According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, sober means not being intoxicated. But does that mean you can be sober without abstinence? If you can have one drink without being intoxicated, does that mean you are sober? No.
It’s generally accepted that sober means not drinking at all and abstaining from alcohol.
However, truly being sober means more than not drinking alcohol.
Sober Curious
Sober curious individuals avoid alcohol for personal or health reasons by experimenting with sobriety. In addition to not drinking alcohol, it involves curiosity about the way alcohol affects daily life. The key lies in exploring their relationship with alcohol, questioning why they want to drink, and finding ways to deal with their ‘whys’ that don’t involve alcohol.
Alcohol Addiction & Recovery
An individual who struggles with alcohol addiction can abstain from drinking and be sober, but without addressing the underlying issues that caused them to become addicted in the first place, a person is generally considered to be a dry drunk.
When a person is struggling with addiction, they will drink to cope with whatever life brings them instead of learning tools and healthy coping techniques to deal with their problems. By taking away alcohol without actively seeking recovery, individuals tend to turn to destructive coping habits instead of healthy coping habits learned in recovery.
Addiction recovery starts with abstaining from alcohol, but takes it further. Lasting sobriety requires a fully articulated treatment plan with interventions that assist in recovery - it’s a process of change through which individuals improve their health both physically and mentally, and strive to reach their full potential.
Getting Help For Addiction
If you or somebody in your life struggles with sobriety, professional help may be the best option to help continue on the road to recovery.
At Care Addiction Center, we offer treatment plans that address every facet of your addiction, serving individuals in Geneva, Batavia, Sycamore, St. Charles, and Kane County, with online addiction treatment available anywhere in Illinois.
To get started on the road to recovery, or if you have questions about helping yourself or a loved one, call us today or schedule a confidential assessment online and begin treatment.
Want to hear about what being sober means from those that have traveled the path to sobriety? Listen to the Sober.Coffee podcast with Mike and Glenn, sharing stories of experience, strength and hope in recovery.
If you’re not sure if your alcohol use is a problem, why don’t we complete a confidential evaluation? Feel free to contact our Illinois rehab at: 630-402-0144