Emotional sobriety is an important factor in recovery. It means being able to confront and cope with all the negative emotions that were ignored when gambling, using drugs or alcohol. These are the feelings that can act as triggers for relapse, so being able to manage them is crucial for recovery and for staying sober over the long-term.
Working toward emotional sobriety is a long process.
Simply stopping gambling or use of a substance and avoiding relapse is not enough. While this may be the first and most urgent part of recovery from an addiction, it is also crucial to address all the negative feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that were smothered and ignored by gambling, drinking or drug use. Only when they are confronted and managed can someone truly achieve both physical and emotional sobriety.
Avoiding relapse is one of the most important reasons to address negative emotions. Learning to control or manage emotions is to avoid relapsing. Negative feelings are often trigger for behavioral or substance use, and if they are not regulated a relapse becomes nearly inevitable.
Emotional sobriety means being able to experience, confront, and accept all emotions, even the painful ones. It doesn’t mean being happy all the time, but it does mean having a healthy relationship with emotions and using positive strategies to cope with those that are negative.
It is a long process to learn to become emotionally sober.