Addiction can be a truly crippling disease.
According to the World Health Organization, 3.3 million deaths per year result from alcohol abuse. Somewhere around 31 million people all over the world also struggle with disorders related to drug use.
Becoming addicted to substances that can cause such irreparable damage to your body may seem so illogical, but when you are in the throes of your downward spiral, all that really matters is satisfying your dependency. Your wellbeing probably won’t rank high on your list of priorities at that point.
Still, many are afraid to let go of their dependency. They fear that sobriety will rob them of their joy and make it impossible for them to have fun in any meaningful way.
That is far from being the case of course. There is indeed fun in sobriety and by following the tips included below, people in recovery and those who have already become sober will be able to understand that there’s life after overcoming the challenges of addiction.
1. Start to Develop More Meaningful Relationships
One of the things that tend to happen when you become addicted to any harmful substance is that you start to alienate the people around you. When your mindset 24/7 is just about how you can satisfy your urge, you don’t often spare a second thought for the people around you.
It takes a lot of courage to admit you’re wrong to the people who care about you and ask for their forgiveness, but those are all parts of the healing process. By doing those things, you can begin to better understand what you were missing as you throw yourself fully into the arms of toxic substances.
Connecting with people, hanging out with them, and sharing a few laughs are all fun activities you won’t be able to enjoy fully as long as you’re addicted.
Being sober will also help you create new relationships with new people. You can expand your network and welcome more people into your life now that you are no longer dependent on a substance.
2. Become More Active
Being dependent on certain substances can really take a toll on your body. Even if you were a relatively healthy and fit individual before, your dependences may have changed that.
Now that you are sober, you can begin to reclaim what you lost.
Take up a team sport such as basketball to get in better shape and to get a better sense of what it’s like to be part of a group. If you’re not up for that just yet, you can also try out other physical activities such as hiking or camping. You won’t need any mind-altering substances when you have the wonders of nature stimulating your senses.
On top of all that, becoming more active can also reduce post-acute withdrawal symptoms, according to VeryWell Mind.
3. Indulge Your Creative Side
It’s not just your strength and the vitality that’s drained from you when you become dependent on drugs and/or alcohol. Your mind also loses its edge as well.
Some say that they use those substances in the first place because they want to alter their state of mind, but there is simply no need for them if your goal is to simply experience something truly special.
Devote your energy into coming up with a story that deserves to be told or if you’re more skilled with a sketch pad, draw whatever it is that is running through your mind. The mind can become so muddled when it is dependent on foreign substances, but now that it is returning to normal, it can come up with such wondrous works again.
4. Beautify Your Home
So, what’s the best way to leverage all those inspired ideas that are floating around inside your head? Well, one thing you can try is to start changing things around your home.
In the past, your home may have seemed like a sanctuary for your substance abuse, so changing it up quite a bit is not a bad move at all. Feel free to go all out with the changes you want to make as well. You’re fortunate to have a fresh start and your home deserves one too.
If you do have a knack for drawing or painting, you can even put your works up to around your home as reminders of what you can accomplish now that you’re sober.
5. Relax
You’re always running after something when you’re addicted. Perhaps you’re running after that substance that can provide that artificial high or something else that can eventually help you capture that elusive sensation.
There’s no need to constantly run anymore. You can now relax.
Take the time to breathe, meditate, and reflect on how far you’ve come since those days when your addiction overwhelmed you. Sobriety itself is the greatest reward, but even just being able to relax again is something you’ll be able to appreciate greatly.
Conclusion
The notion that becoming sober means no longer having fun is just flat out wrong. Using harmful substances is not a prerequisite for enjoying your life. Now that you’ve broken free from the clutches of those substances, you can start to see what living life truly is about.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it is not too late to get help. At Quest 2 Recovery, it is our goal to help you get off drugs and live a better life. Contact us today!
