At Gateway Foundation, we take the time to understand the triggers keeping you from staying sober. For over 50 years, our compassionate team of professionals has helped individuals overcome addiction with evidence-based, personalized, and life-saving addiction treatment. Making new friends is the most difficult part for people who want to quit drinking and lead a sober social life. If you’re lucky, you’ll have other things in common with your old drinking buddies besides getting drunk. Even if your friends support your sobriety, things will be different because a major part of your social life is different. If you’re having the thought that you want to get sober and want to know how to get clean, there’s probably already an underlying motivation.
Benefits of being sober curious
That being said, you might not be at a place where you want people to know you’re not drinking, and that’s OK. You can provide an excuse, like that you’re on antibiotics, or you aren’t feeling great or want to feel fresh for something you have going on the next day. It’s important to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ remember that you never have to give yourself up to make other people comfortable—ever. Whether you’re stating a one-sentence response (“I don’t drink”) or using a small excuse, the only thing to consider is whether you are comfortable, and whether your boundaries are being upheld.
Why Can’t I Stop Drinking Once I Start? 4 Major Reasons
Alcohol’s inflammatory properties don’t just affect the liver — the stomach can also become inflamed, which, along with the dehydration, can affect digestion and lead to constipation. While your liver and stomach can usually rebound if you stop drinking, with inflammation comes an increased cancer risk over time. “Alcohol is a monkey wrench in our homeostasis,” says Dr. Mosquera. The less appealing drinking becomes, the less time you want to spend around drunk people. At this point, you need to explain why you’re not drinking.
Start journaling.
If you want to explore your relationship with alcohol, it can be helpful to cut it out and note any changes in your life caused by its elimination. The most helpful being sober around drinkers activities are often ones that you know provide meaning, enjoyment, or a sense of mastery. These help boost mood and focus your attention away from urges to drink.
Figure out the alcohol-free fun activities you’re passionate about
Join a Support Group
Avoidance is Sometimes the Best Policy
- (Not a real association, btw.) You can follow whatever set of rules you want to, as long as you stay honest with yourself.
- By having a go-to response ready, such as « I’m focusing on my health » or « I feel more energized without alcohol », you can confidently handle any questions or comments about your choice of non-alcoholic beverages.
- And also, no one should feel like any attempts at sobriety deserve an asterisk next to them if they’re not approved by AA’s International Federation of Higher Power Association.
- These effects will subside as your body adjusts to the absence of alcohol.
- One friend not only starts to shout after a few, but he also won’t stop talking and cursing.