But these are the core elements that I’ve used and seen others use successfully over the past few years. It’s not uncommon to crave sugary snacks and fast food when you first quit drinking – your body is used to what is alcoholism the quick dopamine fix alcohol once provided. We know that alcohol makes mental health conditions worse and impairs cognitive function. In the early days of sobriety, be very discerning about your social calendar. Avoid overly tempting places, especially those that are triggers for you. It is okay to cancel previously scheduled plans and turn down offers to hang out.
What You’ll Discover
Whatever plan someone follows, I remind them to not beat themselves up if they don’t meet their goal. Let’s say you have to assemble a piece of furniture. The first time you do it, you’re probably going to read the instructions several times, review each step and even end up redoing a few things.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
If you’re worried about your drinking or are interested in a sober lifestyle, consider joining a quit-drinking webinar. Here at Stop Drinking Expert, we offer insights, strategies, and support to help you live a fulfilling being sober around drinkers life without alcohol. Check out our blog for more stories and advice on navigating sobriety. Choosing not to drink isn’t just a personal health decision; it’s a statement in a society still heavily influenced by alcohol culture. Each person who stops drinking contributes to a shift in public perception, helping to normalize sobriety.
- Just remember that drinking (or not drinking) is a personal choice.
- By establishing definite goals and accepting duties during gatherings, you can occupy your thoughts and distract attention from alcohol.
- Throughout the course of an alcohol recovery journey, there will be situations that challenge even the most seasoned person in recovery.
- For many people whose lives once revolved around drinking, it can be difficult to avoid every social, and sometimes professional, event that involves alcohol.
- Growing up in a rural Nova Scotia fishing town, alcohol was simply a way of life.
Enjoy Saving Money
With non-alcoholic options and supportive friends, you can enjoy social events alcohol-free. You have the right to choose what’s best for you. A strong community can go a long way to helping cut down on alcohol use. If you are serious about mindful drinking, ask your friends, family, or other trusted member of your community to help you cut back. You can plan fun events that don’t center around alcohol, and they can assist in keeping you accountable to your goals.
This shows you’re sure of your decision and not easily swayed. “Why aren’t you drinking?” It’s a question that can make even the most self-assured person squirm. Oddly, while recent research out of Fordham University shows that people who feel lonely are at risk of drinking more, people who feel lonelier than usual actually drink less. In other words, being made to feel lonely by others is unlikely to drive a non-drinker to drink. So much for any hope of me taking up drinking with a passion to try and fit in. Social media, for all its faults, can be a great way to hold ourselves accountable for progress.