As you may recall, last month signified National Recovery Month; which, of course, is a very important movement. Now that trend is continuing with another theme that can hopefully reduce the growing number of addictions across the U.S. Sober October is a little less official than what we had previously, but it conveys a good message and we are proud to support it.
Several sites have actually picked up on the Sober October trend. Refinery 29 even built an article around its growing popularity. Its history can actually be traced back to 2010 and a small fundraiser from England called “Octsober.” With its trendy name and popular social media hashtag, the Octsober event actually raised several hundred thousand dollars during its first year. From there, the movement gained moment and became a little more formal with the Sober October moniker.
Per the Refinery 29 breakdown, Sober October does come with some official rules. For one, you cannot touch any alcohol for the 31 days of October (this includes any and all Halloween get togethers). Fundraising has also remained a key component, as most people who participate also tie their sobriety to a charitable cause. Small donation requests will be posted on social media accounts, giving the movement a true philanthropic angle.
Therapist and recovery advocate Hillary Cecere was interviewed for the Refinery piece, emphasizing that 31 days of clean living can help many people undertake a true reality check when it comes to their bad habits. And even though it is a relatively short amount of time, health benefits can be quantified with four weeks of abstinence.
“I think in one sober month, there can be long term effects,” Cecere told the site. “One of the biggest effects is a better awareness of a person’s relationship with alcohol. There’s also a sense of accomplishment that [can lead to] lasting changes. More moderate or heavy drinkers may notice higher energy levels, weight loss, and even a stronger immune system.”
And to their credit, several major site like The Guardian have printed full lists of ways people can find new productive outlets without the use of alcohol. We certainly encourage the movement (which almost serves as a counterpart to the more popular Dry January event that happens in the beginning of each year).
Feel free to spread the word and make sure to follow the #SoberOctober hashtag across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for live updates from participants.
