Maintain relationships with people who drink? Advice & Questions Addiction Recovery Forum & Support Group

And then you have to deal through a narcissistic mother, right, like the drinking fucks it all up. And that is why I still have such a passion about this, Alcoholics Anonymous because, again, I don’t give a fuck if you drink. Even if you were to go sober and you slip, it’s like, okay, it’s okay, you know. And if alcohol doesn’t impact your life in a nugget of way, feel free, it’s illegal. We’ve seen what people do when they try taking alcohol away and saying that it’s illegal, so it’s in this world. But this really is about the isolating feeling that comes with when you no longer drink and you think something is a certain type of way, and then it’s not, because now you’re sober and like even too.

How To Stay Sober At Social Events

It is very common for people to replace alcohol with sugar in the beginning, which is detrimental not only to your waistline and physical health but your mental well-being as well. If you have a willing friend or family member, take them along. Staying busy is a great way to stave off boredom being sober around drinkers and create space for healing the parts of your brain that took a walloping from drinking. It’s particularly therapeutic to find something to do with your hands. That being said, drinking FOMO is real and must be dealt with. Sometimes admitting the truth to yourself is the first step.

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• But if you can’t or aren’t able to do a group class, at the very least, take a tech-free 30-minute walk every day.
• A lot of people experience anhedonia when they quit.

Discussion about this post

These seven proven tips can help you navigate social situations with confidence and maintain your commitment to an alcohol-free lifestyle. Embrace your sobriety journey, celebrate your milestones, and continue to build a life filled with genuine, memorable experiences. Engaging in activities that exclude alcohol plays an essential role in building a strong network of sober friends. Pursuing new interests or going to social gatherings with individuals who abstain from drinking can significantly enhance the enjoyment of life without alcohol.

Further Reading

Sometimes, in early recovery, friends, family, and loved ones will decide to abstain from alcohol so their loved one gets their footing post-treatment. You will be exposed to alcohol at some point, and knowing how to maintain sobriety during these times is vital. Avoiding alcohol exposure during early sobriety is prudent. However, alcohol exposure cannot be avoided forever. That is why, in later recovery, you must learn to maintain sobriety when you are around other people drinking.

• Because the main priority was always on him, because he was such, he was the extreme and he’s like oh, absolutely.
• You know Sam is trying to quit drinking, so you’re suggesting activities that don’t involve alcohol.
• It is also responsible for regulating movement and emotional response.

Embrace the Joys of Sobriety

But that is probably because I have drank for a while so I am just now getting use to this life, the sober life. A dry drunk is someone who decides to get sober by going “cold turkey.” This is someone who quits drinking without the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, rehab centers, nurses or friends. Many people also refer to a dry drunk as someone is “white knuckling” their way to recovery. The social drinkers, problem drinkers, high-functioning alcoholics, dry drunks, and sober alcoholics. For a close look, you can use these terms to identify a tiered system of drinking patterns and behaviors. If people press that response, I’ll either stare at them and hold an uncomfortable silence (this is enjoyable at some point), or just change the subject.

Bring Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Family and friends, often having suffered greatly too from their loved one’s drinking, may find this a worrisome time of year, wondering how their newly sober loved one might cope. They often desperately want to do the right thing but are unsure which tack to take. The question is — how do you quit alcohol if all your friends want to do is drink? When you decide to become sober, some friends may feel wary or suspicious of your motives or think you’re not as fun. Peer pressure surrounding drinking and sobriety can be intense.

Setting Clear Boundaries

By establishing definite goals and accepting duties during gatherings, you can occupy your thoughts and distract attention from alcohol. It’s essential to communicate with close friends and relatives about your intention to steer clear of alcohol. Let them know the best ways they can assist you, and request that they refrain from presenting any temptations that could hinder your progress.

• Recognizing challenges and setting clear goals ensures a confident navigation of events.
• If a 12-step program doesn’t sound appealing, you can look for other support groups.
• 6) I’ll have this amazing site to check in with!!!!!
• You can start creating your own family with, like, the friends you choose, right, or, like I said, that new way of how you’re going to show up in that family Number five.
• My social circle changed when I got sober because I realized that many of my relationships were based on getting drunk together, and that was it.
• There’s issues like people pleasing, like codependency, right that you are never truly going to heal from.

However, when they join the ‘we-still-party-why-don’t-you’ crowd, it can feel as awkward as a teen’s first middle school dance. It feels like stepping on toes—you may cha-cha when you should waltz. Finding the right rhythm may lead to a newfound sense of personal responsibility. It will help if you remember that your number one priority is staying sober.