Sober Curious: What It Means, Benefits, and Tips for Living Sober
And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get. It also opens up space to approach 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. If you have a willing friend or family member, take them along. Don’t get down on yourself because you can’t get wasted at the bar with your friends anymore.
- I have gone to bars with people I genuinely like as a sober person, and I don’t stay for longer than an hour or two if nothing is happening.
- The sober curious movement has gained steam recently, such as with the rise of interest in “Dry January” — a time when participants decide to not drink for the month of January.
- If you prefer not to be stuck with water, there are a few things you can ask for.
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. I’d bet nine out of 10 of us won’t even answer, and we’ll just laugh because it’s such a ridiculous question. Sobriety doesn’t necessarily turn you into Liz Lemon, but it can give you the clarity to understand that you’ve been Liz Lemon your whole life. It’s been over six years since I first started seriously questioning my relationship with alcohol and considered a life without it. That’s six hard, beautiful, glorious years during which I not only stopped drinking, but also finally moved on from all recreational drugs as well as a history of bulimia. If these emotions become excessive, they can hold you back from recovery.
Utilizing Professional Resources During Overwhelming Situations
My work focuses on self-development, realizing your potential, and sobriety—speaking from personal experience, having overcome both poverty and addiction. Once you can understand these and learn to internalize them in your daily life, saying no to a drink from your friends will be easy. Before being sober around drinkers giving up alcohol, I didn’t think most places carried a brand of non-alcoholic beer. As long as you tip normally, bars are happy to serve it because It’s one less person likely to act like an asshole. The less appealing drinking becomes, the less time you want to spend around drunk people.
Look for local groups or online communities that promote sober social activities or host alcohol-free events. Surrounding yourself with a supportive community can provide encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Are sober drinks exactly what they sound like, or is there more to them? 5 Things Sunday Host James Brown and USA TODAY wellness reporter Sara Moniuszko explore sober drinks and what they could mean for sober curious people. She says its complicated and it depends on your definition of sober. The good news is that research is showing that all over the world now, young people are drinking less.
What is a sober drink?
There are so many other drinkers out there making huge mistakes right now. If I rock up at your party and choose not to drink, is that your problem now? All of these stigmas can be so damaging, unless we have a plan of action. Some people in recovery do a great job of asking for what they need and communicating their boundaries.
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. It’s hard to fill that time, especially when dealing with alcohol cravings and https://ecosoberhouse.com/ triggers. My friends and I got together for happy hours after work. It all felt normal, even the terrible parts like awful hangovers and hangxiety. Alcohol robs you of the ability to feel naturally motivated and inspired.
Unpacking Negative Core Beliefs in Sobriety (Why It Helps)
It’s important to accept that there is no normal that is better or worse. And remember it’s OK to leave social events—you don’t have to stay, be the last one to leave, or the life of the party. 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.
- In the same survey, nearly half of millennials said they planned to drink less in 2024, a 26 percent increase from last year.
- When I finally walked away from booze at 34, my life opened up.
- While everyone drinks, take comfort in the fact that you will have a productive morning because you chose sobriety.
- In other words, being made to feel lonely by others is unlikely to drive a non-drinker to drink.
- There are more and more non-alcoholic spirits options on the market these days, many of which can be used to recreate classic cocktails or to create new ones.
- Awakening revitalized and eager for the oncoming day is a benefit of abstaining from alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks offer the possibility of a buzz, but also serve a real function, especially during a meal. A glass of wine, a beer or a negroni has a welcome bitter dryness that can balance the food, and whet or clear the palate. Drinking an overly sweet soda, juice or—please no—a non-alcoholic mojito just doesn’t cut it. It also helps if you make friends with someone who also has—or is currently in the process of—overcoming substance abuse. 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. The first step towards preparing yourself involves developing strategies to handle questions or comments about your choice of non-alcoholic beverages.
The Mindset Shift That Helped Me Get (And Stay) Sober For Good
Many may not know that about one-third of U.S. adults report consuming no alcohol at all in the past year. You may find that in steering the focus of a social gathering or party away from alcohol to try to help a recovering person, that you are catering to more than just the individual in recovery. Chances are, early on in your recovery, you won’t feel completely comfortable being sober while at parties. When social situations come up, ask a friend who is also sober to come along.
- Chris Simon, a hard-knuckled pugilist who found fame with the Washington Capitals with a mix of brutal hits and goal scoring, died Monday in his hometown of Wawa, Ontario, the NHL Players’ Association said.
- Now that you’ve broken free from addiction, the people you once partied with can no longer be a part of your life.
- Apparently, drinking is like sitting on the TV remote’s volume up button, except drunk people are the TV and I can’t find the remote.
- It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way.
