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This is a JOYOUS and wonderful thing because it easily sorts out the ones that have a weird relationship with alcohol, or the ones that just aren’t for you. It will hurt (pretty bad at first), but in time you will come to see it as the gift it is—and you won’t waste time getting to know the wrong person. It’s part of the sobriety package, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sobriety can be an incredible way to shed relationships you’ve outgrown as well as find new ones that align with your new values.
Being sober can be stressful, but it doesn’t need to be — and it certainly won’t be forever. You’re not punishing yourself for not drinking, you’re rewarding yourself, so go out and get a massage to work out some of that tension and feel proud while you’re pampered. Old habits and toxic relationships no longer serve the sober version of yourself you are working hard to create. Old habits may include other addictive behaviors or self-destructive actions. Even if you don’t have a strong support network right away, this is something you can seek out to help support your goals.
More Ways to Prevent Relapse
Drinking plenty of water can also assist with dehydration and flushing toxins from the body. A cold shower may make a person alert for a short period, but they are still impaired. However, there is no effective way to sober up quickly other than to stop drinking and allow time to pass. By Buddy T
Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.
You’ll never finish everything you want to do, but if you set strict timelines, you’ll keep yourself on track for staying sober. Often times, when we start to feel the pull of liquor, calling us to a relapse, it’s because we start thinking of the “good” times (which were bad times but with rose-tinted, tunnel vision). Instead, be present, look at the things sober house around you and identify only facts. Say them out loud, what you’re wearing, where you’re sitting, what year it is, what city you live in, that the light is on, that the walls are blue, etc. Doing this can help stop rapid thought and bring you back to the present. Some of the most creative people used artistic expression to showcase what they’re feeling.
How to Be Sober
If you’re having a hard day, they will rush to your aid to ensure you don’t slip back. They shouldn’t become a crutch, but they will always be thankful you turned to them instead of to your addiction. When something is wrong with you and you don’t understand it, it’s infinitely more scary. One of the benefits of being diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder is you know what the problem is, so look it up and research it. When you feel the pull to drink again, you can stay sober by reading up on what’s happening in your head that’s making you think you want to drink.