Why don’t you drink?
Can’t you just have one?
Do you have a drinking problem?
If you’ve ever been in a social situation and were asked these questions, you might be fed up with hearing them. You’re sick of giving answers. You may start avoiding going out and putting yourself in a situation where alcohol is involved. After a while, you may feel like your social life has disappeared. You wonder what has happened.
For some, their lives seem to reverse when they stop drinking. They retreat inside of their mind, and begin to feel very alone. What many don’t realize is that it’s totally possible to have a social life while abstaining from alcohol. How can that be, if we’re constantly surrounded by subliminal messaging about how alcohol is great for us, the best way to have fun, the very best way to socialize?
Once you’ve grasped the concept that alcohol isn’t necessary to have a good time, perhaps you’re ready to make the step into your social life, sans alcohol. For some it takes time. For some, they might even take a full year or more before they go to an event with alcohol. And that’s okay. Recovery and the rehab process isn’t the same for everyone.
Some helpful tips:
- Some find that having a drink in hand at social events is helpful. It can be a way to avert any questions and keep you undercover. Try seltzer, or stick to soda—you have an excuse to drink something else. More and more ‘sober bars’ are popping up, and more bars are offering special trendy drinks, like ginger beer or kombucha.
- Remember that you are strong in your own beliefs. You were the one who decided to quit, so nobody else has to speak for you. Often, when people are in disbelief about your drinking habits, they are saying something about their own beliefs.
- When it comes down to it, if you lose friends—you’ll keep the ones that really matter. After all, you only want people in your life who support your recovery, and not the other way around.
