To Drink or Not to Drink Around Sober People

For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member, friend, or employer may have been enabling you without even knowing it. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) involves experiencing withdrawal symptoms that persist past the detox period. Such symptoms are often related to mood and may include irritability, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and fatigue. I live on a campus where it is very normalized being sober around drinkers to party, but my normal is to stay away from those spaces and stay home. Like that guy from that probably stolen Dane Cook sketch, drunk people just “gotta dance.” A couple beers and everyone is oblivious to their surroundings. Take a person who’s pleasing to the eye, intelligent, put together, and when sober, brazenly competent, and confident—but after a few whisky sours, that person turns into a paranoid mess of self-doubt.

When you decide to quit drinking, honesty becomes your greatest ally. It’s essential that you’re transparent with your friends and family about this significant lifestyle change. This isn’t just for their understanding; it’s also a crucial part of addiction recovery. Even if you remain friends with those who drink, it can help to have sober friends as a separate support system.

Reasons You Might Feel Bored in Sobriety

Drinkers surrounded by even more inebriated people feel less drunk than a breathalyzer test indicates they actually are. 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. Once you do return to work, it’s important to create a budget and take steps to safeguard yourself as work stress can be a relapse trigger.

• “The group can accept them in a different way; they don’t have to expel them.”
• It was a reminder of how far the travel industry has come in offering options for people who choose not to drink alcohol but still want something that feels festive in their hands.
• So make the most of the time you gain by doing something enjoyable or productive.

Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth. Guilt is having negative feelings about your past behavior. People in recovery can experience a lot of shame simply for having become addicted in the first place. Most people who make their way into recovery have left a lot of pain and suffering in their wake. Feeling guilty or ashamed of past behavior or actions during active addiction is natural and healthy. The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful.

Create an Exit Excuse

Abe Zarate, sommelier at The Modern in New York City, feels the benefits are limitless. Importantly, they can include saving money and not suffering hangovers. A good starting point is to reassess one’s relationship with alcohol.

• The NoMad in London serves an entire menu of non-alcoholic cocktails within its two bars.
• Surrounding yourself with a supportive community can provide encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of belonging.
• Embracing sobriety can lead to a more authentic and fulfilling social life.
• Staff members are on-site and available 24/7 to provide guidance, support, and accountability when it matters most.
• For others, being the only sober person in the room can be awkward, and being responsible for getting other people home may be too much pressure.

When you decide to become sober, some friends may feel wary or suspicious of your motives or think you’re not as fun. Peer pressure surrounding drinking and sobriety can be intense. Luckily, being sober around drinkers is possible — even if they are your friends. Join the Avenues NYC family and take advantage of Avenues NYC’s unparalleled sober living and recovery services. It also helps if you make friends with someone who also has—or is currently in the process of—overcoming substance abuse.