Is Sobriety Worth It? 10 Benefits to Living a Sober Life

Maintaining your sobriety can be very challenging, which is why you may be asking the question; is sobriety worth it? Alcohol addiction recovery is a lifelong process and comes with high and low points that you will need to be prepared for.

At I Am Sober, we understand how difficult this process can be, which is why we provide a variety of alcohol addiction recovery resources. You can also use our sobriety milestone tracking app to track your process.

In this article, we will discuss the many benefits of maintaining sobriety long-term as well as what you should expect during the very early stages of recovery.

1.  Improved Physical Health

If you are wondering, is sobriety worth it, the number one benefit you need to be aware of is improved physical health. This is a benefit that you will start to see almost immediately as you cut out all alcohol.

Health improvements that you should see within the first weeks of recovery include things like better sleep, improved digestion, mental clarity, and weight stability. As you maintain sobriety, your liver, heart, and immune system functions will all begin to normalize and improve.

There are also many long-term health benefits of quitting alcohol, such as a reduced risk of more serious illnesses. For instance, you will be at less risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer.

In addition to these long-term and short-term benefits, your energy levels improve and you will be able to better manage any existing health conditions.

2.  Better Mental Health

Drinking alcohol impacts your overall health, including your mental health. In many people, drinking alcohol consistently ends up worsening mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression. If you have any mental illness, the addition of alcohol will also make these conditions worse.

When you cut out alcohol entirely and begin your sobriety journey, you will be able to achieve better emotional regulation and stability. This also opens the door for you to get mental health help and receive an accurate diagnosis so that you can get the right kind of treatment.

Many people who begin a sober lifestyle will find that they have improved self-esteem, less psychological distress, and an improved sense of well-being.

3.  Improved Relationships

When you suffer from alcohol addiction, this will take a toll on all of your relationships, whether they be friendships, romantic relationships, or family relationships. Addiction can create trust issues and volatility in the relationship that can ultimately lead to isolation.

A big part of long-term recovery is making amends and reconnecting with loved ones. By maintaining sobriety and addressing why it happened in the first place, you can start to rebuild trust and reestablish those important relationships.

This goes hand-in-hand with the mental health benefits of sobriety, as you will be open to deeper emotional connections and can take accountability for your actions.

4.  Greater Self-Awareness

For many people who develop a drinking problem, this is often the result of unresolved issues that go much deeper. By removing alcohol as a coping mechanism, you are able to have more honest self-reflection to understand what ultimately drove you to an alcohol addiction.

Finding better self-awareness is one of the key milestones of sobriety as it helps you to better understand why the addiction took place. Achieving self-awareness is a lifelong journey that you can continue to develop through journaling, therapy, and sobriety milestone apps, like I Am Sober.

Here are some additional resources that the I Am Sober sobriety tracking app provides that can help you on your recovery journey:

●      Daily sobriety reminders

●      Connection with a sobriety community

●      Tracking financial savings

●      Daily pledges

●      Tracking sobriety milestones

   5. Increased Productivity

An alcohol addiction impacts every aspect of your life, including your ability to be productive and to make the most of your days. Things like hangovers, blackouts, and poor sleep all contribute to this, making you feel like you are stuck in a never-ending cycle.

Unfortunately, even moderate drinking can negatively impact your drive, discipline, and sense of purpose.

When you cut out alcohol and maintain sobriety, you will start to develop better time management and goal-setting skills. This can help you improve your performance at work or school and can provide you with the fuel you need to pursue other hobbies or outlets.

   6. More Financial Stability

Another benefit that makes sobriety worth it is improved financial stability. Anyone who has ever struggled with alcoholism understands just how expensive this addiction can be. Alcoholic drinks aren't cheap, and you may have developed a variety of bar tabs that can quickly drain any money you are able to earn.

In addition to the cost of alcohol itself, alcoholism can also lead to other unnecessary and irresponsible expenses. For instance, you may make impulsive purchases when you are under the influence, or you may have legal fees that are tied to your addiction.

Sobriety drastically cuts back your budget as you are no longer footing the bill for your addiction. Your earning potential will also improve as you become a more clear-headed and responsible person.

   7. Greater Mental Presence & Sense of Purpose

A benefit of sobriety that isn't always expected is better mental presence and clarity. Many people who struggle with a drinking problem aren’t aware of just how much this is clouding their ability to think and live in the moment. Alcohol has a significant impact on your cognitive function and how your brain works, which can lead to a variety of negative side effects.

