When I left the job, my boss gave me a bottle of wine as a parting gift on my last day. I want to acknowledge how generous and thoughtful these gifts are, but because I’ve always been very open about my sobriety, I felt like I wasn’t heard. Remember, relapse might be a part of recovery, and it is never too late to pick yourself up and try again.

A couple of others have drifted away without any trauma on either side—I suspect my sobriety may simply have accelerated an inevitable growing-apart process. My true friends were there for me when I was passing out at parties and throwing up in the back of taxis, and they’re there for me now. You have a fantastically supportive community here and in other online spaces. Recovery Twitter is incredible, and there is always your local AA or other recovery programs you can turn to. You might find that one of the best parts about not drinking is that you don’t waste away the next morning sleeping and feeling hungover. So make the most of the time you gain by doing something enjoyable or productive.

Sobriety can feel lonely, but you are not alone.

My oldest mates just accepted the fact I’d quit booze without barely a mention. They didn’t seem to have any issue with getting wankered in my company and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. At my previous employer, we were all given gift cards towards alcohol as our end-of-year perk, or a bottle of wine or champagne.

Being sober doesn’t have to mean giving up your social life, yet managing sobriety in a social setting can be a bit of a challenge. You may have a lot of concerns about going out after quitting drinking. When you’re a person who drinks, coming across a sober person is often a novelty. Usually, it’s the cranky designated driver, or the well-behaved friend of the group, or someone who’s taking the night easy after a particularly terrible hangover. I pretty much stay in every evening these days. My cat, my kids, my wife and a cup of tea provide sufficient glitz to my nightlife routine.

SOCIAL

After making the decision to quit drinking and live a sober life, it’s generally not recommended to go back to the same lifestyle as before. Some changes need to be made to fit a new way of living. In some cases, this can mean changing your social group and spending time with different people. Regardless of why you decide to change your drinking habits, socializing sober can feel scary. If you find that you’re struggling to avoid alcohol, or you’re feeling lonely and isolated, consider seeking professional help. A therapist can support your efforts and help you find the strategies that work best for you, your health, and your life.

• Like that guy from that probably stolen Dane Cook sketch, drunk people just “gotta dance.” A couple beers and everyone is oblivious to their surroundings.
• If you can, try to limit time with negative people.
• Either they will seek you out and you’ll navigate your new, sober relationship OR time will do what it always does and you’ll move on.
• We’ve consulted Merriam-Webster, and the word of the day issober.
• After two weeks of no drinking , I have to say giving up alcohol has been hard.
• Whether you’re hoping to prolong the benefits of Dry January a little longer or thinking of going sober more permanently, here are some tips on how to keep having fun while you do so.

Look for jazz cafés, open mic nights, or community bands playing. Many cities and towns will have live music in public spaces, especially during the warmer months. Or craft an elaborate snacking spread full of your favorite fruits and cheeses (if that’s your thing) and watch a game at home with your friends. How often does a social night out get in the way of your grounding routines? If you’re an introvert like me, spending a couple of hours alone can help recharge and reset you on the path towards your goals.

Join others on the road to recovery

The group was founded in 1994 as an alternative to AA. It has become a way for people to learn how to stop harmful patterns when they drink and identify triggers for those behaviors. For some,moderation managementis more appropriate than cutting out alcohol altogether. That means drinking is limited to moderate, responsible amounts as defined by your personal goals or the more officialModeration Managementguidelines. Drinking in moderation does come with some benefits, especially if you’re reaching for resveratrol-rich red wine, but it will always be a better option to drink less or not at all.

Instead, it’s an increasingly fuzzy outline of that person — usually more distracted and less compassionate, less intellectually agile. Please note this is way beyond what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define as moderate being sober around drinkers drinking, by the way. The CDC suggests a maximum of 2 drinks per day for men and only one drink per day for women. Improved mental health.Drinking canheighten your emotionsin the short-term and destabilize your mood in the long-term.