Is It Okay to Drink Around Your Newly Sober Friend?
Some drunks somehow manage to find the only sober person in the room, engage them in conversation, and reveal all their kinks, which actually aren’t kinky at all. One of my college friends used to get drunk and aggressively challenge someone to start naming states so that he could name their respective capitals. He would scream the answers and taunt being sober around drinkers everyone in the room. No one seriously challenged him, because no one seriously cared. After a few drinks, all my best friend wants to do is give hugs and cuddle—doesn’t much matter who. Once he locks onto you (we are still trying to figure out what triggers him), he will quickly and relentlessly violate anyone’s definition of personal space.
Getting outside and communing with nature is scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve mental health and cognitive function in both kids and adults. Right now, you’re doing a very hard thing, and sometimes hard things feel lonely. Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to connect with like-minded people who are fellow travelers on this path. That being said, drinking FOMO is real and must be dealt with.
It isn’t necessarily a permanent change
Those feelings don’t come back immediately when you quit. 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. When serotonin and dopamine levels are low, we become less motivated and less interested in our surroundings.
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. If you’re not ready to be around alcohol yet, that’s okay. You can always decline invitations to events where alcohol will be present until you feel more confident in your ability to resist temptation.
Drinking Out of Boredom: Why It’s Risky Business
When I finally walked away from booze at 34, my life opened up. I can honestly say sobriety is the best thing I have ever done for myself. It was my jumping-off point into a life I knew I had buried inside of me.
- This old advice can be helpful in this scenario, but it may not mean what you think.
- Remind yourself of the advantages of sobriety, especially when surrounded by those consuming alcohol.
- Sure, there are many youths globally who do drink and then indulge in reckless behaviours.
- So those of us who don’t drink any longer feel part of that fun group.
He also recommends trying Leitz Eins Zwei Zero, Surely Sparkling Selbach-Oster Funkelwurtz Zero, and the white wine alternatives from Proxies. Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today. How you deal with this one is you use it and you own it and you live it, because there is nothing more beautiful than a human who has no other choice but to be themself. Consider reaching out to a vocational rehabilitation counselor or career coach to help you update your resume, practice job interview skills, and locate jobs that match your skills and experience. For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member, friend, or employer may have been enabling you without even knowing it. Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to avoid repeating mistakes and build better habits.