Maintaining sobriety for even as short a time as a few weeks, will reward you with improved mental presence. You will be able to live in the moment and truly experience all that life has to offer.

Here are some of the mental benefits of quitting alcohol:

●      Emotional resilience

●      Emotional regulation

●      Mental clarity

●      Improved memory

●      Quicker cognitive function

●      Stress management

In addition to feeling more present during sobriety, this can also help you achieve a real sense of purpose in your life.  You will learn more about yourself and about what matters to you, which can help you determine what your true purpose is.

For many people, this can help them outline the next milestones in their life that they want to achieve, such as getting a new job, graduating from school, or pursuing a creative outlet.

    8. Increased Confidence

Alcohol is a common substance used by people to self-medicate if they struggle with insecurity, low self-worth, and anxiety. Not only is this a common coping mechanism, but it can ultimately worsen the emotions that it was supposed to improve. This is why many people who struggle with alcoholism tend to have a negative self-image.

As you begin your alcohol addiction recovery journey, you will begin to reach sober milestones that can help to improve your confidence and self-image. These milestones are proof of your commitment and ability to take charge of your life, especially when it comes to long-term results.

   9. Improved Quality of Life

An overall benefit of maintaining sobriety is a significant improvement in your quality of life. You will feel better physically and emotionally and will be able to achieve a sense of community and family as your relationships improve.

Without alcohol to numb your emotions and consume your time, you will be able to pursue meaningful activities that increase your confidence and produce joy. You also won't feel weighed down by negative self-talk and regrets over your actions.

Overall, people who quit alcohol are able to get a broader picture of what they want from their lives.

   10. Longer Life

Aside from having a better quality of life in sobriety, this will also lengthen your life. It is no secret that alcohol is incredibly hard on the body and can lead to a variety of health concerns. For instance, research has shown the increased risk of liver disease, stroke, cancer, and premature death in those who drink excessively.

Alcohol poisoning and overdosing are significant risks, especially in those with more severe cases of addiction. Alcohol also negatively impacts your judgment, leading to alcohol-related accidents that could leave you significantly injured or lead to premature death.

Maintaining sobriety will help you reduce many health risks associated with alcohol, allowing you to be more proactive in your healthcare. You will also be able to maintain a healthier lifestyle that includes things like good nutrition, exercise, and treatment for any physical or mental health conditions.

Early Sobriety: What to Expect

Putting a stop to alcohol use and beginning your sobriety journey can feel incredibly intimidating and uncertain. You may be worried about what withdrawals will be like and whether or not you will have the emotional resolve to maintain sobriety long-term. However, the benefits of sobriety far outweigh the downsides.

Here are some things you may experience in the early stages of recovery before you start to see the benefits:

●      Strong Emotions: Because alcohol often masks emotions, you should expect to feel very strong emotions when you cut out alcohol. You may experience significant mood swings, mental fogginess, anxiety, paranoia, depression, etc.

●      Withdrawals: Depending on how extensive your alcohol addiction is, you may experience mild or severe withdrawals. Common withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, nervousness, restlessness, shaking, sweating, and loss of appetite. You may want to consider checking into an alcohol rehab facility so that your withdrawal symptoms can be monitored by a healthcare professional.

●      Self-Doubt: One of the biggest emotions you will most likely feel during the early stages of sobriety is self-doubt. Self-doubt will tell you that you don't have the strength to maintain sobriety and that you won't be able to function in the real world without alcohol. However, if you push these thoughts aside, you will eventually begin to feel improved confidence and self-image.

●      Setbacks: As unpleasant as it is, it is also important to understand that you will experience setbacks in your sobriety journey. You may experience relapses, or you may let yourself down in other ways that slow down your progress.

Even though the early stages of addiction recovery will be challenging, it's important to remember that they will pass. The longer you maintain sobriety, the easier it will be and the better equipped you will be to handle any issues or triggers that arise.

Start Your Sobriety Journey Today

Still wondering is sobriety worth it? As you can see from everything we have discussed in this article, maintaining sobriety comes with many benefits. The longer you maintain sobriety, the more benefits you will see, such as improved physical and mental health as well as a better quality of life.

If you are on the road to alcohol addiction recovery and want to track your progress, download the I Am Sober app today to get started, free of charge.