Knowing in advance how to decline alcoholic drinks or drug use in social situations can make it easier to stick to your sobriety. Practice adult children of alcoholics screening quiz and plan your responses so that you feel confident and prepared in these environments. Influencers and campaigns like #SoberLife and #SobrietyJourney promoting sober lifestyles have further normalized and celebrated alcohol-free living. One of the most significant cultural changes among younger generations is the reduced stigma around mental health.
When the Fear of Being Sober Means Facing Emotion
- Every time you (or I) do that, we choose to suffer.
- You will have good days, hopeless days, and every other sort of in-between day on this journey.
- I still deal with anxiety after quitting drinking, and now I know that it can go away without Xanax.
- Every day, week, and month that you let slip by without tackling your drinking problem is time you can’t get back and more damage you must undo.
Spending mental energy on things you cannot possibly know is useless. Every time you (or I) do that, we choose to suffer. The more you scratch it, the worse it’s going to get. Leave it alone, give it time, and it will go away on its own. Besides, allowing the fear of failure to completely influence big decisions like this is a cop-out.
Any big life change naturally brings a sense of fear or unease. According to Merriam-Webster, being sober simply means abstaining from alcohol and drugs. Though some people are sober for their entire lives, others may have sober episodes of a few years, months, or even days. Start by identifying friends and family members who understand your journey to sobriety and are willing to help you through it. It’s important to choose people who are nonjudgmental and encouraging, rather than those who might inadvertently lead you back into old habits. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have amplified this dialogue, with advocates openly discussing their sobriety journeys.
Tips for Avoiding the Holiday Pressure to Drink
However, the Alcoholics Anonymous “AA Triangle” is one of the most common and recognizable tattoos to represent sobriety. Sobriety is a commitment to a new lifestyle and something that should be celebrated for years to come. Individual reasons for becoming sober range from everything from wanting more energy, to having contraindicated medications – such as Adderall and alcohol. Drinking non-alcoholic beer can not only break sobriety, but it can also open an individual up to other dangers such as peer pressure and cravings. Non-alcoholic beer can be a misleading name, as there are still trace amounts of alcohol in these drinks. There is never one path to sobriety, nor is there one strategy guaranteed to work for everybody.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Get Sober
By doing so, they further normalize prioritizing mental health over traditional drinking habits. One common mistake for those who are new to alcohol and drug recovery is substituting a new compulsive behavior for their old one. People new to recovery can find themselves approaching their new diet, exercise program, job, and even participation in support groups with a compulsion that echoes addiction. Many people who misuse alcohol or drugs have trouble dealing with anger. If left unchecked, anger can have a negative impact on your health and your lasting sobriety.
Non-drinkers may experience a healthier and happier emotional state compared to binge drinking. Relapse and recovery are a normal part of the healing process. The most important thing is to have the right resources to pull yourself back up and build up your resilience to triggers, cravings, and stressful situations. Sobriety is a constant journey of change, which can feel overwhelming at times.
You may no longer be in some people’s lives because of your actions. However, another fear is the worry of not belonging anywhere. You may feel as though you don’t belong in a place of employment because you screwed up so badly.