Getting sober is an interesting process – it usually isn’t straightforward, and the reasons behind getting sober vary drastically on a person-to-person basis. When I first got sober it was because I didn’t have another choice at the time. I had driven (in a blackout) about three hours away from where I lived at the time. I had blown out all of the tires on my truck, and I had pulled over in a McDonald’s parking lot because I literally – physically – could not keep driving. I somehow made my way to a hotel, and from there I made my way to a psychiatric ward, where I stayed for three days before my parents flew me to an inpatient treatment center in Florida. Did I want to get sober? No, not. Did I need to get sober? Yes, no question about that.
Recover for Yourself First, Not Others
I was in inpatient treatment for a total of three months, and I immediately transitioned from rehab into a sober living house. I stayed sober for six months after that wall and sober living, but as soon as I moved out and I was on my own once again, I struggled to stay sober for longer than two weeks at a time. Why did I return to drinking after such a significant period of sobriety? It was mostly because I still didn’t love myself. I didn’t respect myself, and I didn’t think that I deserved any of the good things that sobriety had brought my way. So I returned to that familiar path of self-destruction, and I continued along that path until I sat in enough Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to understand that sobriety was the better option. For the first time, I decided to get sober for myself – not for my parents, not for the sober guy I had a crush on when I first got into the rooms, and not for all of the people I had hurt while I was active in my addiction. As soon as I got sober for myself, my purpose for sobriety started to make more sense, and I didn’t return to drinking. The clarity began to show itself and the reasons for getting sober for myself became unmistakable.
Getting Clean and Sober For Yourself
There is a good chance that when you first get sober you won’t be getting sober for yourself. Addiction is a disease of self-destruction and self-loathing, and the men and women who grapple with substance abuse usually have very little respect for themselves. Sobriety is interesting in the sense that the longer you stay sober, the more self-respect you will start to have, and the more inclined you will be to stay sober for you and your own best interest. However, you are more inclined to stay sober when you figure out that you are doing it for yourself straight away. There is a major difference between stepping away from drugs or alcohol because you consistently hurt the people you love and committing to a life of sobriety because you are slowly killing yourself. Have you been considering getting sober? Why? Is it because your spouse has repeatedly threatened to leave you if you don’t get your act together? Is it because your parents stay up at night wondering whether or not you’re coming home? Or is it because you want to enjoy life once again – because you want to wake up in the morning excited for the day ahead of you, rather than waking up and wishing that you’d died in your sleep?
Evoke Wellness and Starting Sobriety
The desire to get sober for yourself is certainly not something that will happen overnight. It will take time and patience, and you will need to shed your self-loathing to slowly develop a sense of self-worth. How? Stay sober – seek treatment, and keep showing up to meetings. Do things for other people while consistently carving out time to tend to your own needs. Work through the steps with a sponsor. Of course, to begin on this journey of self-discovery and long-term recovery, the first step is getting started. To learn more about the recovery process or to begin your journey of healing, call Evoke Wellness today to begin healing from substance abuse.
