About Sober Living

Overview

Living sober is a new experience for alcoholics who have been drinking for a number of years. Alcoholics have learned how to cope with disappointment, loss, stress and happiness by drinking. Learning how to live without alcohol takes time and practice. The Mayo Clinic reports that support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous can help people learn about sober living.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease that progresses over time. A physical and mental addiction happens gradually, reports the Mayo Clinic, changing the basic brain functions and altering the chemical balance in the brain. Behaviors that are influenced by these changes range from impulse control to the ability to feel pleasure. Alcoholics come to rely on alcohol to increase good feelings and minimize negative feelings.

Sobriety

Treatment usually starts with a detoxification process that takes between four and seven days. Medication is sometimes prescribed to avoid seizures. Therapy can help the alcoholic overcome any denial about the problem and start the process for sober living. The Mayo Clinic reports that alcoholics must accept that they have a problem before they have a chance at recovery. At the same time, patients in treatment usually are checked for physical side effects that may linger, including heart disease, liver damage and high blood sugar.

Medication

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that there is no magic pill to cure alcoholism. Although medication is available that can reduce the symptoms of withdrawal, none are foolproof, nor do they work for every alcoholic. Often, once an alcoholic has been detoxed, other mental conditions can be diagnosed and treated. Many are found to suffer from bipolar disease or depression and have been self-medicating. These conditions can be treated with antidepressants and mood stabilizers that can help the alcoholic recover.

Drinking

Sobriety is only possible for an alcoholic with complete abstinence from drinking. The NIAAA says that alcoholics who try to cut down and drink less rarely succeed and usually relapse. Shortly thereafter, they're right back where they were before treatment and often worsen. Moderate drinkers who aren't necessarily alcoholics are defined as men who have two drinks per day and women who have only one drink a day.

Recovery

Alcoholics Anonymous is a 12-step program that provides alcoholics with access to others who are recovering from the disease and learning how to live sober. They share experience and tips on how to avoid drinking. The 12 steps provide a means to make amends for past wrongs, learn about what triggers the need to drink and teaches alcoholics how to change their behavior and thinking patterns. Meetings take place all over the world and can be accessed through the organization's website (see Resources below).