We alcoholics have a choice, stay in that god awful hell and die or seek out a better way to live, ONE DAY AT A TIME. Avoiding the boozy scenes may mean that you’re doing some earlier-in-the-day small group or one-on-one meetups with your friends, and that’s okay. There is no law that says your social life is only valid if it’s happening at night. Since there are different reasons for using drugs and alcohol, there are also varying reasons why someone wants to get sober. Whatever your “why,” know that with treatment and support, getting sober is not only possible, but it’s also manageable long-term.

This is a particular hope and dreams for many wives and husbands who have called time on alcohol and want their partner to come with them. Of course and ‘stopping drinking’ comes free with a pair of these amazing glasses. If I could offer you the chance to buy some magic glasses that would instantly reveal who your real friends are and who are the ones who are only using you. Because I have seen thousands of people go through this process and come out the other side. The good news is they were never your friends in the first place.

Can you go to a bar after getting sober? Should you?

Professional addiction treatment helps you manage withdrawal symptoms when you first decide to stay sober. Additionally, it can help you manage the challenges of addiction. Additionally, you’ll need to find ways to manage physical pain if you know it’s a trigger for drinking or drugs. The healthier and more fulfilling your life is, the less likely you will turn to drugs or alcohol.

• Politely decline invitations to activities you are not 100% confident you can handle sober.
• In addition to being able to recognize them, it’s important to know when to seek help.
• We’re hard-wired to seek similarities in others because it makes us feel heard, comfortable, and safe.
• Setting goals can help you get the most out of the gathering and navigate tricky situations.
• I, too, can order off the Skinnylicious menu at The Cheesecake Factory and feel good about it at the time.

For instance, if you are going to a party yet want to stick to only one alcoholic beverage, Sunny can provide tips on how to stay committed to your goal. Rather than Sunny responding to members directly, the AI coach generates recommendations that a human coach reviews before being sent as SMS. There are many different signs for how to tell if your friend’s drinking has crossed into the realm of alcohol misuse. Having an occasional drink is not a problem, but if your friend is drinking heavily or seems to be unable to control how much they drink, these are symptoms of alcohol misuse or alcoholism. If your friend becomes violent when drinking, drives while drunk, or drinks at inappropriate times, these behaviors may also indicate a problem.

Don’t Drink Alcohol Near Them

There are things and people in your life who you believe to be essential to your happiness and you are so convinced of this that you never question it. The Evil Clown has spent decades being sober around drinkers of your life meticulously building a virtual reality. This matrix has been constructed around you so painfully slowly that you didn’t even notice when it became complete.

• Trust me on this, if you got ill and could never drink again, most of these amazing friends would delete you from their phone within days.
• An analytics dashboard calculates how much money and calories you’ve saved so far by cutting back on drinking.
• When you’re at risk or feeling unsure, reach out to The Ranch at Dove Tree in Lubbock, TX, to learn more about your options in treatment.
• One of the best ways that you can support your friends early on is to invite them out for (non-alcoholic) activities.

Even single nights of drinking can lead to increased loneliness. A hangover can decrease your motivation to engage in social activities. But alcohol can cause people to further withdraw from loved ones and can increase feelings of depression and isolation. Addressing loneliness without involving alcohol is the best way to break this cycle. Instead of having a full shot, you can use a half shot of alcohol and fill the rest up with a soda or mixer. Not only it gives you a comfortable aftertaste, but this combo also prevents you from any negative effects caused by drinking alcohol too much.

Join a Support Group

It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way. Some people experience many setbacks before they find lasting recovery. Your intentions may be good, but it takes more than willpower to avoid having a relapse. Healthy relationships are valuable when you want to remain sober. If you start feeling triggered to use or drink, you can reach out to people who care about you.

If you are worried about them and are wondering how to help, you first need to determine whether your friend truly needs help and whether or not they are ready to accept help. Educating yourself is another step on the path to knowing how to deal with an alcoholic friend and be able to give them the support they need. Once your friend decides to seek help for their addiction, you should be ready to offer help and make recommendations about treatment programs.

What’s the Point of Staying Sober?

I can only stay away from the first drink if I start every day with the reminder that I am powerless over alcohol. I need to keep this in my thought process before all other thoughts – especially in these early days. If you’ve been in the throes of addictive behaviors for some time, you may be used to chaos and high-stress situations. Getting sober will remove some chaos and stress, but staying sober will require finding a balance between self-care and external responsibilities. It’s impossible to know how you’ll react and how your life will change when getting and staying sober. Even if you don’t have a strong support network right away, this is something you can seek out to help support your goals.