Either way, you don’t need to concern yourself with this stuff today. One or two might call you up to grab coffee and chat and it will be like nothing’s changed at all. Or maybe everything has changed and that’s what they want to talk to you about. Don’t waste a lot of mental and emotional energy trying to dissect what that means in the long term. You’ll drive yourself crazy (and potentially relapse).
Don’t use rookie explanations for not drinking
In the moment, you are more likely to be present and engaged in conversations, which will ultimately lead to deeper, more meaningful connections. At Grüvi, we believe everyone deserves to enjoy an evening with a cold one in their hand. That’s why we developed our delicious non-alcoholic bevies — because you deserve to be there for every moment and memory.
Don’t be afraid to leave
You might be thinking, “I just want to create a capsule wardrobe” so I understand if this isn’t your thing today. Approaching the end of an alcohol-free challenge, such as the Dry January® challenge or Try Dry® Anytime, https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/13-common-myths-about-addiction-and-recovery/ is a huge achievement. If you are interested in finding out more about this, or any of our other upcoming events you can find us on Instagram. You can also get in touch for event enquiries or popup collabs. Mark Willenbring, MD, former director, division of treatment and recoveryresearch, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Campral is another drug that is approved for treatment of alcohol dependence.
More on Substance Abuse and Addiction
Keep these positives in mind and you won’t miss the booze for a minute. That said, there’s no reason you can’t live your best sober life from November through February and beyond. Here are some tips on how to have an alcohol-free or alcohol-lite winter when everyone’s being sober around drinkers getting on the sauce.
- The spiraling alcoholic will often say that they don’t even want to drink but that circumstances like their horrible job/spouse/kids “force” them to.
- I found myself planning little outings when I got sober because I needed to figure out what it meant to have fun again.
Or maybe they’re not right for you now, but in the future, they will be. Let your people know that you’ll need to leave if you start to feel too tempted or if it gets past (whatever time) in the evening. Let them know you understand it’s a little weird with you not drinking, and you’re not trying to make anyone feel like their drinking is wrong, but the jokes and jabs aren’t helping you. Another aspect of boredom is focus, so if you’re in your own home, then you should have plenty to do. If you’re a reader you should be surrounded by books that you haven’t read so you can go and read those.
- I started practicing in March and I believe it made it easier for me to stop drinking alcohol.
- Compliments also work well, such as saying you love someone’s shirt and asking where they purchased it.
- The problem arises when you have to mingle outside the safety and security of the sobriety movement.
- Own the decision and be as positive as you can from the outset.
- “And if it’s a ‘party hearty’ crowd, after a little bit, they won’t even notice if I quietly leave.”
- Over and over again I saw a shake of a head, a polite smile or an outstretched hand saying “No.” In fact, the few that accepted the offer only took a polite amount for tasting.
But I PROMISE you, if you keep moving forward, things in your brain will start to click. And one day, it will occur to you that you’re actually happy and enjoying your life. Fried and overly sugary foods will also artificially spike your dopamine levels and cause your brain to overcorrect, leaving you feeling irritable, depressed, and cranky. These are all things you’re trying to overcome from drinking. Volunteering is a great way to reconnect with your community. Helping others actually boosts our own mental health and feelings of self-worth.
- If you have a 12-Step sponsor, ask him or her for assistance.
- Even if you’re not drinking, it’s better to have a non-alcoholic drink in your hand.
- I didn’t have a bad time necessarily, but I think I was the only person there who didn’t drink, and I honestly just felt like an idiot being the only sober person there.
- If you’re in recovery and feel especially fragile or are craving alcohol even after you leave the environment, be sure to seek help.
Is this the first time that you’ve used our services, or have you Alcohol Use Disorder already registered with us? To allow us to best serve you, please confirm whether you’re new to LiveWell Dorset, or if you’ve spoken to us before and may have an existing account. Mainly, be yourself and do what makes you most comfortable—people will ultimately respect and admire you for it. You’re probably putting more pressure on yourself to participate than others are putting on you. So stick to your guns and go in confident that in the end nobody really cares whether or not you drink.
