Ari Lennox opened up about the natural high she's been on since cutting alcohol out of her life.
Earlier today, the "Pressure" singer shared a life update to her personal Instagram where she let fans know that she was celebrating being seven months sober.
"Seven months sober," Ari wrote on Instagram. "That’s a lot of sober flights. A lot of sober conversations. A lot of facing things raw and head on."
"Honestly, I don’t know what will happen when I reach a year sober. Don’t know if sobriety is forever or not, but I can’t imagine going back to how things were."
Ari remembered "passing out at the airport" and feeling like her emotions were "heightened" when she would drink. After eliminating alcohol from her system, Ari admitted she feels more in "control of her emotions, more stable, more alert," and overall, just happier.
"I have less anxiety, socially, and when I’m ready to go, I go," Ari added. "I recognize my threshold with things and implement boundaries. I don’t find interest in partying anymore. Maybe I’m changing, and that’s deeper than alcohol. I like doing chill sweet things. I’m a chill bitch I realized."
After drinking left her dealing with night terrors and panic attacks, Ari revealed how grateful she was to ask for help. She also told fans that there's nothing to be embarrassed about, if they're also seeking help.
Being sober helped Ari become more present in the moment and develop healthier coping mechanisms. She understood that alcohol only served as a temporary escape from her problems.
"Sure there’s the fantasy of wanting to escape all the intense stress of the world with alcohol, 'cause boy does it work temporarily."
"But there’s the moment the liquor stops numbing and you’re chasing that feeling to no avail, and you wake to see the problems of life still there."
Fans flooded Ari's comments with support, and her celebrity friends were also there to share their congratulatory messages — like SZA.
Chance the Rapper:
Queen Naija:
And Fantasia:
I, also, couldn't be happier for Ari and all the clarity this sobriety journey has brought her. To learn more about her decision to stop drinking, read her full message below.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and find more resources here.