With the new year often brings New Year’s resolutions. For many people, their resolution may be to get sober. Whether doing so for a trend such as “Dry January” or to better your life, getting sober in the new year can have tremendous benefits. If you believe you may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, consider seeking treatment in 2023.
Do I Have a Problem With Substances?
If you are thinking about getting sober in the new year, you may have a problematic relationship with drugs or alcohol. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), there are three categories of warning signs for substance use disorders (SUDs).
#1. Physical
If you are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, you may exhibit the following physical signs:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Pupils that are larger or smaller than usual
- Changes in appetite and sleep
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination
#2. Behavioral
Abusing drugs or alcohol may cause the following behavior:
- Difficulty in relationships
- Secretive or suspicious behavior
- Legal trouble
- Neglect of responsibilities at work, school, or home
- Change in friends
- Using substances in dangerous conditions
- Increased tolerance
- Loss of control over drug or alcohol use
#3. Psychological
The following can be psychological signs of SUD:
- Feeling anxious or paranoid
- Lack of motivation
- Unusual increased energy
- Mood swings, irritability, and angry outbursts
- Change in personality or attitude
Seeking Treatment in the New Year
If you believe you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, treatment is your way forward. Now that 2023 is here, you can embark on a new journey of sobriety and happiness. The following are the benefits of seeking treatment in the new year.
New Year, Better Health
Drugs and alcohol harm your body. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “People with addiction often have one or more associated health issues, which could include lung or heart disease, stroke, cancer, or mental health conditions.” How you use substances can also affect your health. For example, people who inject drugs with needles have a higher chance of developing conditions such as HIV and hepatitis C.
Drugs and alcohol can also affect your mental health. If you struggle with a mental health disorder, you may use substances to cope with your symptoms. However, this relief is only temporary, and your symptoms will continue to worsen. Some substances can also lead to the development of mental health disorders.
However, by choosing sobriety in the new year, you are choosing to better your health. Once detox is complete, the toxins in substances will no longer pollute your body. In treatment, you will learn ways to improve your health, such as exercise and healthy eating. By getting sober, you also have the opportunity to work through any mental health disorders and find healthy and effective ways to manage your symptoms.
New Year, Better Relationships
Struggling with addiction can also affect your relationships with other people. This is due to many factors, including secrecy, trust issues, anger, and codependency. Each person you are close to will somehow be affected by your use of drugs or alcohol.
For example, you may be married. However, addiction often affects finances. You may spend the majority of your money on obtaining your substance of choice. From there, you pull from your savings. As a result, your spouse becomes frustrated as they work to pay all of the bills and take care of the family financially. This can lead to anger, resentment, and broken trust.
If you choose sobriety in the new year, you give yourself the opportunity to better your relationships. Tools such as family therapy can help you and your loved ones repair broken trust, work through resentments, and find healing. These people will also be a source of support for you as you journey through recovery.
New Year, New You
Drugs and alcohol hold you back from being who you truly are. Substances get in the way of you and your life. When you are using, you rob yourself of the opportunity to be truly happy. Instead, life becomes a consistent pursuit of using and getting more. You have a bad day, and you use drugs or alcohol. The next day, you feel sick from withdrawal, so you have to use it again. In active addiction, you are stuck in a vicious cycle that, at times, can seem like there is no way out of.
However, sobriety gives you a chance to become the person you want to be. Without drugs and alcohol holding you back, you can find new hobbies, make new friends, and live a life beyond your wildest dreams. By choosing sobriety in the new year, you have the opportunity to build a meaningful life.
With the new year comes new opportunities to build the life you deserve. If you have been living a life clouded by drugs or alcohol, 2023 is a chance to choose a new way to live. At Sober Life, we offer multiple treatment options for those struggling with addiction, including partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and outpatient programs (OP). Through our evidence-based and holistic therapies, you can discover who you truly are and find a life worth living without substances. So this new year, choose to become a new you. Sober Life is ready to help you in your journey. Call us today at (619) 542-9542 to learn more about our program.
