If you gulp a drink, you’re losing a pleasure of drinking; tasting and smelling the flavours. All in all, drinking alcohol fast will get you drunk quicker. Also, thinking the thought all the way through until the end (not glamorizing it). In treatment, the counselor showed my group a picture of a shot of whiskey and asked the question “Who here thinks they are powerless over this little thing? Today, I know that my problem isn’t due to being a “weak” willed human being. My mind has a mental obsession and my body has an allergic reaction.
Want to drink less or stay sober? Here’s how to deal with the social pressure – CNN
Want to drink less or stay sober? Here’s how to deal with the social pressure.
Posted: Sat, 31 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]
In the ’70s and even well into the ’80s crystal ashtrays were an easy and obvious wedding gift. When I quit smoking there was no way that any of my friends or family would offer me a cigarette. In understanding being sober around drinkers enabling, co-dependence and drinking culture, I’ve found it helps to look at how we perceive smoking. Don’t waste a lot of mental and emotional energy trying to dissect what that means in the long term.
Tips for Staying Sober Around Drinkers
“[Drinking alcohol] is hyper-normalized,” says Jennifer Fernández, a clinical psychologist who focuses on substance abuse treatment in San Francisco. I had been a grey area drinker or what is traditionally defined as a high functioning alcoholic. The depth of my alcohol abuse was not something that my friends and family had seen. But even after I came out sober publicly and proudly in my second year alcohol-free, I have friends and family who still unwittingly try to enable me to drink.
- And then they’re going to make a conscious effort not to be bad friends.
- First and foremost, it’s eminent to embrace your decision to lead a sober life fully.
- Craig’s personal experience with alcoholism gives him a unique perspective on the challenges of quitting drinking and staying sober.
- While you probably will accept any drinks at the party, mixed drinks often can be wildly in strength.
- Although many people can stay sober without professional help, others find this professional level of support necessary in their recovery.
- If things have gotten awkward since you stopped drinking, putting a little space between you and your friends is fine, especially if yours was a boozy bunch.
But not long after my second child, a little girl, was born, the pressure of having two children under two took its toll and I once again would turn to the bottle whenever the children were asleep. I would often head to bed in the early hours, after having fallen asleep on the settee. My then husband and I would argue about my drinking and we began to grow apart.
Be Aware of Your Triggers and Have a Plan
Remember, your journey is unique, and your commitment to a healthier, sober life is commendable. Triggers are any event, person, place, or thing that make you feel like drinking again. Triggers can be different for everyone but might include places where you used to drink, people you used to drink with, stressful situations, or difficult emotions like frustration or anger. When you feel triggered by friends who drink, it’s important to have a plan so you don’t relapse. It’s up to you to set healthy boundaries with the people in your social circle. You don’t have to stop going to restaurants, parties, or even bars, providing that you’re able to choose healthier, nonalcoholic beverages and that you establish ground rules.
