It is possible you first started taking drugs or drinking alcohol because it seemed like a quick route to having more fun and feeling happier. After all, many people turn to substances as a way to escape the stress and challenges of daily life. Alcohol and drugs are sometimes seen as a good way to leave all of that behind for a bit.
When you come to associate drugs and alcohol with happiness and fun, it can be tempting to associate sobriety with the opposites of those things. You might find yourself thinking that sobriety is associated with sadness and slogging through life.
That, of course, is a terrible way to think about sobriety—and one that could all too easily put you on a path toward relapse. So in this blog post we want to help you focus on the ways in which sobriety improves your life—and provides a space for plenty of joy.
The first step might be some serious thinking about the idea of fun.
Figure Out What You Find Fun—Without Drugs or Alcohol
If you have been thinking of drug or alcohol use as a synonym for fun, it is time to give some thought to what you truly enjoy. This might involve thinking back to the hobbies and activities that were meaningful to you before you developed a substance use disorder. It might also involve thinking hard about things you might enjoy that you have not tried before or have only dabbled with in the past.
Here’s an example: Maybe when you think back to the time before you started drinking or using drugs, you remember that you really enjoyed going to live sports events with your friends. Now that you are in recovery, it could be a great time to start doing that again.
Of course, you have to approach that plan carefully so that your sobriety is not put at risk. Tailgating with your hard-drinking pals is no longer a realistic option. But you can still have a great time with supportive friends who want to root for the home team and are happy to do so sober. Getting back out to the games is a great way to reclaim the fun you used to enjoy.
Another example: Maybe you always wished you had learned to play an instrument or stuck with the musical instrument you played in school. Now that you have reclaimed your sobriety, you have the opportunity to pursue that idea. You could get your old instrument out of the closet and see what you remember, pick up a cheap secondhand instrument, watch some online videos to get started, or find group or individual lesson opportunities in your community. Many people find engaging with the arts to be an extremely enjoyable hobby, and so it might be just what you need to redefine fun for yourself while supporting your sobriety.
Fun is Supported by More Positivity and Less Stress
Sometimes folks miss out on fun and happiness because they are too self-conscious to join in. That is certainly one reason why people turn to drugs or alcohol to fuel their fun. Substances, after all, tend to lower our inhibitions.
But you can gently lower your own inhibitions so that you open yourself up to more experiences you might truly enjoy. You can do that by surrounding yourself with positive people whose friendship is supportive of your sobriety and who are up for finding the fun in all kinds of things. You can also take steps to reduce the amount of stress in your life, which not only supports your sobriety but can also help you find space for letting go and enjoying things.
Sobriety Makes Joy Possible Again—And We Can Help
You might have taken up taking drugs or drinking alcohol as a way to increase feelings of fun. But as substance use develops, fun is quickly replaced by devastating impacts on your physical health, your mental well-being, your finances, your relationships, and more. In short order, everything that used to bring you joy is overwhelmed by your substance use disorder.
Fortunately, it is possible to regain your sobriety. And when you do so, you give yourself the chance to reclaim joy as well. At Bel Aire Recovery Center—located near Wichita, Kansas—we provide the evidence-based, personalized treatment that makes reclaiming and maintaining your sobriety possible. We will see you through medically supervised detoxification and a robust rehabilitation program that also addresses co-occurring mental health disorders. And we provide ongoing support so that you can begin your recovery journey with confidence—and so you will know right where to turn in the event of a relapse.
Getting sober is a life-changing transformation. When you are ready to take that transformation on, we are ready to help.
