Pile on some sobriety struggle, and it’s a recipe for madness. I found myself planning little outings when I got sober because I needed to figure out what it being sober around drinkers meant to have fun again. So much of this list is not just about finding things to do, but treating the underlying causes of extreme boredom in sobriety.

being sober around drinkers

Many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence—never using the substance ever again. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine.

Find Balance in Your Life

Some definitions of sobriety call for complete lifelong abstinence while others focus on developing coping mechanisms that can reduce harm with the understanding that setbacks are common. For people who are concerned about their use of alcohol or drugs. Can also be applied to other behaviors, like gambling or self-harm. If you find it difficult to avoid alcohol despite your best efforts, a good next step might involve reaching out to a professional who specializes in recognizing and treating alcohol dependence. You can also try out 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery.

All of these stigmas can be so damaging, unless we have a plan of action. Soothing voice of Mark Williams guiding me through some mindfulness exercises. A calmness and sense of pride that I am not lying in bed hungover feeling like utter garbage as I have so many times in the past. I don’t have that much sex, and that’s more like me saying, I no longer lower my standards and sleep with just anyone because of beer goggles.

How to Deal with Someone Who Drinks?

But, if and when a drinker quits, they have every right to be proud that they can do it. And acknowledge that they can leave behind those memories and those drunken moments and move on. But the biggest step drinkers take to become sober is a courageous one. And not everyone understands just how big that step is, to stop.