Trying to do so will only lead to arguments, resentment, and stress, none of which are helpful to your recovery. You may need to shift your social circle to include people who don’t drink. If you’re surrounded by people who make alcohol a big part of their lives, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ it can feel like everyone drinks. If you’re in recovery and feel especially fragile or are craving alcohol even after you leave the environment, be sure to seek help. Call a trusted friend or family member or go to a meeting at a nearby support group.
- At Gateway Foundation, we take the time to understand the triggers keeping you from staying sober.
- Your exercise routine can include going to a gym, but let’s face it — the gym isn’t for everyone.
- This tactic won’t work for everyone, and its success depends on your comfort level around people who are drinking.
- For many, college is an exciting experience where young adults can learn, make friends, grow into their own, and of course attend the occasional party.
- In addition to being able to recognize them, it’s important to know when to seek help.
Professional Treatment Options for Addiction
Think about the people in your life who positively influence you and your sobriety goals. Make a list of loved ones and others who stood by your side when you struggled. Connect with them by phone, in person, or on social media. Sometimes a reassuring word from someone you trust and respect is all it takes to keep you on track. This can include toxic relationships in which you feel unheard, misunderstood, unsupported, demeaned, unsafe, and/or attacked. Getting sober may seem difficult, but there are strategies you can use to get and maintain sobriety.
Establishing Clear Boundaries
They help you achieve goals and ensure you remember what’s more important than drinking or doing drugs. If you haven’t done this already, consider cleaning out your pantry and cupboards to remove any tempting substances lurking. When you have a bad day, you don’t want that bottle of whiskey conveniently waiting for you to grab a tumbler and ice.
- It can be heartbreaking to decide to temporarily separate or leave relationships in recovery, but oftentimes it’s a necessary step in a person’s healing journey.
- Just a heads-up that carbonated beverages with high alcohol content—beer, champagne, or even rum and Coke—may speed up your body’s absorption of alcohol more than the non-bubbly kind.
- Rather than harboring resentment, express your feelings in an empathic and non-accusatory way.
- You’re getting met with eye rolls, calls to lighten up, and advice that you should learn to take a joke.
Tips For Staying Sober On Campus
- Non-alcoholic drink alternatives and “mocktails” can provide a sense of fitting in without the effects of alcohol.
- A mental health professional can help you cope with some of the challenges you’ll face on your path to sobriety.
- Unless the behavior of others around you directly harms you, try not to focus on it.
- Long-term sobriety can be challenging—but it’s even more difficult when your spouse and loved ones continue to drink.
- After my daughter was born, I slowly reintroduced meat into my diet.
Incorporating structure can be simple, such as rising at a certain time daily and making your bed. Or it can be more elaborate if you thrive on structure, with time blocked off for self-care or activities to ensure boredom doesn’t sneak in and cause you to have cravings. To begin, it can take several hours to sober up from alcohol.
Any activity that you’ve closely paired with alcohol in the past may trigger the desire to drink, Willenbring says. Turning down a cigarette, an invitation to a Super Bowl party, or another problem activity can help you avoid high-risk situations. The point of all this, don’t forget, is to enjoy the holidays.
Don’t Focus on Other’s Behavior
Other definitions, however, focus on the process of recovery and coping habits that support health and wellness over the long term. True friends are a solid support system who help us get through any situation, bad or worse. Prioritizing your well-being over socializing is way better than giving up on your achievement of staying sober. Contact Gateway Foundation today to learn more about the programs and services that best meet your needs. One way to make sober friends is through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. You might search for groups based on sobriety, interests, or location on Facebook and engage with their discussion posts and events.
- Without proper mental health care, depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health concerns can lead even the strongest of those in recovery into relapse.
- If you have good friends who are likely to support your efforts, you might decide to have a direct and honest conversation with them.
- For a visual reminder you can’t ignore, keep a glass on your nightstand.
- These include groups like student government, intramural sports, arts clubs, cultural clubs, and community service groups.
- If you can’t or don’t want to do this, seek professional counseling and encourage your loved one to do so too.
- By taking proactive steps to avoid substance use temptations, you can still enjoy your college experience.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician for questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. If you are having being sober around drinkers a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately. That’s why sports drinks and powders contain electrolytes; they help replenish the minerals you lose through sweat. Water is always number one (more on this below), but you don’t need to exclusively sip plain H2O all day if you’re craving a little more variety.
of the Best Alcohol Alternatives to Spice Up Your Sobriety
