How are you celebrating your soberversary?

A soberversary is a commemorative event celebrating the anniversary of your sobriety. You can think of it as your sober “birthday” to mark the growth of the new person you’re becoming now that your life is no longer ruled by drugs and alcohol.

Often, soberversaries are related to the chips you receive in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-Step groups to mark the time spent without addictive substances:

• Silver Chip – 24 hours of sobriety
• Red Chip – 30 days/1 month of sobriety
• Gold Chip – 60 days/2 months of sobriety
• Green Chip – 90 days/3 months of sobriety
• Purple Chip – 4 months of sobriety
• Pink Chip – 5 months of sobriety
• Dark Blue Chip – 6 months of sobriety
• Copper Chip – 7 months of sobriety
• Red Chip – 8 months of sobriety
• Purple Chip – 9 months of sobriety
• Gold Chip – 10 months of sobriety
• Green Chip – 11 months of sobriety
• Bronze Chip – 1 year of sobriety

A soberversary may be a day of reflection, while for others it may be a day of celebration. Regardless, it is a day to remember the journey you’ve made and the progress you’ve achieved.

Celebrate Your Soberversary & Privately Acknowledging Your Accomplishment
There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to celebrate your soberversary, but it’s important to acknowledge how far you have come. It hasn’t been easy, but you have stuck with it and made incredible progress. Give yourself a pat on the back and take a moment to reflect on all that you have accomplished.

Do you still feel as though your recovery progress is frustratingly slow? Take some time to think about all of the positive changes you have made in your life since getting sober. Have you repaired relationships, gotten a new job, or taken up a new hobby? Write them all down and be sure to include how each change has made your life better.

Do you have big dreams for the future? Your soberversary is a great opportunity to think about what you want to accomplish during the next stage of your recovery journey. What are your goals? What steps will you take to make sure that you stay on track? Write them down and put them somewhere you will see them every day so that you can stay focused on the wellness-focused life you’re building for yourself.

If there’s something special you’ve had your eye on, such as supplies for a hobby that you’ve been exploring, your soberversary is the perfect time to treat yourself. Just as the chips in AA are a tangible reminder of your accomplishment, a gift that focuses on the future reminds you that you have a life worth fighting for.

Celebrate Your Soberversary With Others
One of the best ways to celebrate your soberversary is to spend time with others who support your decision to be sober. Celebrations with balloons, cake, and recovery-themed signs have become a bit of a social media trend—busting addiction stigma and letting people share the joy they’ve found in recovery. For example, model and television personality Chrissy Teigen marked her one year soberversary with an Instagram post showcasing her husband and children. “Not a drop of alcohol in 365 days!” she wrote. “I miss feeling loopy and carefree sometimes, but to be honest toward the end, it didn’t give that fun feeling anymore anyhow.”

If a party isn’t your style, treat yourself and the members of your support system to something special, such as tickets to a concert, a day at the spa, or a weekend road trip. The memories you make will help you stay motivated and on track with your recovery efforts long after your soberversary has passed.

Giving back is another great way to celebrate your soberversary. There are many organizations that could use your help, such as homeless shelters, animal shelters, food banks, and hospitals. Many of these organizations welcome volunteer groups of all sizes, including groups with older children. Volunteering is also a great way to meet new people and feel good about yourself.

St. Joseph Institute for Addiction Is Committed to Your Success
After completing our Pennsylvania residential addiction treatment program, our clients typically transition to some form of outpatient care. This may include regular meetings with a counselor or therapist, attending support groups, or participating in continuing care programs offered by our treatment center. The goal of outpatient care is to help people in recovery maintain their sobriety and avoid relapse.

It is important to remember that addiction is a chronic disease, and there is no cure. However, with treatment and support, it is possible to manage the disease and live a fulfilling life. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please reach out to us for help.