What Is Emotional Sobriety and How Can You Practice It?

Emotional sobriety introduces you to long-lasting self-esteem, wisdom, resilience, and balance that’s necessary for a sober and peaceful life.

The term “Physical Sobriety” means refraining from substance use and thriving in your recovery journey. On the other hand, the term “Emotional Sobriety,” introduced by Alcoholics Anonymous, means to control your emotions to prevent relapses.

In reality, emotional sobriety does not mean only handling emotions to prevent relapse but also to feel both positive and negative emotions without letting them control your actions.

Emotional sobriety introduces you to long-lasting self-esteem, wisdom, resilience, and balance that’s necessary for a sober and peaceful life.

How to Practice Emotional Sobriety

There are many proven ways to practice and maintain emotional sobriety. Some of which are-

  1. Mindfulness meditation
    Mindfulness meditations reduce stress levels, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions. Through mindfulness, you can attain a tranquil state of mind that helps you battle negative thoughts and prevent relapse.

  2. Behavioral therapy
    Behavioral therapies help you address your negative behavioral patterns and help you replace them with new and healthy ones.

  3. Accepting emotions
    Emotional sobriety is not about avoiding your negative emotions, but rather it’s about accepting all your negative and positive emotions instead of letting them overwhelm you.

  4. Getting community support
    Support networks like AA, NA, 12-step communities, encouraging friends, families, and other social groups can help you achieve emotional sobriety.

  5. Journaling
    Journaling is a remarkable way for self-reflection. As you journal about your negative emotions, you address them and create a pathway to accept them easily.

  6. Daily efforts
    Attaining emotional sobriety is not a matter of a single day. Practice it daily to achieve stunning results.

  7. Giving it time
    Achieving sobriety takes time, dedication, and consistency, regardless of whether it can be about physical or emotional sobriety, do not give up when negative emotions start to cloud your mind. Address them and accept them. Give yourself time to heal from them.

affirmation
My negative feelings cannot control me. I am on my path to emotional sobriety, and I will achieve it. I’ll be easy on me and my emotions and give it time.

Samantha Penn