How do you measure progress in recovery: by time, or by transformation? Is it marked by the number of years you’ve stayed sober, or by the moments you’ve learned to stay grounded when life gets heavy? Recovery beyond sobriety means recognizing that this journey isn’t about getting to a finish line; it’s about a series of awakening moments that teach you how to live, love, and feel again.
At some point, the question shifts from “How long have you been sober?” to “Who are you becoming?” That’s where emotional sobriety comes in, the part of recovery that asks you to dig deeper than abstinence and uncover what it truly means to heal.
Understanding Emotional Sobriety and the Science of Healing
Ask anyone in long-term recovery and they’ll tell you: sobriety is just the beginning. The real work—and the real beauty—come in understanding yourself on a deeper level, learning to stay steady when life gets messy, and discovering what it means to live with integrity every single day.
Recovery beyond sobriety is about finding peace in quiet moments, rebuilding trust in yourself, and realizing that healing isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress.
Over time, recovery beyond sobriety shifts from something you do to something you live. It becomes less about avoiding what once hurt you and more about leaning into what truly heals you: connection, purpose, and a life that feels like your own.
In this conversation, Dr. Jason Powers and Dr. Andrew Krieger discuss the different phases of recovery, the science behind post-acute withdrawal syndrome, and the meaning of emotional sobriety.
Together, they explore how long-term recovery is less about counting the years and more about integrity, emotional growth, and learning to live a genuinely fulfilling life.
Tap the link below to listen on Spotify!
Meet Our Guest, Dr. Andrew Krieger
Dr. Andrew Krieger, DSW, MBA, LCSW-S, LCDC, is a private practice psychotherapist with extensive experience in direct practice social work, clinical program design and development, addiction treatment, and group psychotherapy. He received his Doctor of Social Work from the University of Southern California and holds both a Master of Clinical Social Work and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston.
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Krieger has worked with individuals and families as a private practice and group psychotherapist, specializing in addictive disorders, family therapy, group psychotherapy, and process addictions. He’s also held clinical positions at some of the leading addiction treatment programs in Texas.
As Chief Executive Officer of Contemporary Medicine Associates (CMA) — the primary practice of Dr. Bo Allaire and Dr. Andrew Krieger — he leads a team specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders. CMA also provides third-party medical services for psychiatric and addiction treatment facilities, as well as clinical and business consulting services for mental health providers.
Originally founded over 20 years ago by Dr. Eugene Degner, one of the first board-certified addiction medicine doctors in Texas and a pioneer in the medical treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, CMA continues to honor Dr. Degner’s legacy through compassionate, expert care.
Today, their doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals serve patients and families at every stage of addiction and recovery, providing a caring, non-judgmental environment where healing can truly begin. They also offer comprehensive support for individuals with mental health conditions such as depression, trauma, and anxiety.
The Various Phases of Recovery and Personal Growth
When people first enter recovery, it often begins with a crisis, a moment when life as they know it can’t continue. As Dr. Krieger explains, “I don’t know many people who got into recovery or sobriety who weren’t coming out of some kind of crisis.”
The early stage is about stabilization and relearning how to live, building a foundation, and letting the brain begin to heal. Post-acute withdrawal, or what he describes as “the brain coming back in phase,” can mimic anxiety or depression, making it easy to mistake healing for something going wrong.
Over time, though, the fog begins to lift. “Somewhere around 18 months to three years, depending on the person,” he shares, “you start to feel emotionally regulated and connected again.”
Dr. Powers adds that it’s during this time that many people rediscover what hope feels like. The crisis gives way to clarity, and the goal shifts from simply avoiding pain to actively building a life. As Dr. Krieger puts it, “It becomes less about moving away from whatever that crisis was and more about moving into something that’s self-reinforcing.”
With this perspective, recovery stops being about merely surviving the day-to-day and becomes about growth and progress made in each moment, celebrating even the smallest victories and joys.
Why Perspective and Integrity Hold More Weight than Time in Sobriety
There’s a certain wisdom that only comes with time in recovery, though not necessarily because of time itself. “The longer I stayed sober,” Dr. Krieger reflects, “the less time really mattered. It’s that width—as a person in integrity, how does a person carry themselves?”
In other words, the length of sobriety doesn’t automatically translate to emotional maturity or self-awareness. What truly defines recovery isn’t a magical number. It’s how you live your life. It’s the ability to show up for yourself and others, to take responsibility, and to remain emotionally honest even when it’s uncomfortable.
“At the end of the day,” Dr. Krieger says, “this is a brain wiring thing. But once you accept that, you can live a life unencumbered by the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of addiction.”
Finding Fulfillment Beyond Survival in Recovery
Eventually, recovery beyond sobriety becomes less about staying sober and more about building a life that feels meaningful.
“Most people,” Dr. Krieger says, “when they stop using and start doing some healthy stuff, their life normalizes relatively quickly. The shift becomes—you’re trying to grow towards an ideal.”
For some, that means rediscovering creativity or connection. For others, it’s about cultivating gratitude, peace, or purpose.
Dr. Powers calls it “the reward of living a good life.” As he puts it, “It’s about being comfortable in my own skin, being present, being comfortable with how other people are.”
Fulfillment in recovery isn’t a single destination; it’s an ongoing practice of leaning into discomfort instead of avoiding it, of creating a life worth being sober for.
Enjoyed This Conversation on Recovery Beyond Sobriety?
If you loved this conversation about understanding the phases of recovery and personal growth, how perspective and integrity define Long-Term Sobriety —not just time —and how to find fulfillment beyond survival in recovery, you can listen to the full conversation here.
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