Signs You Are Ready to Get Sober

Are you struggling with the decision of getting sober?

Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you are ready to make a change.

Is your drinking or drug use no longer enjoyable?

Let’s be completely honest, in the beginning, drinking and drug use don’t always have negative consequences. I know that this is a statement that most people don’t want to admit. It may sound like I’m promoting substance abuse, but I’m not. If there wasn’t any enjoyment to be had in drinking or drug use then people wouldn’t even bother with it. However, if you abuse drugs or alcohol long enough there will always come a point where it is no longer fun and it begins to destroy your life.

Your tolerance will grow and you will continue to chase those first highs hoping that someday you can catch the way you felt in the beginning, but that day won’t come. Sadly many people end up dying in the pursuit of re-experiencing their first high. Over time tolerance grows and it takes more and more to achieve the same effect. After a while using doesn’t even make people feel high, it just helps them feel “normal” or “not sick”.

Is your drinking or drug use causing problems with your relationships?

It is an inevitable fact that sooner or later an addiction will begin to wear on relationships. Addictions can cause people to do things that they normally would not do and often times those things are hurtful to others. Many people will choose to cut ties with people who are in active addiction in order to protect themselves. This is a harsh reality of living with an addiction. If you are ready to work on rebuilding those relationships and that trust then you are ready to get sober.

Is your drinking or drug use causing you more problems than it’s worth?

At a certain point in addiction, the negatives will begin to outweigh the positives. Legal problems, financial stress, lost relationships, broken trust are only a few of the long list of consequences that come from active addiction. Top that off with the relentless cycle of getting high and going through withdrawal and life begins to become an overwhelming rollercoaster ride.

Are you tired of hiding and lying?

Many people who drink too much or abuse drugs have to lie in order to maintain their lifestyles. This may be due to shame or a way to avoid judgment from others. After a while the constant lying begins to wear on a person, no one wants to live a life full of deceit forever.

Are you ready for a better life?

This is often the biggest motivation to get sober, the hope for a better life. No one grows up wanting to be an addict. It is a harsh and difficult way to live. While a life in recovery won’t always be easy, it will certainly be easier than living a life of addiction. It may take time but the opportunity to rebuild trust, finances, relationships, and career are well worth the work.