choose the top 3 that apply: what are sobriety's top benefits for you?
 

What are your top benefits from sobriety?
1. Improved physical health
2. Improved mental health.
3. Improved relationships with others
4. Improved functioning in the workplace / community
5. Improved spiritual connection
6. Other

What a great topic with the top 3!

I just voted! I think physical health is number 1. I would put not killing myself or others, and avoiding jail as a real benefit as being sober....prison orange is SO NOT my color...:)

My choice of 'other' is not having to review texts, facebook, emails, chats, phonecalls, etc the next morning to determine the stuff I 'said' last night that I wish I hadn't.

That's a good one. For me it's definitely mental health, then physical, and then financial health too. Being a heavy drinker on a student budget gets you broke very fast.

I voted but its a little skewed as its all of the above and so much more.

Getting clean gave me a life
Before that I was a member of the walking dead

Interesting topic...The benefits I have received were not necessarily the benefits I was praying for in my last drinking days, so it's difficult to choose the top 3.
Had I taken this poll one month in (sobriety), I would have chosen physical health, improved functioning in workplace and improved relationships. With almost a year under my belt, the best and most unexpected benefit would be having a real, meaningful spiritual connection for the first time in my life. My relationship with God (Creator, Source, Higher Power...substitute whatever resonates with you) has completely changed my life. Second benefit would be improved relationships, especially with my husband and kids. Lastly, mental health. I have been restored to sanity. Life is good!

I chose physical, mental and spiritual. I felt my spirituality this morning for the first time in a month, felt the need to connect. My mind is clear and my body feels great.

I guess my "other" would be that I will have hundreds of extra dollars each month from now on, to save for retirement and a down payment on a house.

On an embarrassing note, but still worthy...I think one of the other things is that has/will improve(d) is my personal hygiene. :blush:

I chose functioning, relationships, and spiritual.

I function much better as a parent and caregiver, and homemaker. I do not hide out from any relationships or obligations.
I volunteer once a week in a reading program and have a service commitment at NA on Fridays. I call my sponsor every day and try to call one other woman in my support group also. Which I do about 4 days a week now. I make the effort to be a good partner. Spiritually I practice prayer and some meditation.

Some days everything just shines and others I get in the way. Ego, self pity, all my bs sometimes keeps me from feeling good. Then it passes.

This is all beneficial to my physical and mental well being.

When I was drinking I was a mess in all areas.

Any one else want to vote?

Lovin' your polls, EternalQ! :)

I agree with my soul sister FIAFI!

All of the above

Spiritual and mental for sure. Everything else is gravy.

I never sat around drunk and prayed (unless it was about legal issues!) and felt a real connection with my Higher Power. It feels great. I have a positive outlook on life and I feel calm.

I still worry about stuff of course, but I know I have a God I can turn to.

I chose:

1. Mental health
2. Physical health
3. Other: financial health. I spent WAY too much on liquor (buying bottles every few days, buying $12 shots at clubs all night long, being too tired to grocery shop/cook so ordering expensive delivery all the time, etc...) I have so much more money now!

Anyone else?

You can pick three when you vote.

Any more? Pick THREE.

i put physical and mental health, my 'other' is to get confident and well enough to return to work someday :)

1) Improved physical health. Not gonna get to spiritual if you're dead.
2) Improved mental health. Soaking my brain in Budweiser had gotten me terrible anxiety, depression...ect.
3) Improved work performance. See improved mental and physical health.

I also have money to save or spend on what I want. I can drive anywhere day or night without worrying about the State Highway Patrol.