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. The best way forward for your recovery from alcohol or substance use is to incorporate being sober around drinkers a wide variety of strategies that will help foster success. Remember to care for yourself, seek supportive relationships, and consider seeking help from a therapist. Many people who misuse alcohol or drugs have trouble dealing with anger.

Sober celebrities: 34 stars who are teetotal and don’t drink – Cosmopolitan UK

Sober celebrities: 34 stars who are teetotal and don’t drink.

Posted: Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

You’ll get to meet new people and be a part of something positive. When you begin to view your negative thoughts and feelings as problems to be solved rather than the embodiment of who you actually are, you liberate yourself. So much of this list is not just about finding things to do, but treating the underlying causes of extreme boredom in sobriety. Plus, you might meet some cool people, and that’s always a double win. But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community. Not on its own, but maybe it starts a conversation and a friend comes over just to sit with you and make sure you’re good.

Stay Cool and Calm

Triggers can be anything from certain people or places to specific situations that make you want to drink. By knowing what they are, you can prepare yourself to handle them without giving in to temptation. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Once you do return to work, it’s important to create a budget and take steps to safeguard yourself as work stress can be a relapse trigger.

being sober around drinkers

Their presence will ensure you don’t feel like the lone non-drinker and help you have more fun. Now that you’ve broken free from addiction, the people you once partied with can no longer be a part of your life. Instead, do some sober social https://ecosoberhouse.com/ networking and stay around people and friends who are supportive of your recovery and won’t pressure you. Learning how to stay sober around drinkers is a significant challenge that many individuals face during their sobriety journey.

Why It’s Tough to Be Around Alcohol in Recovery

Pile on some sobriety struggle, and it’s a recipe for madness. I found myself planning little outings when I got sober because I needed to figure out what it meant to have fun again. Depending on where you live, various options are available to you. I kept a notebook and pen beside my bed in case I woke up in the middle of the night with a brilliant song lyric or poem.

being sober around drinkers

And that’s something that I think a lot of people can relate to too, is just your changing relationship with alcohol maybe as you grow older, or as we all got through a pandemic for years. I’m not someone who’s completely sober, but I think it’s great to have these options. If you’re going to a bar and you’re someone who’s sober or sober curious, now there’s availability to give these a try.

Alcohol didn’t make life fun. It just made you not care.

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. But for most people, staying sober isn’t that straightforward. The more strategies you learn to identify triggers, cope with stress, and manage your new sober life, the easier it is to prevent relapse. Some people who don’t drink alcohol have made a conscious decision to eliminate alcohol from their lives, sometimes through the help of a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).