8 Mind-Blowing Benefits of Being Straight Edge (in 2023)

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Benefits of Being Straight Edge

Even before I knew what the term straight edge was, I knew I wanted to live a sober lifestyle.

I was in elementary school when I decided I never wanted to do drugs, smoke, or drink.

Stuff like drinking is so normalized. Bar culture is everywhere.

TV shows. Movies. Commercials. Magazines. Billboards. You name it, it’s there.

And although drinking and doing other types of drugs is part of our culture, it’s never been normal for me.

At a young age, I came to the conclusion that people drank, smoked, and used drugs to alter their state of mind.

It could be to mask their feelings, or to be happy or to enjoy life.

But I knew that was never going to be me.

And I feel like so many people just don’t get it.

What does it mean to be straight edge?

Being straight edge is honestly a quite simple concept.

It’s a lifestyle. It’s a movement.

Straight edges stay away from:

🚫 Drugs

🚫 Tobacco

🚫 Alcohol

Some people even choose to not have caffeine and over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Personally, I feel like medications are like glasses for your mind and body. (Some meds are completely necessary for survival.)

But to each their own…

How to be straight edge

Some people (like me 🙋‍♀️) decide from a young age that they have no desire to drink, smoke, or do drugs.

Other people decide later in life, after they’ve decided these things aren’t for them.

And some people decide to become straight edge as a way to live with sobriety.

Every reason to be straight edge is 100% valid and acceptable.

Now, let’s see why I decided to live the straight edge lifestyle…

8 Reasons Why I am a Straight Edge

1. I WANT TO BE ME

Drinking or doing drugs alters you as a person.

I 1000000% believe that.

Whether you have a drink to “take the edge off”, or you take a hit to feel calm, you are altering your state of being.

Even if it’s just for a moment.

I want to be myself all hours of the day. I want to show people my true personality.

All my quirks and shortcomings, even in my anxious social anxiety self.

I don’t want to wear a mask and pretend to be this different person.

Why can’t we live in a society where we’re not afraid to be our authentic selves?

That’s where humility lies.

More on being yourself:

• 6 Ways to Practice Being Your Most Authentic Self
• 50 Quotes Teaching You How to Be Your Authentic Self
• 100 Daily Self-Esteem Affirmations to Love Yourself Better

2. I WANT TO REMEMBER LIFE

People might think I’m missing out on life because I don’t drink or I’ve never gotten high.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

I get to remember details and memories.

I get to experience every part of my life completely.

I’ve consistently seen what alcohol can do to a person, and it honestly breaks my heart.

I’ve seen the struggle of people I love not being able to stay sober.

I’ve witnessed so many loved ones lose years of their lives to addiction.

There have been conversations I’ve had with people who couldn’t even remember what happened the day before.

I’ve watched people fall asleep during the middle of family get-togethers.

People have fallen down the stairs right in front of me and injure themselves and still can’t admit that they need help.

3. HIGH-RISK ADDICTION

Alcohol addiction runs in my family. 

I’ve seen too many of my loved ones, on both sides of my family, lose so much of their life to their alcohol dependency.

I saw it every single day in my dad. I see it every day in his dad.

I also saw it every day in my grandma, who passed away from lung cancer due to smoking.

Plus, I already know have a pretty addictive personality from struggling with my self-harm addiction.

Messing with drugs of any kind was never going to be an option for me.

More on alcoholism:

• Coping with an Alcoholic: 6 Ways to Cope with Their Addiction
• 10 Reasons Why it is Okay to Never Drink Alcohol

4. FINANCIAL FREEDOM

Let’s get real…drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol are esspensive.

The taxes are high, and the price it takes on your health can be even higher.

My dad spent around $44 a week on alcohol. This means $176 month. Over $2,200 a year.

Just on alcohol. 🤯

My mind was blown when I found his receipts and did the math.

Whether I would be a casual consumer or someone who is dependent on something, I would rather have more financial freedom.

I could use this money for more useful things, like food and having adventures with my loved ones.

I can even save up for that vacation I’ve always wanted to go on.

5. I’LL BE HEALTHIER

Like I said before, I watched my grandma die from lung cancer.

She died just six days after her diagnosis, which was more than ten years after she quit smoking.

Because I don’t smoke, my risk of various cancers drops tremendously.

Because I don’t drink, the risk of liver failure is much smaller.

And because I don’t do drugs, my brain is healthier.

One of the biggest benefits of being a straight edge is I get to focus on healthier coping mechanisms, like practicing self-care and self-love.

I’m much less likely to mask my problems, and I won’t fill my body with all these unnecessary toxins that take days to detox from the body.

But let’s face it…just because I stay away from drugs and alcohol doesn’t mean I won’t still eat junk food. 

6. ANXIETY IS TOO HIGH

I’ll admit it: My anxiety gets really high when I’m around drugs and alcohol.

People can shift their personalities in an instant.

All it takes is one second for everything to change.

I would never want to put anything that gives me so much anxiety into my body.

I don’t want to figure out who I would become if I put something like that in my body.

Just thinking about becoming a different person scares me so much.

7. I’M STRONG-WILLED

I am strong enough to not go along with the crowd and be able to resist peer pressure.

I’m proud of sticking to my morals time and time again even when others persisted.

I love being able to have complete control over my thoughts and my actions.

My thought processes won’t ever slow down because of any type of substance.

I won’t ever make dumb decisions while under the influence.

Like that should ever be an excuse…

8. IT’S ANNOYING

I hate what people turn into when they drink, and how prevalent drinking and bar culture is.

I’ve always felt like an outsider, because I’ve never had the desire to just go out and drink. 

I hate the smell of alcohol on someone’s breath.

The smell of cigarette smoke gives me a headache and makes my chest tighten.

I hate seeing people I love and care so deeply about turn into someone else right before my eyes.

I know I’m in the minority, but I find every single thing about it as annoying as heck.

Especially when people brag about it and constantly take pictures of themselves with their drug of choice.

Straight edge movement

Being a straight edge in a society that normalizes alcohol and other drugs can feel quite lonely.

You might feel frustrated, annoyed, and even embarrassed.

But there are several reasons to stick to your beliefs and live a life that feels authentic to you.

Why straight edge lifestyle?

✅ You want to be yourself

✅ You want to remember your life

✅ Addiction may run in family

✅ You can use that money for other things

✅ In some ways, you’ll be healthier

✅ It might help with anxiety

✅ You become strong-willed

✅ Party culture can be annoying

If you are struggling with staying sober, check out Sober Solutions!

And if you are a straight edge like me, say hi in the comments below!

More posts for sober living:

• 10 Reasons Why it’s Okay to Never Drink Alcohol
• Coping with an Alcoholic: 6 Ways to Cope with Their Addiction
• I Performed the Heimlich Maneuver on my Dad Twice in Five Minutes

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