How to Get Sober from Alcohol

You may quit alcohol for a time, or you may practice mindful drinking, where you thoughtfully choose when you drink. Ultimately, the goal is to become more aware of your drinking habits, understand why you are drinking in the first place, and be more conscious of your alcohol consumption. Brown still has to taste alcohol occasionally, but the difference is that he doesn’t feel like he needs it anymore, and knows his hard-won expertise is not for naught. The principles of flavor balance that he’d been teaching all along also apply to low- and no-alcohol cocktails.

Thankfully, there have only been a few times when someone at the table hasn’t pointed it out on my behalf and adjusted accordingly. However, when it has happened, I have to speak up to point out that I didn’t drink and I’m not subsidizing their drinking. I have always hated the feeling that I’m putting people out or being difficult. It’s seen as normal to drink, and quitting that drug can feel like breaking a social pact. So your bold, life-improving decision to not drink will mean changes almost everywhere you look. Here are some surprising (and not-so-surprising) occurrences that will inevitably happen to your relationships, your identity, even your free time, and how I’ve learned to deal with each one.

More Time for Self-Care

Stick with drinks that take a while to finish, like beer and wine. When alcohol enters your stomach, it’s quickly absorbed into your bloodstream through your stomach lining and small intestine. If someone you know has been drinking heavily, try to keep them upright for a few hours. Place them on their side instead of their back if they need to lie down.

When you catch yourself thinking of drinking, of wanting nothing more than to have one glass of whiskey, then stop and close your eyes. Take that thought and imagine it as a fish and let it float out of your vision. It begins a process of “thinking of thinking” and as strange as it may seem, it helps pull you out so you can calmly observe from afar. It’s important to remember that you’re going to be craving alcohol to reward the short-term part of your brain, not the long term. Create some goals for yourself to remind yourself of what you’re working towards.

Begin Your Sobriety Journey Today, Join the Sober Life Long Term.

Cultivating friendships with them made a huge impact on my outlook on sobriety and life in general. If none of your drinking friends want to do other activities with you, that’s okay. You can do things on your own and quickly meet new people who are sober and looking for friendships. The first time you attend an event alone may make you nervous.

Developing new healthy habits can help you manage stress and distract you from negative feelings. This could be joining a new club, starting a new hobby, or engaging in recreational activities. If you have started your alcohol and drug recovery journey, you will know how hard it sober house was to get there. Maintaining lasting sobriety is more than saying no to drugs or alcohol. It’s about creating lasting changes in your life to live a happy and healthy life. On a deeper level, living a sober lifestyle can mean you choose not to drink alcohol for the long-term.

Is there a safe approach to drinking?

You may want to reflect on this list when you feel cravings to drink. You might also prefer to drink coffee, tea, a seltzer with fresh fruit, or a soda with fresh lemon or lime. Once you start to reap the benefits of not drinking, it may be easier to opt for alternatives since your body may be feeling better without alcohol. Decide what you’ll say if someone asks why you’re sober. You can try to avoid the conversation, but it’s good to have a response ready in case that’s not possible. If the question comes from someone you know well, you may want to say that drugs or alcohol became a problem for you, so you’re staying away from them.