I recharge when I’m by myself, and I deplete when I’m with others—especially big groups. In these moments, I have to remind myself that recovery isn’t just about not drinking; it’s about remembering that I am first and foremost responsible for advocating for my own well-being and boundaries. This is an opportunity to assert for your needs, and therefore assert your worth. Before I quit drinking, I never really used to care about dividing the bill down the middle with a group.
For any and all suggestions, comments, or questions, please contact Mental Health America. But if putting yourself in a healthy place means walking away from others, then that’s OK too. Unfortunately, not everyone will support you or respect your sobriety. So you might find yourself redefining your friendships, relationships, and boundaries. Accepting that putting yourself first will change who you surround yourself with is an important part of recovery. Sometimes people feel like they are abandoning their family, friends, and loved ones when they begin their recovery journey.
Avoid Triggers
Figuring out what brings on the urge to drink can be a great aid in staying sober. No matter how insignificant it may appear, every small step forward is still progress. And if ever there comes a time when temptation feels too strong or loneliness creeps in, don’t hesitate to seek help from professionals like therapists or counselors who specialize in addiction recovery. You can also check out Alcoholics Anonymous for additional support and resources. We’ll delve into the importance of honesty in your sobriety journey, and how transparency can lead to gaining supportive allies.
- Picture yourself arriving at the party, getting a non-alcoholic beverage, eating appetizers, and steering clear of the bar area.
- It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse.
- Our free, confidential telephone consultation will help you find the best treatment program for you.
- We’ll delve into the importance of honesty in your sobriety journey, and how transparency can lead to gaining supportive allies.
These are the types of people that you’ll be able to talk with about the unique feelings and challenges you face, not just in developing a sober social life, but in being sober, in general. Acknowledging and celebrating the hard work of recovery is helpful for keeping you motivated and reminding you why you took this brave step toward sobriety in the first place. Just be sure that your rewards don’t involve drugs or alcohol. Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle.
How to Find Sober Friends
Any activity that you’ve closely paired with alcohol in the past may trigger the desire to drink, Willenbring says. Turning down a cigarette, an invitation to a Super Bowl party, or another problem activity can help you avoid high-risk situations. Socializing without alcohol can open up new possibilities for connection, fun, and personal growth. Embrace the opportunity to experience social interactions in a different light and create meaningful relationships that go beyond alcohol. Joining a support group is an excellent way to find sober friends. Alcoholics Anonymous, for example, has more than 2 million members in the United States, making it one of the most well-known groups for people recovering from addiction.
- A close friend will be happy to celebrate this with you, even from afar.
- It’s important to develop a structured daily and weekly schedule and stick to it.
- She used to work as a consultant for brands like YouTube and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, but working on Listen Bar is her full-time occupation now.
- If you’re attending an event where alcohol is present, call ahead to ensure the venue has alcohol-free options.
- You can also check out Alcoholics Anonymous for additional support and resources.
They may even become inspired by your determination and choose healthier habits themselves. Some drunks somehow manage to find the only sober person in the room, engage them in conversation, and reveal all their kinks, which actually aren’t kinky at all. After a night of drinking, one friend gleefully conversed with a woman across the bar about the virtues of soup—for an hour. Someone can be a bit standoffish, but manage to be prickly, critical, and self-aggrandizing when sober. Before I got sober, I didn’t know how to have fun without booze.
What Is Sobriety?
This is a JOYOUS and wonderful thing because it easily sorts out the ones that have a weird relationship with alcohol, or the ones that just aren’t for you. It will hurt (pretty bad at first), but in time you will come to see it as the gift it is—and you won’t waste time getting to know the wrong person. Ask any sober person whether they want to go to a cocktail party or stay in with a pack of La Croix, The Crown, and a bathrobe.
Next time you’re considering something to sip on, swap in a glass of water first; it gives you more time to think about what you’re actually looking for and hydrates you in the process. After singing this refrain myself during one particularly fiery summer, I’ve been experimenting with periods of a slow-to-no approach to drinking that has me happily in bed by midnight. I’m desiring the creativity, quiet, and productivity of a booze-light being sober around drinkers weekend over the pressures of an indulgent one, and I’m all-too-ready to ditch the bar tabs I’d incur in my younger years. This was my big move last year and it worked really well. After dinner is over (usually quite late) and everyone is settling in for some more chatting or a game or whatever, I would announce ‘Night everyone I’m off to bed! ’ and would head to our room to read a book by torch light (so not to wake the kids).
Stay Cool and Calm
It may also be helpful to get to know yourself on your own, first. Spending sober time becoming familiar with your body intimately can help you better communicate your needs to someone else when you feel ready for that step. The life I had before I quit drinking was a lot like Groundhog Day; I was always waiting for it to begin and always reliving the same stuff, day after day, year after year.
The best way to sober up from excess alcohol drinking is to allow plenty of time, rest, and sleep. The suggested methods above may help a person feel and appear more alert but will not decrease blood alcohol levels in their body. Dehydration can occur when drinking alcohol, so avoiding salty foods is important. Drinking plenty of water can also help people stay hydrated when consuming alcohol. Maybe you always downed a six-pack while watching football with the guys, so it’s challenging to get through a Super Bowl party sober. Or you always drank when you smoked socially, so being offered a cigarette at a party might make you crave liquor.