I stopped drinking at the end of 2016 and have stayed sober ever since. I regularly blog about sobriety and normally choose to focus on the benefits I’ve experienced since quitting drinking. That’s because sobriety has been overwhelmingly a positive experience for me.
tips to help you overcome the fear of being sober
Here’s how to stay sober, and sane, when life sucks. They can feel overwhelming and like they will never end. Even if you are making one small choice to improve how you feel each day, like working out more or eating better, track it. You can then consistently look back, see how far you’ve come, and assess what you have accomplished along the way. When you feel better, your mood is elevated, you’re more likely to ignore the little annoyances, and you’re less likely to feel like a relapse is your only way out of any uncomfortable situations that may arise. Anything you can do to improve your overall health and wellness will serve double duty and improve your ability to stay sober.
How I Stopped Hating Myself: Lessons in Sobriety
You can always improve how you fare in sobriety by looking at where you can improve your quality of life. When you handle the little things that are within your immediate grasp, you have an easier time handling other stressors and taking active steps to address them rather than getting https://ecosoberhouse.com/ bogged down in an emotional response. If you are hungry, even if that is not your main issue, get something healthy to eat. If you are feeling exhausted, refresh with a quick walk outside or a coffee nap if you can. Sometimes, it is the little things you may not realize are having a significant impact on your ability to cope.
Seek Support
- Yes, but also, it’s usually the case that fresh faces are sober faces.
- The saying goes that your worst day in sobriety is better than your best day in addiction.
- When things feel out of control or you feel that you’re at risk for relapse, go to a meeting.
- He said before Hekate opened in 2022, “the only sober scene was AA.”
- You can also call or text 988 nationwide to connect with local support systems.
Once you recognize and accept that you’re afraid, you can begin to address the underlying causes with specific strategies. Educating yourself about the benefits of sobriety and the recovery process can demystify what sobriety entails and help alleviate some of the fear. Reaching out for support — whether to friends, family, or professionals like therapists or support groups — can provide the encouragement and guidance needed to take further steps toward sobriety. First off, I had no idea how many sober women had antidepressants contribute to their worst and final drinking days. Lots of medications interact with booze, but SSRIs can actually lower your tolerance to alcohol and get you drunker faster.
About Mental Illness
Most importantly, maintain a compassionate attitude toward yourself and recognize that recovery is a journey with ups and downs. Read books, listen to podcasts, and follow blogs that focus on recovery and sober living. This knowledge of benefits and challenges being sober sucks can empower you and reduce anxiety and alleviating fear by framing sobriety as a positive lifestyle change.
Children with Developmental Challenges and Social Media
- It was supportive, someone cared about me more than myself, and the realization came to me, I was so wrong about myself.
- I didn’t want to be one of those weird sober people.
- They’ll be much happier that you reached out now, before you picked up, then afterwards, when a relapse has already happened.
- Plus, your antidepressants can’t make you any less depressed if you’re ingesting large amounts of depressants every day.
Eliott Edge, manager of the Hekate sober bar in New York City, agreed. He said before Hekate opened in 2022, “the only sober scene was AA.” “America also has the biggest distinction of people who do a DIY version of trying to go dry on their own versus people joining the program,” Piper added.
Fewer “cringe” moments
Yes, asking for help was already listed, but it is so important that Substance abuse it is worth repeating. Getting through recovery’s ups and downs requires you to do more than just occasionally show up and interact with people who may be able to support you. The other people next to you at group therapy sessions and support group meetings all have experiences that can help you. They want to be there for you when you are struggling.
But then the other sides emerge — usually after a few drinks or in the absence of desperately needed ones. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information. Personally, I find creative output to be extremely rewarding. Activities like writing music, playing instruments and photography help keep my mind occupied and satisfied.