Life as a recovering addict is fraught with untold challenges. That explains why more than 30% of recovering alcoholics relapse within the first year of committing to sobriety.

But despite these grim statistics, there are numerous places to draw motivation for those attempting to stop drinking or using drugs. The inspiration can come from practicing healthy lifestyle habits like mindfulness meditation, or by simply glancing at your sobriety necklace whenever you feel the urge to relapse.

We’ve prepared a guide to sobriety necklaces and their role in the recovery community.

What Are Sobriety Necklaces?

If you’ve been struggling with substance abuse long enough, you’ve likely heard of the names Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Alcoholics Anonymous is a global community of (current and former) alcohol users where members freely share insights into how to quit drinking and achieve full sobriety. Narcotics Anonymous pursues the same sobriety mission, except that it mainly targets narcotic users.

Both AA and NA maintain a reward system in which members are feted with sobriety medallions and other sentimental chips upon attaining certain milestones in their recovery journey. Sobriety necklaces are among the many rewards a recovering addict can earn from AA, NA, or other sobriety support groups. A sobriety necklace is a piece of jewelry worn to celebrate achievements earned in the quest for complete sobriety. These jewelry pieces resemble regular necklaces, except that they typically bear AA or NA initials, depending on the sobriety fellowship associated with them.

What Are The Benefits Of Sobriety Necklaces?

As already hinted, the road to recovery is paved with numerous challenges. Most of these problems emanate from the ubiquitous presence of drug cues.

As a recovering addict, it’s difficult to walk a mile without stumbling upon a beer or tobacco advertisement. It’s only worse if you live in a busy city, where alcohol-related billboard ads litter the streets.

With so many drug cues around you, you need an extra dose of motivation to continue along the path to full recovery. And that’s where sobriety necklaces come in.

A sobriety necklace serves as an enduring symbol of your solemn commitment to quit alcohol and drugs. Whenever you get a compulsive urge to give up the fight, all you need is to glance at the jewelry piece, and you’ll have an extra reason to stay alcohol-free for one more day.

A recovery necklace also stands out as a beacon of hope in your quest for sobriety. It provides a constant assurance that your situation will undoubtedly improve at some point, despite how bleak it may seem now.

It’s worth noting that there’s an immediate price to pay for quitting alcohol. First, you’ll lose a part of your circle – those who could only hang out with you in clubs. Even worse is the ensuing withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia and headache.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can affect your ability to lead a fulfilling and productive life. Depending on their severity, these adverse effects can test your resolve by activating a cynical voice inside you. Relapse may seem like the most convenient thing to do.

A sobriety necklace can nudge you to remain resilient amidst all the suffering. These jewelry articles remind you that your pain is only temporary. The mental anguish you’re currently experiencing is bearable when you consider the long-term benefits of staying sober.

You’ll also realize that recovery gifts come in many shapes and sizes. However, sobriety necklaces differ in their subtleness and discretion. You can wear these jewelry pieces wherever you go without attracting unwanted attention.

Sobriety necklaces won’t immediately give you away unless you deliberately choose to display the AA initials for easy identification by fellow Alcoholics Anonymous members. Moreover, the necklace can complement your ensemble even if you’re not a jewelry person.

How to Choose Sobriety Necklaces

Sobriety necklaces are available in different designs. You can pick from circular, triangular, and heart-shaped options. Most of these necklaces are emblazoned with the initials AA and NA for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, respectively.

You can also find recovery necklaces in a variety of colors. That’s great to know, considering that AA issues differently colored sobriety tokens depending on the duration the recipient has been sober. For instance, you might prefer a bronze-coated necklace to symbolize sobriety for 12+ months.

Some sobriety necklace stores also provide coins featuring positive messages, such as “Yes, I can,” “One day at a time,” etc. Repeating these affirmations every day can go a long way in encouraging you to persist on your selected path to recovery.

Last but not least, insist on sobriety necklaces made from hypoallergenic materials to avoid experiencing allergic reactions.

How to Wear Sobriety Necklaces

There are several ways to style sobriety necklaces. However, these pieces of jewelry look exceptionally stunning with deep V-necks.

V-necks allow you to don a sobriety necklace with pride while subtly communicating the abstinence fellowship that you belong to.

If you prefer to wear recovery necklaces with formal attire, insist on those long enough to tuck in when needed. You can then decide on how many buttons to undo depending on the amount of the necklace you want to reveal.

Wrap Up

Sobriety necklaces are a sentimental keepsake for recovering addicts. These jewelry items let you display your firm resolve to give up alcohol and drugs while serving as a constant reminder never to look back.