My Tips for Staying Sober in Early Recovery: Lessons Learned from St Patricks Day: Matthew Goldenberg, D.O.: Psychiatrist

You might even isolate yourself or hold back from having a good time—which will then reinforce your belief that being sober makes fun impossible. It’s helpful to have something in your hand at all times. So if you go to a place that serves alcohol, maybe you can immediately order a non-alcoholic drink. David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause brain damage and other serious problems in the baby. Because it is not yet known whether any amount of alcohol is safe for a developing baby, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not drink. A typical 25-ounce bottle of table wine holds about 5 “standard” drinks, each containing about 5 ounces.

Hanging out with friends should be a fun experience and something you look forward to. If you’re worried or anxious, you may not be ready for a particular experience. Give yourself time after you leave recovery to build up your resilience and courage.

Alcohol addiction treatment options

Not only is it important to develop a routine that works for you, it’s also important to find ways to cope if you get thrown off your schedule. The point is that you don’t have to take on the burden right now of deciding what is or isn’t becoming of your friendships.

The more specific, realistic, and clear your goals, the better. Our mission is to provide empowering, being sober around drinkers evidence-based mental health content you can use to help yourself and your loved ones.

What is Hangxiety (Hangover Anxiety)?

You like hanging out with your friends at happy hour, eating discount wings, and talking shit about anything and everything. Even if you’ve had a previously successful outing with your bestie ordering only ginger ale with lime, you’re playing with fire every time you go. Politely decline invitations to activities you are not 100% confident https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you can handle sober. People who are supportive and healthy for you to be around will apologize. Reinforce what you’re doing is important, and you need them to be more supportive. Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She’s also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author.

• Other recovering alcoholics may not feel comfortable being around alcohol for five years – simply because the possibility for temptation isn’t worth the risk.
• Support groups are another way to find people who will be able to help you.
• A therapy environment can also help you feel more comfortable raising issues that you might not normally want to mention.
• You may have a lot of concerns about going out after quitting drinking.
• It’s up to you to decide how much detail you tell them.
• The purpose of urge surfing is not to make cravings disappear, but to experience them in a new way.

The safest way of dealing with peer pressure is cutting out any influence that is tempting you to drink. Someone may not understand the realities of living sober and can take hesitation as a sign of uncertainty and still press the issue. The 12 Step Program meetings are a good way to expand your network of sober friends and any support group can compliment other forms ofbehavioral therapy. So have some options of hanging out with some friends you know won’t put any pressure on you.

Plan for triggers and cravings

Avoid any situation that is a trigger to you, such as going back to the bar you spent a lot of time drinking in when you were in active addiction. If you used to spend a lot of your time hanging out at a certain location drinking, avoid that location. Instead, accept invitations to social events in areas that are less triggering for you. Get in touch at your convenience, and our team of experienced and compassionate professionals will offer you all of the guidance you need.