance use.
Along with drug addiction, alcoholism is one of the most problematic forms of substance abuse that can lead to major physical and mental health effects, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of putting down the drink.
Cutting back on alcohol intake can help you lose weight. It can also help improve nutritional deficiencies related to drinking. Why? Because we tend to eat junk food when we’re binging or drinking socially, Beer pretzels and pizza are not a part of a nutritionally balanced meal. Quitting alcohol and enjoying sober living can also lower your risk of developing certain types of cancers.
Quitting alcohol can potentially prevent:
- Liver cancer
- Breast cancer
- Mouth cancer
- Esophagus cancer
- Pharynx cancer
Alcohol also damages the immune system. Studies show that people who drink regularly are simply more likely to get sick. Quitting alcohol allows your body’s natural immune system to operate at full strength and to protect you from disease.
Mental Health Improvements During Sobriety
In addition to physical side effects, alcohol can cause several mental health problems. Sleep deprivation and mood swings take their toll both on the drinker and on those around him. Heavy drinkers are at an increased risk for anxiety disorders and depression.
Those who suffered from these ailments prior to their alcohol abuse are even more susceptible. Extremely heavy drinkers may also experience hallucinations. The evidence is clear: sobriety benefits of quitting alcohol can help you recover from many mental health ailments.
The mental health benefits of sobriety include:
- Better sleeping
- No more mood swings
- Reduced anxiety
- Reduced depression
Mental Health and Sobriety
If you continue to have issues with your mental health after becoming sober you may be experiencing more than just addiction. Many people who have a dual diagnosis will find that even after the physical aspects of addiction have been treated there is still a void in mental health treatment that needs to be addressed. Alcohol is a common coping mechanism and when that is taken from the picture it allows therapists to treat the root cause of addiction and help a client’s overall health and mental wellness.
Only through evidence-based treatment will you be able to treat the root cause of alcohol addiction. Seeking clinical help during this time in early sobriety is the best time for them to pinpoint triggers and issues that may contribute to relapse. Some sobriety benefits that you will find after finding the best alcohol addiction treatment and becoming sober are:
At the height of addiction often times days are cloudy some aspects of life are missed out. Without alcohol inhibiting your thinking you can be more focused on personal goals and what you want to achieve. Alcoholism takes up a great deal of metal load and often times being inebriated keeps you from focusing on bigger pictures and your own personal wellness.
High alcohol consumption greatly increases you chances of developing a mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Drinking and substance abuse can even tighten current mental health issues. Most of the time alcoholism and mental health disorders are genetic, for those that have either in their family quitting abusing substances can greatly improve you chances of having positive mental health in the future.
Sometimes those facing addiction will not even notice the bonds and bridges of relationships deteriorating because of their altered state of mind. You may not realize the pain and suffering you’re doing to those around you until you lose those relationships. Being sober allows you to focus on relationships without the substance abuse in the way. Provides for more meaningful and honest interactions not scourged by addiction.
Discovering your self after sobriety you can find a whole new person. Gain new confidence you didn’t know you had in life. Often times drugs and alcohol hold people back from what they can really achieve.
When you have more time to focus on yourself, hobbies, and things you love you’re able to build confidence and take pride and pleasure in your time and work.
Alcohol and drug abuse inhibit your cognitive abilities. This has a profound impact on our memory. With sobriety you can trade in nights that you vaguely remember with times that you’ll be able to remember your whole life and be fully present in the moment.
How to Get Sober
For those who are ready to embark on the positive journey of discovering sober benefits, recovery is possible.
Research shows that you will increase your chances of getting sober by engaging in detox and addiction treatment if you have external support in place. You will also have more likelihood of completing a course of treatment if you have a robust social support network. The benefits of sobriety from alcohol and drug use are extensive and can potentially change your life.
You should nevertheless focus on soliciting help only from those who are not enabling your addiction. Some people will strengthen your resolve as you move into sober living, while others are liable to disrupt your progress. Be selective.
If you need help choosing a suitable addiction treatment program, or want to hear more about the benefits of being sober from alcohol or drug use, reach out to friends, family, and your healthcare provider.
Choosing the right rehab is a cornerstone of your recovery. Look for treatment centers offering evidence-based therapies like MAT (medication-assisted treatment), psychotherapy, and counseling.
Most severe addictions to alcohol or drugs respond most favorably to residential rehab, also known as inpatient rehab. Studies suggest that outpatient treatment is equally effective as inpatient treatments for most milder addictions. IOPs (intensive outpatient programs) and PHPs (partial hospitalization programs bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient treatment.
By accepting that recovery is a lifelong process not a single time-limited event, you will be perfectly placed to start taking full advantage of life substance-free. We can help you get started here at Renaissance.
Get Sober at Renaissance Recovery
Renaissance Recovery is an addiction treatment program with rehabs in California and Florida and owns sober living houses throughout the area as well. Not only can our addiction treatment help you or your loved one fight back against substance abuse, it can also set you up for long-term success and sobriety through our amazing aftercare and alumni programs.
If you are interested in learning more about addiction treatment in Florida or California, contact our team today.
