What Its Like Being a Sober Person in a Drinking World by Jen Shin
I would have classified myself as someone who loved to be around people and go out with them at night. Thinking back to before I was sober, I usually had to drink to be around people. When I stopped drinking, not only did my recovery dictate that I needed lots of time to myself, lots of self-care, and lots of nights in, I discovered that I was, in fact, someone who relishes in alone time. I recharge when I’m by myself, and I deplete when I’m with others—especially big groups. So if all of your friends drink alongside you, then there’s no issue, right?
I don’t want to lie. But I also want to acknowledge all the hard work I’ve done.
I didn’t think I was interesting or cool enough for people to desire my company solely on the merits of my personality. Drinking made me feel like I had a valuable place in a group. And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get. If you have a being sober around drinkers willing friend or family member, take them along. Not on its own, but maybe it starts a conversation and a friend comes over just to sit with you and make sure you’re good. Don’t get down on yourself because you can’t get wasted at the bar with your friends anymore.
- If you’re like most drinkers, you’ve likely surrounded yourself at some point with a group of people who also drink.
- While you might not notice it, your hormones are starting to improve as well, with libido and sexual function revving back up.
- Many will organize substance- and alcohol-free events to help fill members’ evenings and weekends.
- Before giving up alcohol, I didn’t think most places carried a brand of non-alcoholic beer.
Change where you hang out
- Honesty lays the foundation for trust and support from those around you.
- We’ll delve into the importance of honesty in your sobriety journey, and how transparency can lead to gaining supportive allies.
- It is an awkward, vulnerable dance between two awkward, vulnerable humans.
- And you don’t want to lie, which is so heartening because it means you’re taking your sobriety seriously.
- “And drinking is often the default position for workplace social events.
Finally, if you’ve tried self-help strategies and find yourself not able to fully quit drinking, it may be time to seek professional help. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to stopping alcohol use and treating alcohol misuse, but no matter how severe the issue may seem, recovery is possible for every person. Alcohol consumption and abuse may cause you to look tired and puffy.
How it all started
We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Remember, you’re not alone; there are resources available to help you stay focused on sobriety. Embrace honesty in your journey, prepare for social interactions, identify triggers, and avoid temptation. For more information on addiction recovery, check out SAMHSA. It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers.
Alcohol addiction and rehab
- Look for social events or activities that don’t revolve around alcohol.
- By recognizing potential triggers, you can take the necessary steps to avoid temptation.
- Having someone by your side who understands and supports your decision can strengthen your commitment towards staying sober around drinkers.
- So, a woman who went sober has shared a one-minute trick to stop those ‘alcohol cravings’.
- If I was part of AA, I had to do it to respect the other people who’ve expressed a willingness to stop drinking and do the best they can, one day at a time.
As awkward as it may be to have this conversation, leaving this conversation unsaid can potentially put the individual’s health and safety at risk, or lead to a worrisome and unenjoyable night for you. Such a conversation is best conducted well in advance of the gathering, allowing clear expectations to be set for all attendees, and giving you the time to balance different wants and needs that will surely arise. To stay sober when your friends are drinking, you might develop and practice coping strategies to navigate any discomfort or peer pressure. Practice assertiveness skills, such as politely declining offers of alcohol or suggesting alternative activities. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you might leave the gathering or practice mindfulness techniques like deep breathing to keep yourself centered.
Engage in Meaningful Conversations
There’s also likely to be some weight loss within a month, due to the absence of the calories you were ingesting in alcohol (as long as you haven’t swapped them for equally high-calorie comfort foods). Remember that one of the things we’re attempting to do is not only get out there and experience fun activities that don’t involve alcohol but also https://ecosoberhouse.com/ heal the underlying damage in our brain from drinking. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a sober curious lifestyle to improve wellness. But it’s also important to recognize the difference between sobriety and the choice to go without drinking. Plenty of people can’t pick up sobriety and safely set it aside later, no matter how tough it gets.
