Table of Contents
“How are you this fun sober?” I once had a date ask me bewildered. I hadn’t had anything to drink, yet there I was on the dance floor, making a fool of myself and having fun. It baffled him that I didn’t need substances to dull my inhibitions and it surprised me that he made me feel so comfortable. Unfortunately, this is often not the case; instead, we use substances to make us feel a certain way because the way we feel without them isn’t any fun. Drugs and alcohol make people feel brave, adventurous, and indestructible. However, the exact opposite is happening as they partake of these substances because they are, in fact, hurting themselves physically and not learning how to cope with real emotions, making them less able to be brave, adventurous, and indestructible. Being physically sober means that you don’t use substances like drugs or alcohol and are not currently under the influence of either. When you’ve overcome an addiction, it can also mean the amount of time you’ve been clean or the time since your last use of any substance. Being sober allows your mind to be free and clear, and lets you feel all your emotions and think your thoughts without any haziness or distraction. For some who repeatedly use substances to numb their emotions, being sober is an uncomfortable feeling, but it doesn’t always have to be that way.
What is Emotional Sobriety?
Emotional sobriety is when you allow yourself to feel your emotions in a healthy way. Ingrid Clayton, a clinical psychologist, states in an article published by Psychology Today titled “What is Emotional Sobriety?”, that emotional sobriety “is about tolerating what you are feeling. It is about staying sober no matter what you are feeling.” What it doesn’t mean is that you have to feel happy and joyous all the time or that you’ve got life all figured out. On the contrary, being emotionally sober means feeling every feeling including sad, angry, confused, anxious, etc. and being present while experiencing them. Clayton explains that you don’t have to blame anyone for your feelings or do anything to make them go away. It’s human nature to want to escape suffering, but when we use any method of avoidance, like drugs, alcohol, bottling up feelings, or even using spiritual methods like trying to pray our feelings away, we’re not dealing with our emotions in a healthy way. Some of us are taught that certain emotions are bad, when that’s just not the case; however, the way you react to an emotion can have negative consequences, and that’s where you have to be careful. Allowing yourself to feel your emotions fully will help you deal with them so that they don’t continue to show up over and over, and create a vicious cycle of hurt and avoidance.
Emotional Sobriety: The Missing Link in Recovery
Once you’ve become physically sober, it is common to be plagued by memories and regrets of things you did when you were battling your addictions. Fred H., author of Drop the Rock: The Ripple Effect, calls this sober suffering. He explains that your past can interfere with your ability to cope with the present, increasing your risk of relapse. However, once you learn how to achieve emotional sobriety, usually through therapy techniques that help you learn from your past and leave it behind, you can be fully present in your life, lower your risk of relapse, and move on. United Recovery Project understands that every person has their own unique recovery journey. That’s why we offer inpatient substance abuse treatment that includes a customized treatment plan and access to a variety of therapy techniques, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Medication-Assisted Therapy
- Creative Therapies
- Relapse Prevention Education
- Life-skill Training
- Health, Wellness, & Fitness
Substance Abuse Facilities that Offer Emotional Sobriety
Finding a drug treatment center that will help you with emotional sobriety can be difficult because many inpatient drug rehab centers only offer certain programs and focus solely on physical sobriety. However, at United Recovery Project, we focus on the root of addiction, often caused by traumatic childhood memories or current emotional situations that are too much for anyone to handle. We’ll help you learn how to grow from your difficult experiences and cope with future negative emotions so that you’ll no longer have the urge to escape reality in any way. You can experience all the joys of life while surprising yourself and your loved ones. Our wonderful treatment consultants can answer any questions you may have about what we offer and how we can help you or a loved one get started on your journey to recovery. Call today for more information about United Recovery Project.
