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Is sorbiety worth it?

PriestTheyCalledHim

PriestTheyCalledHim

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 7, 2005
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I'm coming up on 2 years of sobriety later this month. Which is a pretty good accomplishment. Some days I am OK with sobriety, and I don't see myself ever using alcohol or other drugs ever again. Other days I do sometimes miss using or the idea of being sober for the rest of my life. The idea of not ever having a drink or using any other drug is something I put out of my mind since craving and thinking I can use, or thinking about using doesn't get me anywhere except disappointment.

I'm not planning on drinking or using any drugs, or relapsing. I do not feel burnt out with sobriety, if that's even possible. Using alcohol and drugs would not help any of my personal issues, and it would just make things worse.

I'm wondering if other people here who are sober feel this way? Or wonder if long-term lifetime sobriety is worth it? Or if it's possible?
 
is breathing worth it? is eating worth it?is having your freedom worth it? is having legitimate relationships with people worth it? is being able to live and grow and love and learn and enjoy life worth it? because it seems to me that you asked the same question as all of the above. if you were the type addict that I was then there is no life without staying clean off of your problem substances. Sometimes I need a reminder for why I'm doing this but then I remember. The misery is not fucking worth it. Period.

If your bored with your sober life there is an unimaginably large plethora of new things you can do for fun, interest, and enjoyment that don't involve substances. Perhaps your life is lacking for something? Albeit not a drug for damn sure.
 
CaseFace said:
is breathing worth it? is eating worth it?is having your freedom worth it? is having legitimate relationships with people worth it? is being able to live and grow and love and learn and enjoy life worth it? because it seems to me that you asked the same question as all of the above. if you were the type addict that I was then there is no life without staying clean off of your problem substances. Sometimes I need a reminder for why I'm doing this but then I remember. The misery is not fucking worth it. Period.

If your bored with your sober life there is an unimaginably large plethora of new things you can do for fun, interest, and enjoyment that don't involve substances. Perhaps your life is lacking for something? Albeit not a drug for damn sure.
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OK you bring up some good points. I did sort of recently have a break up with a partner who I thought I was in a long-term relationship with. It was not a healthy relationship or living environment all the time. I'm single and just OK with that since I am focusing on myself.
 
I can certainly relate to that. I went through a difficult/unexpected breakup about 6 months ago. It took some time but ive finally gotten to the point where I'm happy being single, and I've been able to make SO much progress on myself. I hadn't been single for more then a couple months in almost 6 years, which is a while being only 22 years old currently. So I've really been able to start finding myself and figuring out how to live life without attachments or expectations which leads to a much healthier, happier life. I hope in time you'll make the same growth, it can be painful at first but a lot of good can come even more if it doesn't seem like it initially.
 
For me, when I consider all things.... its always "yes". Does not mean its always easy or always will be.
 
Using any drug is always good in the short term cause your high and bad in the long run.sobriety is bad in the short term because u have to deal with problems without your crutch but longterm its always better.it might not seem that way if you are bored and just sitting around but with a healthier body,mind,and bank account you are better in the long run without the addiction ball and chain weighing you down

If u are one of the lucky few that can use drugs and keep that addict voice quiet in your head more power to u but with me its either sobriety or or all out with any mind altering substance i can find.so sobriety is worth it because i know the dark path i go down when i get ahold of any goodies
 
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Dude, I know how you feel. It's just the feeling of not having something in your system... at 8 months in I can totally relate to you, maybe in a stronger way since I"m earlier in my recovery. I'd say just keep on the fight man... you know what happens when you listen to the devil on your shoulder. Best of luck!
 
I think on this one Priest we need to consider one of the greatest mind fucks of addiction.. the fantasy. Time slips by in our battle and all the sudden we find ourselves thinking of this magical place active addiction brought us.. I personally don't think that beach exists and if it does we didn't walk on it. Its a keystone in the manipulation.. the big picture or the movie played through is reality.. not what we sacrificed, but more of how little we gained.. active use is hell. Even if its heaven for a few seconds.
 
The seven months I spent clean and sober were both challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

I'm slowly tapering on diazepam at the moment, I'm putting off the question of sobriety until I get to the point where it is actually pertinent (the end of my benzo taper). I'm still extremely confused about the whole thing if I'm honest despite the many many problems drugs have caused me. :(
 
Yes, it's very possible. Many many exceptionally strong people are able to stay sober for the rest of their lives. And, no doubt, they live better lives than addicts: always looking for the next fix. Try to stay strong.
 
I would say it is. I would say that if you feel you can have a beer once and a while without going crazy and binging that, that would be okay too. For me it's about mitigating the things I know I can't handle and keeping them far away. Once those are out of the picture the desire to get altered all together also dissipates.

I would say, though, that you're an addict. I'm an addict, and some days fucking suck in sobriety, but for the most part they're good. What I would say is that with a strong foundation and support system, and removing codependent relationships from your life sobriety becomes much less of a task and more of a joy.
 
Is it worth it? Yes. Absolutely. My drug of choice was cannabis for several years, which in comparison to what a lot of people here go through is nothing, but the same principles apply I think. I went through several stages of smoking to not smoking.. to a whole year of nothing.. then smoking again. The first high was great, I felt like a happy child again, but that was all I got.. every high after that was the same old. I realized how much I enjoy being sober and being sharp mentally.

What neversickanymore said about the fantasy is absolutely true, and very important to point out. The fantasy is like a mental hook with the bait.. tempting you. But it never lives up to what you imagine it to be. So ignore it. Don't fight it.. just ignore it. Refuse it battle and it will go away. I always think of a Simpsons Tree House of Horror episode where all the advertizing billboards come to life and destroy everything.. and they realize the only way to stop them is to 'just don't look'. Just turn your mental head away.

Find a healthy reward for your life.. a relationship.. your children.. your health.. you can feel great pleasure, and more deeply, through these avenues than any substance can ever provide. Substances are like whores for your mind.. they can't give you the emotional and spiritual depth that a true healthy relationship can.
 
Yes. I got clean last year and it's almost ridiculous how many amazing things I was able to bring into my life in such a short amount of time, practically all at once. Things I lost because of relapsing. I didn't relapse because I was unhappy overall... it was a mixture of getting too cocky with my recovery and not utilizing coping mechanisms properly. Possibly my use of MDMA helped lead me back there as well, because I would seek out heroin during the comedown.

But now I know what to avoid and I'm heading into day 4. I'm very much looking forward to life being amazing again... something the junkie lifestyle is not, never was, and never will be. ;p
 
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