Sober Curious Recovery – Great News for Relapse Prevention

Sober Recovery is ‘Hip’ In 2019

• Culture Shift: ‘Booze Culture’ Losing Popularity •

Mindfulness and Health Consciousness are Making Sobriety Cool

A major obstacle for relapse prevention in alcohol use disorder has always been the pervasive nature of alcohol in our culture. And the social stigma of drinking non-alcoholic club soda at business meetings and social gatherings.

The exciting news for those in recovery: There is a growing health-conscious trend towards ‘no alcohol’.

In 2019 – suddenly sobriety is cool. There is a growing culture shift away from alcohol as a social ritual. More and more individuals are becoming ‘Sober Curious‘.

With Mindfulness and increasing Health Consciousness (including nutrition) – individuals across the US are beginning to see the value of sobriety. And it is huge.

Mocktails and Mindfulness – More Fun in Relapse Prevention

View Mocktail Recipes

The booze culture ‘happy hour’ is beginning to lose its appeal. Sober, mindful, after-work activities are appearing across the U.S. – from Los Angeles and Silicon Valley to NYC.

Non-alcoholic happy hours are making social interactions more meaningful – and the morning after a lot more happy.

A cultural shift to sobriety is welcome news! And perhaps it indicates that more individuals are striving to deepen (and actually remember) tangible connections with others.

Mindfulness Recovery and Relapse Prevention

Mindfulness refers to a moment-to-moment awareness of mental processes and habitual reactions – without judgement or acting on impulses (Mikulas, 2011). Just 11 minutes of mindfulness training may help heavy drinkers cut back on alcohol, according to new research in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Mindfulness involves learning to focus on the present moment.

Other strategies sometimes used to combat addiction try to eliminate cravings or emphasize ‘will power’. Mindfulness guides practitioners to observe and acknowledge cravings – and respond with compassion and the intention to remain sober.

With mindfulness training – addictive cravings and reactions are not destiny. With mindfulness, habitual impulses and trigger reactions are noticed and acknowledged – but there is no follow through with action. Holistic addiction recovery centers have incorporated mindfulness training into rehab and relapse prevention.

Some Side Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder

1. Failing health – caused by a number of factors related to alcohol.
2. Beauty Issues – Heavy alcohol drinking causes bloating and/or facial puffiness; and bloodshot eyes.
3. Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement, is linked to alcohol.
4. Weight Gain from the extra calories in alcoholic drinks.
5. Weight Loss when liver failure and other side effects of AUD occur.
6. Hungover heavy drinkers often smell unpleasantly like alcohol. The liver processes most of the alcohol consumed – but some of it leaves the body through your breath, sweat and urine.
7. DUI convictions or auto accidents.
8. Mental confusion and loss of emotional regulation.
9. Increases chances of cancer and Alzheimer’s. 
10. Job loss.

Sober Trends Nationwide

A sobering trend is happening in major cities across the U.S.

In New York City, Listen Bar brands itself “All Bar, No Booze.” Mixologists create herb-infused drinks with names like “She Pretty” and “Ghost me Maybe.”

The Sans Bar, in Austin, Texas has shelves of drinks and bottled offerings from specialty brands like Dry Soda Co. “We also handcraft our own specialty ‘mocktails’ — things like a rosemary and ginger mule, or a sans-garita, which incorporates lime, agave and apple cider vinegar,” said founder Chris Marshall, who used to work as an addiction recovery counselor.

Sans Bar is running more alcohol-free events in cities and states across the country this year. The company has hosted events in St. Louis, Portland and Alaska.

Alcoholism Among Women Increasing

A 2017 JAMA Psychiatry study discovered alcoholism is on the rise among women, minorities, older adults and low-income people.

From 2007 to 2017, deaths attributed to alcohol rose 35 percent. Among women, deaths increased 85 percent, reports USA Today. Middle-aged women saw the biggest increases in ER visits due to binge drinking between 2006 and 2014.

Alcohol consumption increases cancer risk along the digestive tract. And alcohol is the cause for about 15 percent of breast cancer cases. Other recent research has linked alcohol consumption to Alzheimer’s. 

More than 5 million women have alcohol use disorder, according to 2015 data from The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.  The NIAAA points out that women exhibit different drinking patterns than men. And, women’s bodies process alcohol differently than men. This means greater risks of liver damage, heart disease and breast cancer than men. Federal dietary guidelines recommend to one drink a day for women, compared to up to two drinks for men.

Sober Curious and Enjoying Life More

Millennials and Gen Zers are drinking less than previous generations did at their ages, Business Insider reports.

Vox reports a growing number of people have become “sober curious,” which Ruby Warrington, journalist and author of a book on the subject, calls a wellness approach to abstaining from alcohol.

New Start Recovery Solutions hopes the ‘hip sober’ trend will spread far and wide and become a new cultural standard – instead of the exception.

Bay Area Whole Person Recovery

Intervention, Medical Detox, Holistic Rehab, Relapse Prevention, Aftercare

New Start Recovery Solutions Inpatient Residential Locations: 
Concord, Bangor, Sacramento, Monterey.

Outpatient IOP and PHP Addiction Treatment ∙ Virtual IOP Available

We provide screening and addiction assessments, drug and alcohol interventions, medical detox, whole person drug addiction treatment and ongoing aftercare.

Serving the Bay Area, East Bay, Silicon Valley and Northern California – New Start Recovery Solutions provides professional intervention, medical detox and addiction recovery in the cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Menlo Park, Concord, Sacramento, Monterey and surrounding areas.

New Start Recovery Solutions | Recovery Happens Counseling Services

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We are dedicated to helping those in need.

We Work with EAP and Union Programs and Accept Most Insurance
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• Each patient is evaluated by New Start Recovery Solutions staff and receives a biopsychosocial assessment; and an individualized treatment plan.
• We use Mindfulness for Relapse Prevention and other whole person evidence-based therapies.
• Our holistic therapies include CBT, DBT, Brainspotting, Conscious Recovery, yoga and more.
• If you or your loved one is located in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Bay Area, San Rafael, Monterey, Sacramento, Chico, Paradise, Redding, Martinez or other Northern California area – and are dealing with a drug abuse or an alcohol use disorder – welcome to evidence-based whole person addiction treatment at New Start Recovery Solutions.
• New Start Recovery Solutions is a VA Community Care Provider; in-network with TriWest.
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Please call our Admissions at  866-303-6275 for more information.
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