How to Sustain a Social Life When You Ditch Drinking
Alcoholism recovery can be challenging. Follow these sober tips to eliminate drinking but not eliminate your social life. Sober fun is the best kind of fun.
Addiction can be isolating, but alcoholism recovery doesn’t have to be. Just because you are eliminating alcohol from your life doesn’t mean you also need to eliminate your social life. However, since some social events can involve alcohol, you might be thinking about a few things before accepting an alcohol-infused social gathering.
When you first embark on your recovery journey, you will want to avoid any situation that includes alcohol or drugs. Since you’re new to recovery and recently released from alcohol rehab, these events can cause cravings and trigger a relapse. If you’re not struggling with addiction to alcohol or drugs but still attempting to reduce your alcohol intake, being in an atmosphere that provides alcohol might be a little easier for you. However, having the plan to prevent being triggered to use drugs or alcohol is still the safest method.
Be Upfront
Honesty is the best policy. If you are planning to refrain from drinking, you must first let others know. This way, it eliminates the questions and the pressure at the time of the event. You can choose how much info you wish to share and with whom you share it but only go to the event with someone who understands why you are abstaining from alcohol intake. Of course, you don’t need a reason not to drink, and no explanation is required but having peer support in your decision is a helpful tool in maintaining your sobriety. Being upfront may also help to eliminate some future drinking-focused social gatherings. If your friends or colleagues know that you are not interested in drinking or being surrounded by it, they will choose alternative ways to spend time with you.
Are you or someone you care about battling with alcohol or drug addiction? Contact SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on addiction support and addiction treatment facilities near you.
Prepare For Criticism
People choose not to drink alcohol for various reasons, including health, finances, religion, fitness, and alcoholism. Some people will support your decision not to drink, some might be empowered by it, and others will respond negatively. For the ones that respond negatively, it may be because your sobriety makes them feel wrong about the amount of alcohol they consume, they might be concerned with their ability to socialize without that liquid courage, or they might assume that you being sober will be different. Being prepared for any reaction will set you up for success because you’ll be prepared to respond ahead of time:
These occurrences may change some of your friendships, and that’s okay. Your sobriety will also cause you to meet new people and develop new friendships. AA is a great place to meet new people who share your goals. Your decision to be sober benefits your health and overall quality of life, so why would you want to hang around with people who don’t support that decision? Your true friends will be the ones willing to hang out with you without alcohol having to be present.
Alcohol-Free Zone
One of the most surefire ways to remove the temptation to drink is to avoid places that serve alcohol. Some of the most accessible venues for this are coffee houses, libraries, parks, fast food joints, and museums. There are also a lot of sober bars popping up all over the country as well. You can always research before making plans to decrease the odds that alcohol will be present.
Develop A Few Go-To Replies
Suppose recovery has taught you one thing: you can’t control stuff that’s out of your immediate control, such as venues that serve alcohol or people’s homes that contain alcohol. This is why it is a fab idea to have your responses in check to avoid fumbling for a reply on why you’re not drinking or can’t attend.
BYOB Non-Alcoholic Drink
Bring your beverage to where ever you’re going; this way, you have committed to what you intend to drink. You can choose to bring iced tea, flavored seltzer, non-alcoholic beer, or non-alcoholic spirit. It’s helpful to commit ahead and have the product at your disposal. Having your drink also makes declining the offer of one a lot easier too.
Sober Is Fun
Don’t view sober as dull. It is enjoyable to be sober. You have control over everything you’re saying and doing. You will feel a lot healthier the following day too! A positive mindset is essential because a negative one will prevent you from having the fun you deserve. Initially, it may feel awkward being the only one not drinking, but it will be your regular time. Change is scary, but not all change is bad. Enter every situation with a positive mindset, and make the best use of your time, even if you’re the only one not consuming alcohol. Being sober will be more enjoyable than you predicted.
