During the first few weeks of sobriety, you will experience a roller coaster of emotions. This is a period where you are faced with new challenges and temptations on a daily basis. You might find yourself feeling lonely and bored, or you could go out of your way to find things to do and people to hang out with. It can be challenging to adjust to a new sober lifestyle after spending so much time drinking alcohol and partying. While it’s important to socialize and have fun, at some point you need to buckle down and focus on rebuilding your life. The first few weeks of sobriety are the perfect opportunity for you to take inventory, set goals, and get back on track. Here’s what you can expect in the early days of your sober journey.
You will probably experience intense cravings.
If you’re like most alcoholics or heavy drinkers, you will experience intense cravings for alcohol early in the sobriety process. It can be easy to think, “Well, I’ve already ruined my life, so what’s the harm in having one last drink?” The problem is, once you start drinking again, it’s likely you’ll end up going right back to your old drinking habits. These cravings are the result of both physical and emotional triggers. Physically, the cravings to drink come from your physical dependence on your substance of choice – alcohol. You can combat these intense cravings by staying active, eating healthy, and getting plenty of sleep. You can also talk to other people in recovery and attend support group meetings.
You Might Find Yourself Eating Comfort Foods
Many people in early sobriety find themselves eating comfort foods when they’re feeling stressed and anxious. This can be a challenge, especially if you have an unhealthy relationship with food. It’s easy to use food and other sources of pleasure as drinking alternatives, so it’s common for people in early sobriety to gain a few pounds. At the same time, it’s common for people to overeat to cope with stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, overeating is likely to make you feel even worse about yourself. This can be a serious challenge for those in early sobriety because it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits. You can combat these negative eating habits by staying active, eating healthy, and finding other ways to cope with stress.
You’ll have to face difficult conversations and situations.
The first few weeks of sobriety are the perfect time for you to address difficult conversations and situations that you have been putting off. For example, you might need to deal with an old flame or romantic partner who is upset that you’ve quit drinking. You may have difficult conversations with friends, family members, co-workers, and even children who have been impacted by your drinking. You will have to confront people who have hurt you, annoyed you, or taken advantage of you when you were under the influence. You might have to face people who have judged you for your alcohol use. You might even have to apologize to people you have wronged while drunk.
You May Struggle With Depression and Feeling Discouraged
Many people in early sobriety feel depressed and discouraged. It’s easy to feel down on yourself when you’ve had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol for so long. It’s common to feel sad and regretful about all the things you’ve done over the years. You might feel discouraged because you know that sobriety will be a long and difficult journey. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re never going to be able to achieve your goals and dreams. At the same time, it’s important to remember that everyone struggles at some point in their sobriety journey. Even people who go on to have successful sober and healthy lifestyles have experienced moments of sadness, regret, and discouragement. You can combat these negative feelings by engaging in positive self-talk. Remember, you are not your past drinking behavior. You are a new and sober person. You can rewrite your future by making healthy choices now.
Take inventory of your life and set goals for the coming weeks and months
Now is a great time to take inventory of your life, especially if you’ve just ended a long-term relationship with alcohol. It’s easy to get so caught up in your new sobriety that you forget to focus on the other important areas of your life. You will likely need to take care of some important financial and legal tasks. You might need to update your insurance information, or you might even need to reconnect with estranged family members. You will want to take inventory of relationships in your life. Are there people in your life who are toxic? Are there people in your life who encourage you to be healthy and happy? It’s important to make your sobriety a collaborative effort. Surround yourself with people who are positive, passionate, and encourage you to live a healthy lifestyle. Make sure these people are aware of your sobriety journey and know how to support you.
Don’t be Discouraged – Things Will Get Better!
If you’re feeling discouraged during the first few weeks of sobriety, remember that things will get better! It’s normal for sobriety to feel like a roller-coaster ride in the beginning. You will have good days, bad days, and everything in between. It’s important to celebrate the small wins, as well as the big milestones that come along your journey. At the same time, it’s essential that you don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Every person has a different story, different challenges, different strengths, and different weaknesses. You need to focus on your journey, accept that it will be difficult, and know that you will get through it.
Recover from Addiction in a Los Angeles Sober Living
Did you just finish your first few weeks of sobriety? Or are you in the early stages of recovery and trying to figure out what to expect during the first few weeks? Either way, we understand how difficult it can be. Sobriety is a new experience for most people, and it comes with its own set of challenges. It’s a momentous time in your life that requires serious adjustments. Thankfully, there are a lot of resources out there to help you get through these initial stages. Sober living homes are some of the most beneficial resources that you can make use of over a long period of time.
As you adjust to life without alcohol, sobriety can be challenging. You’re learning to manage your stress without drinking, which means you’ll probably feel more stress than usual for the first few weeks. Fortunately, sober livings like Sober Living East can help you deal with the stress, loneliness, and early challenges of sobriety. Moreover, living at a sober living can help you learn how to have fun and actually enjoy all that sobriety has to offer. With a little bit of time and support, you’ll discover that life is far easier and more rewarding without having to worry every day about your next drug or alcohol “fix.”
If you are ready to make a change, contact our men’s sober living home at Sober Living East today!