Long-term heavy drinkers often experience intense thoughts about alcohol. They begin to feel a strong desire or compulsion to drink. People in recovery from alcohol addiction often report alcohol cravings as a reason for relapse. Whether you’ve received alcohol addiction treatment in Phoenix or you’re from any other part of the country, you will need to follow it up with emotional support and physical support.
And the process of finding new things to do can be quite fun in itself. If, however, they relish a new and fun thing to do and a night sans booze, then it’s highly likely that the friend is here to stay. In many ways getting sober helps us know who is important in our lives. While your therapist, sponsor, or AA buddy might suggest dropping your friends, it is a highly individualized choice. Folks in recovery still party, go to concerts, and hang out with their friends outside of 12-step meetings. You can do all of these things with friends whether they are sober or not.
Be Aware of Your Triggers and Have a Plan
In the early days of learning to live your life sober, you might decide that it’s easier for you to avoid situations where you’re surrounded by people drinking. That’s a really sensible, healthy and helpful thing to do. When I first stopped drinking, I stopped going to gigs with my partner. For the first couple of weeks I didn’t go to the pub with him at all because I knew that would be too much for me. I knew I’d find that too challenging and I wouldn’t enjoy it. What you also find as you grow in confidence in navigating the world around you sober, is that your real true self starts to shine through.
John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator https://ecosoberhouse.com/ at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This blog is all about motherhood, sobriety and everything that goes along with being free from addiction.
Avoid Old Routines and Habits
During this time, you can figure out how many of your crowd are actually friends, or just people that you would want to drink with. If you don’t have anything in common besides the fact that you used to throw back some shots, you don’t have to worry about hanging out with these people anymore. Instead, pay attention to those that are true friends and can support you during the transition. A question to ask yourself is whether or not you are missing these people or if you are just bored and want someone to hang out with. Some soul searching during this period of recovery can be beneficial as you move forward. Seek support and connect with like-minded individuals who share your interest in alcohol-free socializing.
Everywhere I turn, there’s a virtual cocktail hour. Or, an innocuous “let’s grab a drink” text with a friend I haven’t seen in years. And of course, there’s the third space that has become so beautiful and rare in this pandemic period.
I’d love to know…
Those you meet at recovery meetings may know what it’s like to be in your shoes. Last week, I met two women in a local pub and we sat for a couple of hours in a beer garden. I didn’t know them very well but we had such being sober around drinkers a great time together that I’m sure we’re going to become good friends. The conversation was lively, funny, serious, interesting and engaging. I met so many new people and came away feeling energised and happy.
