Whether it’s a hike or a nice park, heading into nature is a good way to watch the natural world moving and slow down your thinking. Get your mind off drugs and alcohol, by walking into nature and enjoying the colors, the sights, and sounds. Have an open mind, but for a few of us in recovery, this does work. When you catch yourself thinking of drinking, of wanting nothing more than to have one glass of whiskey, then stop and close your eyes.

Sue has worked in the addiction field with the Narconon network for three decades. She has developed and administered drug prevention programs worldwide and worked with numerous drug rehabilitation centers over the years. Sue is also a fine artist and painter, who enjoys traveling the world which continues to provide unlimited https://ecosoberhouse.com/ inspiration for her work. You can follow Sue on Twitter, or connect with her on LinkedIn. If it’s a dinner party, you could give the hostess a heads up that you don’t drink for health reasons so that you are simply not offered anything with alcohol. A considerate hostess will even omit a dessert with alcohol such as rum cake.

Prozac and Alcohol: Why Drinking and SSRIs Are a Dangerous Combination

Tulip Hill is a family-owned rehabilitation center near in Murfreesboro, TN with first-hand experience in addiction recovery. We believe a dual diagnosis approach that treats the mental health conditions underlying addiction is the best route to long-term sobriety.

When you walk into a situation believing that you can’t have fun sober, this is likely to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might even isolate yourself or hold back from having a good time—which will then reinforce your belief that being sober makes fun impossible. One of the easiest things you can do to avoid drinking—and to avoid having to explain yourself—is to go to places that don’t serve alcohol. Hopefully, some of your friends will support your decision. In fact, some of them might also be thinking about cutting back on their own alcohol use and be inspired by you.

Learn to Manage Stress

Some people are fine with telling others that they never drink. Unfortunately, this statement often leads to an intrusive conversation and questioning by a person with less-than-perfect manners. Many sober people in this situation work out an alternative answer that does not open the door to prying questions. If you know the place and the people, make your own plan for how you are going to handle that environment. A dinner party with a few glasses of wine is a very different atmosphere than a Christmas party with a group of guys who routinely get smashed. Your preparations for each type of environment will be completely different. If you’re involved in a 12-step program, you likely already know the importance of milestones.

• Even if you’ve had a previously successful outing with your bestie ordering only ginger ale with lime, you’re playing with fire every time you go.
• If you are at a restaurant or spending time in a group, just state you’re not drinking tonight.
• Take that thought and imagine it as a fish and let it float out of your vision.
• I’ve spent the last six years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober.

If things get too crazy, you’ll be able to make your excuses and leave. To start building a better relationship with ourselves, we can try to be more intentional about how and when we drink—or don’t. I know I am trying to after this hellscape of a year. Wherever you are on the spectrum of sobriety, know that you’re being sober around drinkers not alone. No matter your reason (pregnancy, mental health, don’t like the taste, or otherwise!), I hope you understand that your experiences are valid. There will likely be alcohol-free drink options at parties and events. But just in case there isn’t, it is a good idea to bring along a drink of your choice.

How to Party Without Drinking or Using if You Got Sober During the Pandemic

Overuse of alcohol can result in the pancreas creating toxic substances. Over time, this can lead to a dangerous swelling and inflammation of pancreatic blood vessels, which is known as pancreatitis. This disorder prevents you from digesting your food properly.

• However, when you bring the fun with you, you’ll begin to enjoy yourself and you won’t miss having that alcoholic drink in your hand.
• Don’t let your alleged friends pressure you into thinking that you’re being dramatic or silly for asking them to stop doing things threatening your sobriety.
• So make the most of the time you gain by doing something enjoyable or productive.
• Get your mind off drugs and alcohol, by walking into nature and enjoying the colors, the sights, and sounds.