The buddy system strategy in addiction recovery will be another key topic covered here along with celebrating the benefits of sobriety by prioritizing self-preservation during social gatherings. Lastly, carrying reminders and seeking professional assistance when necessary are vital steps on this path towards staying sober around drinkers which we will cover extensively. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed in social situations where alcohol is present, it may be beneficial to seek immediate assistance from healthcare providers specializing in addiction recovery. These professionals offer evidence-based personalized treatments tailored to individual needs and are equipped to provide the support needed during tough times. If your friends drink too much while you’re struggling with staying sober, know you’re not alone. At Gateway Foundation, we take the time to understand the triggers keeping you from staying sober.
Strategies for Handling Inquiries About Non-Drinking
We’re hard-wired to seek similarities in others because it makes us feel heard, comfortable, and safe. It goes without saying that if you used to be — or currently are — a big drinker, then your friends likely are too. If you are invited to a bar or restaurant for a social gathering and want to take this approach to being sober curious, try to only attend events at places where alcohol isn’t the main focus. “The sober curious movement has led people to see the unhealthy habits that can go hand in hand with alcohol consumption,” she says. When you get together with such people, you’ll likely find that they do plenty of activities that don’t involve alcohol—like hiking, skiing, playing games, or fishing.
Sometimes being sober is boring because your life revolves around alcohol.
- They often desperately want to do the right thing but are unsure which tack to take.
- If you are invited to a bar or restaurant for a social gathering and want to take this approach to being sober curious, try to only attend events at places where alcohol isn’t the main focus.
It’s especially important to eat foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins. If nothing else, it starts to chip away at any notion you might have that you’re unworthy. So you deal with the unglamorous parts until you’re able to sweetly serenade the masses with your rendition of Wonderwall.
How do you stay sober when drinking inspires friendships, connections, and even promotions?
Milestones in sobriety (e.g., 24 hours, a month, three months) are celebrated to recognize the incredible hard work that’s been accomplished through staying sober for a certain length of time. They can help motivate a person to remain sober to reach the next milestone. Sobriety is a general term for staying away from mood- and mind-altering substances, though there is no commonly agreed-upon medical definition in terms of what sobriety means. People in recovery generally agree that abstinence is necessary but remains just a starting point for a new, sober life. And if a friend or family member is struggling to control their drinking, there are new ways to access support.
Build a strong support network.
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. Thankfully, there have only been a few times when someone at the table hasn’t pointed it out on my behalf and adjusted accordingly. However, when it has happened, I have to speak up to point out that I didn’t drink and I’m not subsidizing their drinking.
Why Can’t I Stop Drinking Once I Start? 4 Major Reasons
Not exactly, but it can make you feel better, which has a ripple effect on whether or not you enjoy your life. One of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re feeling bored in sobriety is to find a way to serve others. It also opens up space to approach https://ecosoberhouse.com/ your internal world differently. One of the biggest impediments to my sobriety during my relapse days was my inability to avoid getting consumed by emotions. You have to understand what you’re feeling and WHY you’re feeling this way in order to change it.
You can expect certain alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disruption to occur, though some people can experience seizures and other severe symptoms. Some studies find that this structure, along with a start date for sobriety and milestones, is being sober around drinkers important to some people in recovery. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. But it’s better than drinking to fit in and risking your recovery.
- It also gives you a sense of purpose that can help you stay focused.
- Once you do return to work, it’s important to create a budget and take steps to safeguard yourself as work stress can be a relapse trigger.
- In some instances, family and friends may choose to hold their parties without alcohol, or at least downplay the central role that drinking might take.
- Having someone by your side who understands and supports your decision can strengthen your commitment towards staying sober around drinkers.
- I’d argue that many of us gravitated to a group of friends who have drinking habits that align with our own, and we did this because we didn’t want sober friends.
For many people with a substance use disorder, it’s simply a matter of never having learned the appropriate way to manage anger. Talk to your therapist, other healthcare provider, or sponsor about how to deal with your anger in ways that won’t cause you to harm yourself or others or turn to alcohol or drugs. Look for social events or activities that don’t revolve around alcohol. Attend concerts, art exhibitions, sporting events, or volunteer activities focusing on shared interests or experiences rather than drinking.
They might have fun exploring new places and trying new things with you. Knowing relapse signs can help you recognize your risk of relapse, and they may include a return to addictive thinking patterns and compulsive behaviors. Depending on the severity of the addiction or substance being used, a medically supervised detox may be necessary to safely help you. I live on a campus where it is very normalized to party, but my normal is to stay away from those spaces and stay home. Like that guy from that probably stolen Dane Cook sketch, drunk people just “gotta dance.” A couple beers and everyone is oblivious to their surroundings. Take a person who’s pleasing to the eye, intelligent, put together, and when sober, brazenly competent, and confident—but after a few whisky sours, that person turns into a paranoid mess of self-doubt.
But for many people, lingering feelings of anxiety, depression, and general malaise can last weeks, months, or even longer. The good news is that your brain can adjust and restore balance to your internal world. The longer you stay away from alcohol and give your brain some much-needed TLC, the less you’ll feel like life is dull and uninteresting. Our brains don’t like imbalance and will work very hard to correct it. That overcorrection is what you’re probably feeling right now. When you use alcohol (or any substance) to artificially boost serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain, you create an imbalance in the brain.
