Marking one year of being sober is more than a one-day celebration; it means you have moved into a whole new statistic bracket for sobriety. While only 33 percent of people who are sober for less than a year will stay sober, half of those that have been sober for a year will continue their sobriety for the rest of their lives1.
At one year sober, you have overcome post-acute withdrawal symptoms. You have lifted the physical and mental fog that can come with substance abuse. While one year’s sobriety doesn’t mean you don’t have days that you struggle, it does mean that you can continue a healthier life free from abuse.
Cognitive Abilities Improve
A study from Stanford University studied the brains and mental performance of recovering alcoholics who had experienced anywhere from 6 months to 13 years of sobriety2. The researchers then studied people of comparable ages who rarely drank.
The researchers found that with time, the cognitive and mental abilities of middle-aged alcoholics were similar to those of people who never or rarely drank. The sooner the participants were able to stop drinking, the fewer negative effects and greater chance for recovery. This means that even at one year’s sobriety and beyond, you truly can reverse some of the effects from long-term substance abuse.
You Find Out How Strong You Are
Sobriety can allow you to grow not only physically strong, but also mentally strong. At one year, you have learned about what triggers your cravings. You’ve learned the people and places that can make you feel good about yourself.
While being mentally stronger doesn’t mean you should take for granted the things that keep you sober, like attending group meetings, it does mean you have learned how to maintain your sobriety through the challenges that arise every day.
Your Body Can Function as It Is Meant To
You can spend years abusing your body with drugs and alcohol, so it is understandable that it takes time to truly feel better when you are sober.
Drugs and alcohol can act as central nervous system depressants. They slow your thinking, they make your arms and legs feel heavy, and they can rob you of your energy.
It takes time for your brain and body to learn how to operate without harmful substances. But when you do, you are able to focus on healthier eating and taking care of yourself. If you haven’t incorporated exercise into your routine, the one-year sober mark is a time where you can explore a new, healthy hobby you’ve always wanted to. Whether it’s the mind-body focus of yoga or pulse-pounding CrossFit or similar programs, you now have a clean, healthier body to put to good use.
Congratulations on a year’s worth of sobriety. May you continue to progress and celebrate many future years of sobriety and happiness as you live a cleaner lifestyle.
References:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/craving/201402/how-often-do-long-term-sober-alcoholics-and-addicts-relapse
- http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20060828/fog-alcoholism-clears-sobriety