What Its Like Being a Sober Person in a Drinking World by Jen Shin

being sober around drinkers

It’s an opportunity to grow into your bones, and every single crap thing that happens to you on the way only makes you stronger. Learn about https://ecosoberhouse.com/ opportunities to help change the conversation around mental health. But it’s better than drinking to fit in and risking your recovery.

Substance Use Treatment

  • A therapist can support your efforts and help you find the strategies that work best for you, your health, and your life.
  • I was still waking up in the middle of the night, and it felt like I was competing against my own desires.
  • We can also guide you in approaching a loved one who needs treatment.
  • The point of all this, don’t forget, is to enjoy the holidays.
  • When I went away with my friends to the lake house, I called my local cocktail bar ahead of time and asked if they could make me a nonalcoholic beverage to-go.
  • As humans, we tend to surround ourselves with people who share common interests, ideas, and hobbies.

If left unchecked, anger can have a negative impact on your health and your lasting sobriety. If a 12-step program doesn’t sound appealing, you can look for other support groups. Many will organize substance- and alcohol-free events to help fill members’ evenings and weekends.

Resources for Sobriety in the City

being sober around drinkers

These meetings offer a supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences, struggles, and triumphs. NYC hosts a variety of support groups and recovery meetings catering to different backgrounds and preferences. From traditional 12-step programs to alternative support networks, individuals have a wealth of options to choose from. Support isn’t just needed to get a person started on the path to recovery from addiction. As stated above, support can help the individual stick to treatment through the duration of the program. In addition, having a support network once treatment is over can ease the transition from rehab back to daily living.

  • However, when it has happened, I have to speak up to point out that I didn’t drink and I’m not subsidizing their drinking.
  • In other cases, it will be very much appreciated to offer alternatives in both focus and activity to create a fun and inclusive environment.
  • It was my jumping-off point into a life I knew I had buried inside of me.
  • After making the decision to quit drinking and live a sober life, it’s generally not recommended to go back to the same lifestyle as before.
  • You are a mirror now, a flashlight of sobriety in a society that is laced with the judgment that it’s abnormal to abstain from alcohol.

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being sober around drinkers

Still, being prepared and having a plan can help you enjoy going out after you’ve quit drinking. The next step is to think about what being sober curious might mean in your life. For example, it might mean giving up alcohol for a period of time, such as participating in Dry January, or it might involve gradually decreasing your alcohol use. It might also mean limiting yourself to a single drink once each week when you are out with friends or replacing your usual cocktail with a non-alcohol option. It passes slowly when times are tough and moves too quickly when life is smooth. Although I have not drunk alcohol in two decades, images and sensations of the experience are one thought away.

Living in the vibrant metropolis of New York City brings with it a tapestry of experiences and challenges. For individuals on the journey of sobriety, the city that never sleeps can be both a source of unique opportunities and a testing ground for resilience. being sober around drinkers First and foremost, find a treatment program that has a positive track record in terms of patients completing treatment and maintaining sobriety. This is most likely to occur in programs that provide services and therapies based on research.

You can join AA or other peer support programs, get a sponsor, or attend treatment alumni functions to establish a sober support system. Also, you can plan some sober activities to your drinking friends so your encounters don’t always involve alcohol. For example, try a nature activity, engage in an exercise class or sport, or join a class to learn a hobby.

being sober around drinkers