Choosing sobriety gifts can be challenging, but it is also a great opportunity to show your loved one in recovery how much you appreciate their journey to sober living and their sobriety journey.
What are the best gifts to celebrate sobriety, then?
What is a Good Sobriety Gift?
Recent SAMHSA data shows that addiction is a growing problem in the United States. 28.5 million people have alcohol use disorder and 40 million have substance use disorder, but the effects of addiction ripple outward beyond the person using substances.
Addiction creates remarkable stress in interpersonal relationships, making sobriety the ideal opportunity to start repairing this damage. In some ways, the best gift you can give someone in recovery is your unconditional love and support. Hopefully, though, you’re giving them that anyway.
When you are brainstorming sobriety gift ideas, ask yourself the following questions:
- How do you typically show your loved one that you care?
- What kind of things do you do together?
- If the person in question seemingly has everything they need, would they appreciate a gifted experience?
- What are their core interests?
- Is there anything you know the person really needs?
Of course, gift buying is intensely personal, but if you are still scratching your head and have no idea where to get started, explore some of the following gender-themed sobriety gifts.
Sobriety Gift Ideas for Him
Consider these 5 sober gifts for him:
- Adrenaline rush experience
- Chip holder or presentation box
- Gadgets not associated with substance use
- Exercise equipment or accessories
- The gift of time
1) An adrenaline rush experience
Many people in recovery initially used substances to achieve a sensation of feeling alive and exhilarated.
Now they have made the decision to eliminate addictive substances from the equation, you could gift them a harmless adrenaline rush in the form of an experience like:
- Skydiving
- Bungee jumping
- Rock climbing
- Sports car track day
- Skiing or snowboarding
- Rollercoaster passes
If you’re looking to find the perfect gift idea for the sober man who has everything he needs, give him a natural high in the form of a thrilling experience.
2) Chip holder or presentation box
If your loved one attends peer-support groups like AA or NA, they will commemorate sobriety milestones with special chips.
Pick a personalized display box or chip holder and give your loved one and family member a secure home for these important keepsakes. This would make a wonderful one year sobriety gift for a loved one who is proud of his recovery and a reminder as to why they are staying sober.
3) Gadgets not associated with substance use
For many people in the challenging early phase of recovery, fidgeting or needing to do something with their hands becomes stressful, or even pick up a new hobby.
If your loved one seems fidgety, try buying him a stress ball, a fidget spinner, some prayer beads, or a mini Rubik’s cube. Give your loved one something to do with his hands that doesn’t involve reaching for alcohol or drugs.
While this might be a small gift, it is also a thoughtful gift. Show your loved one how much attention you are paying to the difficulties they are facing in early recovery from addiction.
4) Exercise equipment or accessories
If your loved one is exercising more as they move beyond addiction, this will help them to better manage stress and anxiety, while also delivering many physical and emotional benefits.
Buy them some new fitness equipment in line with their interests. From some new weights or yoga gear to a paid gym membership, encourage your loved one to continue embracing a healthier lifestyle on all fronts.
5) The gift of time
You may be aware that your loved one is finding it hard to juggle everything as they transition from rehab into sober living.
If you feel that a special man in your life has just about everything, try gifting him the most precious commodity of all: time.
Buy them a meal prep service so they can enjoy healthy gourmet food, even if they are always crunched for time.
Alternatively, pay for a cleaning service to free up more time for your loved one to enjoy sober life.
Maybe those ideas are beyond your intended budget. If so, volunteer your own time to help your loved one with errands, babysitting, or anything that makes their life easier. Do this and you could be giving them the best possible sober gift.
Sobriety Gift Ideas for Her
Think about these 5 sober gifts for her if you’re stuck for ideas after brainstorming:
- Guided meditation lessons
- Gratitude journal
- Engraved jewelry
- A day filled with fun activities together
- A spa day
1) Guided meditation lessons
Many people in recovery find it hard to relax and disengage, so why not give your loved one some guided meditation lessons?
There is a fiercely psychological component to addiction and recovery, and meditation can help your loved one to regain control.
Meditation is surprisingly simple once you get started, but many people perceive it to be too demanding without ever giving it a try. Dismantle these barriers by giving a course of lessons and leave it to the experts.
2) Gratitude journal
For someone in the early and most demanding phase of recovery, it can be hard to focus on the many amazing aspects of their life.
A personalized gratitude journal can help a loved one to take inventory each day of the many things that they are grateful for. They can also reflect on everything they have so far accomplished in recovery by flicking back through the journey as they ease further and deeper into sober living.
3) Engraved jewelry
Most women love jewelry, so if your loved one is in recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs, why not give them something glittery and engraved?
From a bracelet engraved with the date of your loved one’s sobriety anniversary to a pendant necklace engraved with an inspirational and personalized quote, imagination is your only limitation.
4) A day filled with fun activities together
Maybe your loved one would prefer to spend some quality time with you rather than receiving a standard gift.
If so, take your time planning the perfect day with an itinerary your friend or family member will love.
This day can cost as much or as little as your budget allows. What counts is personalizing the experience completely.
5) A spa day
Buy a special woman in your life a day out at a local spa or hotel. There is nothing more indulgent than a whole day of pampering, and what could be better than not needing to pay the bill either?
Sobriety Gift Ideas FAQs
What is a good gift to celebrate sobriety?
A meaningful gift to celebrate sobriety could be a personalized token, such as a sobriety coin or keychain, symbolizing their journey and achievements. A personalized journal can help as well for daily affirmations. Another idea is to offer an experience or activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle, such as a spa day, fitness class, or a weekend getaway. Lastly, a heartfelt letter expressing your admiration, support, and encouragement can be a simple yet powerful gift to acknowledge their sobriety milestone and celebrate them being on the right path.
What color represents sobriety?
While there isn’t a universally recognized color that represents sobriety, some commonly associated colors are blue, silver, and gold. Blue symbolizes calmness, stability, and serenity, qualities often sought after in recovery. Silver and gold can represent achievement, progress, and the value placed on a sober lifestyle. Ultimately, the choice of color can be subjective and dependent on the individual’s personalized journey of sobriety.
What is the sobriety symbol?
There isn’t one singular sobriety symbol, as different symbols are used to represent sobriety depending on the recovery community and individual preference. However, one commonly recognized symbol is the circle triangle emblem, which is associated with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and represents unity, recovery, and service. Other symbols, such as the serenity prayer, sobriety chips or coins, and the lotus flower, are also often used to symbolize different aspects of the journey to sobriety.
Get Sober at Renaissance Recovery
If your loved one is still using alcohol or drugs problematically, we can help them here at Renaissance. Even better, your loved one can commit to recovery without needing to head to residential rehab.
We offer a full array out outpatient addiction treatment services, including:
- Standard outpatient program (OP)
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)
- Remote intensive outpatient programs (virtual IOPs)
Whatever level of support and structure makes the right fit for your loved one, they will have access to evidence-based addiction treatments including medication-assisted treatment and talk therapy like CBT and DBT. Counseling also forms a core part of treatment, both individually and in a group setting.
To help your loved one reclaim their life from addiction, get in touch with the friendly team today at 866.330.9449.
