I felt like I didn’t have anything in common with the people that were going to be there. It was to do with my partner’s work and I was only going because I wanted to support him as he had to be there. I couldn’t imagine meeting anyone that I would get on with. A residential treatment program can help you develop tools and strategies for a successful life in recovery, including how to handle triggers and temptations. Also, an aftercare program and 12-step meetings can provide continuing support after alcohol rehab to make it easier to avoid relapse and maintain your recovery. Think about which friendships will be supportive of your sober life going forward.
How to Practice Gratitude for Improved Mental Well-Being
- But not social situations where I didn’t know the people well.
- I would have classified myself as someone who loved to be around people and go out with them at night.
- Still, if you’re worried that people seeing you ordering a non-alcoholic beverage might judge or ask questions, talk to the bartender privately.
- A lot of times I almost feel like I’m in a wheelchair, but no one will ever talk about it for fear of offending me.
- “High-functioning” meaning no discernible or public consequences have occurred (yet).
It’s why nothing seems fun or exciting, and you struggle to motivate yourself to have a good time. So it’s not that sobriety is inherently boring; it’s that your serotonin and dopamine levels are now very low. So, a bit like we’re learning to do in the audios when we’re letting go of our thoughts, you’re learning to do a similar thing with alcohol in the real world around you. You can notice that it’s there and you can just let it go. You don’t need to engage with it, you don’t need to give it energy, you don’t need to give it attention. You can observe that you’ve noticed it and then you can let it just drift away out of your consciousness.
What can I drink instead of alcohol at parties?
Pretending they do not exist doesn’t make them go away. Instead, understanding these cravings and recognizing triggers would better equip one for battling https://ecosoberhouse.com/ cravings in the long run. The purpose of planning what to do if one starts to have signs of relapse is to build awareness of triggers that may cause revert to former behaviors. Make a plan on how to deal with these triggers in advance.
Understanding Social Situations
- One of the most devastating facts about alcoholism is its relapse rate.
- This gives you a clear reason to avoid alcohol, and it’s also a gesture that’s generally appreciated.
- For example, you might choose to avoid certain environments or events where alcohol is the main focus.
- Discover the benefits, support, and triumphs on your journey to seek joy and sobriety.
Understanding different scenarios that may arise and setting clear boundaries and effective communication can help make socializing while sober a positive experience. Withdrawal symptoms are often very challenging for heavy drinkers due to the incessant cravings and the evolved brain chemistry. However, withdrawals can be treated with alcohol withdrawal medication and other techniques such as the 12-step program. The problem is that addiction is a lifelong problem, and the individual must stay conscious and change their lifestyle to avoid a relapse. Some cravings can last from hours alcoholism to months, pushing the individual towards a relapse.
But with the right approach, you being sober around drinkers can handle these situations comfortably and keep your commitment to sobriety intact. If you’re like most drinkers, you’ve likely surrounded yourself at some point with a group of people who also drink. I’d argue that many of us gravitated to a group of friends who have drinking habits that align with our own, and we did this because we didn’t want sober friends.
Have a support system in place
- Remember that one of the things we’re attempting to do is not only get out there and experience fun activities that don’t involve alcohol but also heal the underlying damage in our brain from drinking.
- 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.
- When he quit alcohol, it was not because he had a problem or was an alcoholic, it was just that he had been drinking most of his life and wanted a healthy change.
- When an affected person’s nutritional standing improves, mood fluctuations decrease, and the intensity of drinking urges may diminish.
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. But I didn’t know what to do with them besides feel them. And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get.