When I did stick with it, well-meaning people started to sometimes ask me if I noticed any changes. I knew what they were asking — was there something singular and miraculous that had happened to my physical health — but I struggled with how to answer. It was never about losing weight (thank goodness, because when I stopped drinking, I gained weight. Go figure). It wasn’t about sleeping better, although I eventually did — after initially struggling to fall asleep at all. Or about clearer skin (my breakout-prone skin did not suddenly gain an influencer-level glow).
Even your sponsor has times of crisis. Just because he or she is your sponsor doesn’t mean these things don’t happen. Many in recovery continue to attend regular – at https://en.forexpamm.info/why-some-people-have-a-higher-alcohol-tolerance/ least weekly – 12-step meetings for many years. It’s like maintenance to them, keeping them where they need to be and always with their recovery first and foremost.
You’re More Financially Stable
We talked about her triggers to drink the habits she needed to change and how Christy actually dealt with them. Her marriage in her home while her husband continued to drink after she stopped. The first year of sobriety will undoubtedly be a journey. It may not always be easy, but the payoff is overwhelmingly worth it. By continuing the work that started in rehab, individuals can find ways to survive in the real world and begin building a life free from substance abuse. Medication-assisted treatment is viable for many struggling with long-term withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings.
The first year has been amazingly good and extraordinarily difficult all at once. I’ve developed friendships that are real for the first time in many years. My sober friends call to see how I am and I call them to see how they are. I don’t just call to talk about myself like I once did. This group of women introduced me to more women (and men) in the program. I exchanged numbers and people began to call and text me.
What Challenges to Expect In Your First Year of Sobriety?
You also need to address any negative emotions and feelings you are experiencing. Plus, the ideas I had for my future also involved alcohol. I grieved the girl that would have had champagne at her wedding and red wine on vacation in Italy. No matter how much I knew I absolutely needed to leave her behind, it was really hard.
- And meeting new people is exciting.
- And over time, my goodness, you just can’t even tell who you are anymore, and what you’re capable of, because it’s just that filter of alcohols just drowning you out completely.
- The first year of sobriety will present many challenges.
- I take life one day at a time (as much as possible) and put my sobriety before all else.
Another thing you should expect is there will be good days, and there will be bad days. Many people will go through emotional swings where they may feel confident in their sobriety one day and question it another. This is perfectly normal and should not deter you from reaching your goal. Returning home causes a major shift in family situations. The daily family routine may impact a person’s recovery schedule and jeopardize progress. It is best to have a conversation with your spouse or partner right away about the importance of sticking to a recovery schedule.
First Year of Sobriety: What to Expect
And then I had my first really good night’s sleep on day 12. I remember I wrote my coach and was like, I slept through the night. I think going into the first week, I definitely just had that thought I went back and forth with myself a lot. Casey was just like you’re doing it, you’re not doing it, you’re doing it, you’re not doing it. This doesn’t seem real, because by does that imposter syndrome. I do not know how to be anybody else.
Don’t date, make any major life decisions, attend 90 meetings in 90 days, etc. These are guidelines to follow established 7 Ways Creativity Supports Addiction Recovery by others who have found success. But what are some other key success tips you may not be familiar with?
What to Expect in Your First Year of Sobriety
Let Little Creek Recovery Center guide you down the right path to recovery, personal growth, and long-term sobriety. Additionally, celebrating this milestone isn’t just about looking back. It also sets the tone for the days, months, and years to come.
Yeah, no, I, I wanted to grow in this way and that way, and I wanted to be healthier, and I had weight I needed to lose, I had stomach issues. And I wanted to fix all those things. And alcohol was keeping me from doing that. I mean, there were things that I said no to a lot in the beginning. Because it didn’t sound like fun. I didn’t want to deal with the social pressure.