Addictions in Sobriety

Even when you are now in recovery, you can still be caught off-guard by addictions in sobriety. Find out the most common ones below.

The brain has the infamous rewards center which dictates a lot of our motivations, drives, likes, and dislikes. It is also the one responsible for the development of addictions.

At the heart of this rewards center is dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is released in the brain each time we experience pleasure, like eating a good meal, getting a promotion, winning a prize, receiving a reward, and many more. These examples are natural rewards, and drugs and alcohol can release 10 times more dopamine than these.

As our brains get recurring surges of dopamine, we continue to seek our substance (or behavior) of choice in order to feel the same pleasure. Over time, we need more and more of the substance or repeat the activity more frequently, in order to maintain the same feeling of pleasure. This develops an addictive cycle that is hard to break.

So for people who have treated their substance or behavioral addiction and have embraced sobriety, they can still have some addictions. These kinds of addiction may be healthier, but you should still try to remember to avoid overdoing it.

Here are some addictions that people fall for even in sobriety:

Addictions in sobriety

1. Caffeine is actually a psycho-active drug, only a legal one. It stimulates the central nervous system, which gives us a boost of energy. A safe and healthy dose, according to the Mayo Clinic, is 400 mg of caffeine daily, which equals to about four cups of brewed coffee. Taking about 300 mg at a time, which is even less than what is contained in energy drinks, can cause caffeine intoxication, or the so-called “jitters.” Also, heavy use can cause insomnia, anxiety, constipation, palpitations, high blood pressure, and even confidence that can increase risky behavior.
2. Smoking cigarettes, as we all know, is a bad habit. Smoking cigarettes releases nicotine, which is immediately absorbed by the body and goes to the brain within 10 seconds. It also causes a buzz of energy and pleasure. However, the bad part is, it quickly builds up tolerance, making addiction inevitable for smokers. Trying to quit causes mood-swings, irritability, and headaches. Furthermore, a study has shown that alcoholics who quit smoking during their time in recovery are 25% more likely to maintain long-term sobriety.
3. Junk foods. Ah, the chips and sweets. Many people are addicted to these easily. It’s a lesser evil though compared to cocaine and heroin. In fact, sugar and sweets are even recommended to help with people’s cravings during their early recovery. This is because sugar and high-calorie, fatty foods bring to the brain the same effects such as a hit of heroin and cocaine. This is why consuming junk foods regularly and in large amounts can lead to compulsive eating that is similar to drug addiction. So the unbeatable way to go through sobriety is still healthy eating, so stay away from junk.
4. Exercise can be an awesome way to deal with cravings especially in early recovery. It releases endorphins in the body, which are natural painkillers and also bring feelings of confidence, euphoria, and well-being. Activities such a jogging and bicycling can also be a form of meditation that helps relax the mind. Still, it can also build up tolerance and cause withdrawal symptoms such as agitation and tension.
5. People today, including you most probably, pull out your smartphones countless times a day to answer calls, read text messages, check on your social media notifications, play with games, take selfies, and so many more. This can lead to compulsive smartphone use and irrational reliance to the device that you can easily disregard safety (especially when driving) and common courtesy (when in a middle of conversation). It’s an easy escape, and you also lose touch with your reality or immediate environment. You can easily become consumed by your smartphone, and addiction to this is being researched all over the world.

Sobriety isn’t about being faultless or living like a monk or hermit. You don’t really have to deny yourself the sense of pleasure like it’s some sin. However, the things above are all potentially and highly addictive. As someone in recovery, your life now is all about maintaining balance and living a productive lifestyle. While moderation may be hard, being informed and aware of your behaviors and choices can greatly help you protect and maintain long-term sobriety.