Daily Recovery Club

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25 positive side effects of long-term sobriety

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We’re all familiar with the negative effects of alcohol and the nasty symptoms of withdrawal. Today I want to talk about the positive benefits of recovery. Enjoy and leave a comment to add your own!

25 Positive Side Effects of Long-Term Sobriety

  1. Lower blood pressure
  2. Increased compassion for others
  3. Decreased ability to lie
  4. Vision improves
  5. Healthy weight loss (or gain)
  6. Capacity for long-range planning
  7. Persistent sensation of joy
  8. Sudden outbreaks of laughter
  9. General sense of wellbeing
  10. Emotional regulation
  11. Self awareness
  12. Improved sleep quality
  13. Better sexual performance
  14. Long and short-term memory improves
  15. Aversion to negative thinking
  16. Interest in new activities or hobbies
  17. Lowered occurrence of antisocial behavior (fighting, lying, stealing)
  18. Increased emotional intelligence
  19. Better sleep
  20. Skin appears younger
  21. Predictable digestive function
  22. Improvement of coexisting conditions (anxiety, depression, bipolar, etc)
  23. Feelings of freedom, hope, self worth
  24. Difficulty remembering why you drank
  25. Strong desire to help other addicts

Thanks to my online friends who helped me kick around this list, especially Jen from Team Sober. Please leave me a comment to add your own thoughts to this list. I’d like it to keep it growing.

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About Sober Tony

Tony is the founder and editor of Daily Recovery Club. He is a widely respected authority (in his own mind).

This blog is not professional or medical advice, rather a support community for others suffering from alcoholism. We are all experts on failure, starting over, and trying to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Find him on Twitter @soberTony

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