Should You Celebrate Your Sobriety Birthday?

If your loved one goes to Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, a sobriety anniversary typically involves getting a chip. You could offer to attend the meeting so you’re there to witness when they earn their next chip. A sobriety anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on where the individual used to be and where they are now. They can recognize and celebrate how they’ve turned their life around and how much it’s improved.

  • Many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence—never using the substance ever again.
  • Reaching a sobriety milestone might be the perfect encouragement you need to begin the next stage of your life.
  • Now that you are sober, you may have discovered that some of your past relationships were not only unhealthy but downright toxic.
  • It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse.
  • Research shows that if you maintain these types of toxic relationships, your chances of relapsing are greater.

The practice of giving sobriety chips in AA is attributed to a group in Elmira, New York, in 1947. There are fourteen basic coins that are given to members within their first year of sobriety. Generally, coins are given at one month, three months, six months, and nine months of sobriety in the first year. A sobriety birthday (also known as a sobriety anniversary, sober how to celebrate 1 year sober anniversary, recovery anniversary, or sobriety milestone) also serves as a reminder of the progress you’ve made. Or if you prefer, it can be the date that you first entered a drug and alcohol rehab treatment program. Only you can determine what date will serve as your sobriety birthday, but the most important thing is that it carries special significance for you.

Spend the Day With Loved Ones

It’s not uncommon at this stage to struggle with anger, resentment, and other complex emotions such as shame or guilt. These feelings are normal, and working through them with acceptance and self-compassion is often part of the sobriety journey. Talking with a therapist can be especially helpful for processing these feelings. Verbally recognizing the progress a person has https://ecosoberhouse.com/ made in their recovery journey shows them that their efforts are noticeable, and others see their achievements as well. This affirmation is encouraging to someone who may feel like they’ve hit a standstill in their sobriety. Also, people in recovery often feel undeserving and guilty after reflecting on how their actions have impacted their loved ones, health, and career.

how to celebrate 1 year sober

The rapper had been open about his former sleeping pill and Vicodin addictions in the past — as well as his relapses. But he remained relatively quiet about his continuing sober journey until April 21, 2018, when he posted a photo of himself on Instagram holding up an Alcoholics Anonymous coin with the Roman numeral X on it. Price also said that she’s figured out “a version of not drinking that works” for her. In August 2022, the singer’s band Lady A postponed their Request Line Tour amid Kelley’s sobriety journey. The Unstable actor, whom Rob shares with wife Sheryl Berkoff alongside son Matthew Lowe, teared up as his father presented him with his milestone sobriety chip. Following the harrowing journey, Lovato shared what led to the relapse in their Dancing With the Devil docuseries in March 2021, later clarifying that they decided not to completely remove marijuana and alcohol from their life.

Identify Your Personal Triggers

In October, she celebrated five months of being sober on her 37th birthday. “Not a drop of alcohol in 365 days! I miss feeling loopy and carefree sometimes, but to be honest toward the end, it didn’t give that fun feeling anymore anyhow,” she wrote. “I drank to end crazy anxiety that later mostly went away when I – get this – quit drinking! sigh.” It’s a reminder of the effort you’ve made to choose sobriety for the past 365 days.

You’ll likely encounter many physical and mental changes during your first year of sobriety. Many of these changes will provide motivation and relief, while others can be unsettling and uncomfortable. In the more challenging moments, it’s important to remember that your body is recovering, and that discomfort is often a sign of growth. It’s also important to remember to take it one day at a time, and know that while there will be ups and downs along the way, you are doing something incredibly admirable. Even when said with good intentions, certain things might come off as harsh or insensitive to someone in recovery. While battling addiction, it’s likely all your attention was focused there, meaning you had little time to pursue your dream career or further your education.

Days Sober

Additionally, there are various ways to offer companionship to help someone in addiction recovery. During the other 364 days of sobriety, send your loved one a text to see how they’re doing, invite them to a sober event, or meet up with them for coffee or dinner. The point of writing a card for a sober anniversary isn’t to just say “congratulations on being sober.” It’s to remind them that you’re there for both the easy and tough days.

how to celebrate 1 year sober

These individuals can be thanked during a sobriety milestone in a variety of ways, whether that’s writing a “thank you” letter or treating them to coffee or a meal. Recognizing those who have helped achieve your milestone and continue to do so on a daily basis is important. On August 9, 2018, she took to Instagram to share that she’d had a relapse — but was celebrating a year of sobriety once again.

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