Returning to a regular environment and spending time with friends who drink is one of the challenges you might face. Before attending a social event, remember why you chose not being sober around drinkers to drink alcohol. Establish clear intentions and goals for the gathering, such as connecting with others, having meaningful conversations, or simply enjoying the company.

• Some people experience many setbacks before they find lasting recovery.
• This is because the body closes a valve at the bottom of the stomach when digestion occurs.
• It’s been more than two years since I started drinking again, but it still feels completely different – because my attitude towards alcohol is completely different.
• Alcohol merely blurred my perception of social situations.

Sobriety can be an incredible way to shed relationships you’ve outgrown as well as find new ones that align with your new values. So if all of your friends drink alongside you, then there’s no issue, right? Well, there’s a concept in psychology known as “confirmation bias,” and it means that we often look for evidence to support something that we already believe to be true.

Sober and Bored? Here’s What To Do About It

“It’s very dogmatic but for the people it works for, it’s fantastic,” she says. “And there’s very little commitment needed to see if it’s for you.” If you’re having more serious issues with your drinking, know that there are meetings happening all around you. “You have nothing to lose by checking a meeting out,” she says. Many people have a perfectly healthy relationship with alcohol and can either drink in moderation or enjoy an odd binge and that works fine for them. I don’t expect them to change their behaviour around me.

• This tactic won’t work for everyone, and its success depends on your comfort level around people who are drinking.
• The point of all this, don’t forget, is to enjoy the holidays.
• That overcorrection is what you’re probably feeling right now.
• Our free, confidential telephone consultation will help you find the best treatment program for you.

Be Sober for example is moderated by Simon Capple, a certified Quit Alcohol Coach. “These groups offer support, anonymity, and community for people who are questioning their drinking,” she says. “You can post ‘I’m drinking too much what can I do,’” Humphreys says. In the early days of learning to live your life sober, you might decide that it’s easier for you to avoid situations where you’re surrounded by people drinking.

Build Healthy Relationships

Sadly, 40-60% of people relapse in the earliest days following treatment graduation. And, even more unfortunate, many of these individuals die from overdose immediately following physical relapse. So, when you make the necessary lifestyle changes to protect your sobriety and learn when to say no to those around you, you’re not just protecting your sobriety. What you also find as you grow in confidence in navigating the world around you sober, is that your real true self starts to shine through. You start to become more authentically you instead of a drunken or hungover version of you.

Drunk me didn’t have to worry if I was alone at a party because drunk me didn’t abide such things. Drunk me didn’t worry if she belonged, or said the right thing, or had to have small talk because drunk me just handled that. This isn’t to say that all of your friends will be threatened, or that all of your friendships will change.

How to Deal with Someone Who Drinks?

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.

One strategy that can help is carrying reminders of why you chose to abstain from alcohol. These could be notes on your phone, a piece of jewelry with special significance, or even a specific image set as your phone’s wallpaper. When temptation arises, these reminders serve as powerful motivators. In addition, staying sober can save you money which would otherwise be spent on buying drinks at bars or restaurants – another reason worth celebrating.