I made it! 8 months :)
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 5,678
I made it! 8 months :)
I had to go to a party last night... it was bugging me all week and I so desperately wanted to cancel but I knew my friend would be really upset with me. I've had a stressful week with work and I have been really emotional and narky recently. Plus I went to a my first proper sober gig this week too, so I felt like I had enough social stuff to get through, but despite all the doubts in between, my social occasions have been really enjoyable and not stressful at all!
I was less worried that I would drink and more worried that I would find everything boring sober, including people, and even music to some extent. I think it is just having not done anything sober I couldn't imagine doing certain things without drinking. Everything is better sober. It was great to go to a gig and not worry about how easy it would be for me to get to the bar... and even drinking games at parties hold some amusement. I was really surprised how much being surrounded by alcohol and drunk people didn't trigger me. I remember the last party I went to when I was a few months sober I felt really weird and a little scared being near the booze, but this time it didn't bother me at all. And absolutely no one gave me a hard time about not drinking. I told an old friend who asked why I quit that I was just drinking way too much... she didn't question that, and I didn't feel defensive about it. And the new people I have met have just accepted that I don't drink. That doesn't feel odd to me anymore either. I just don't drink anymore, and it is possible to do everything sober and enjoy it even more than when I was drinking.
I think a large part of my worries about what people think about me not drinking is because of what I used to think of people not drinking. It used to really get to me when people weren't drinking enough, but it was just because I worried that I would stand out. If other people didn't drink enough then maybe they would notice how drunk I was getting. I have to keep reminding myself that not everyone has an issue with alcohol and won't care if I am drinking or not. But more to the point, the more sober time that passes, the less embarrassed and defensive I am about my own drinking. I am not ashamed to admit I used to drink too much and if people say things like I am boring for not drinking, I just say 'ah well' and move on. Because I know that I'm not boring and that drinking certainly isn't gonna make me more interesting even if I was.
I was absolutely petrified about what would happen to my social life sober so if anyone out there feels the same, don't worry about it for now. It does get easier. Don't rush it and everything will start falling into place.
I'm incredibly happy to be sober today
Thank you SRians xxx
I was less worried that I would drink and more worried that I would find everything boring sober, including people, and even music to some extent. I think it is just having not done anything sober I couldn't imagine doing certain things without drinking. Everything is better sober. It was great to go to a gig and not worry about how easy it would be for me to get to the bar... and even drinking games at parties hold some amusement. I was really surprised how much being surrounded by alcohol and drunk people didn't trigger me. I remember the last party I went to when I was a few months sober I felt really weird and a little scared being near the booze, but this time it didn't bother me at all. And absolutely no one gave me a hard time about not drinking. I told an old friend who asked why I quit that I was just drinking way too much... she didn't question that, and I didn't feel defensive about it. And the new people I have met have just accepted that I don't drink. That doesn't feel odd to me anymore either. I just don't drink anymore, and it is possible to do everything sober and enjoy it even more than when I was drinking.
I think a large part of my worries about what people think about me not drinking is because of what I used to think of people not drinking. It used to really get to me when people weren't drinking enough, but it was just because I worried that I would stand out. If other people didn't drink enough then maybe they would notice how drunk I was getting. I have to keep reminding myself that not everyone has an issue with alcohol and won't care if I am drinking or not. But more to the point, the more sober time that passes, the less embarrassed and defensive I am about my own drinking. I am not ashamed to admit I used to drink too much and if people say things like I am boring for not drinking, I just say 'ah well' and move on. Because I know that I'm not boring and that drinking certainly isn't gonna make me more interesting even if I was.
I was absolutely petrified about what would happen to my social life sober so if anyone out there feels the same, don't worry about it for now. It does get easier. Don't rush it and everything will start falling into place.
I'm incredibly happy to be sober today
Thank you SRians xxx
7 
Congrats hypo 
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 13,040
Congratulations on 8 months, that is huge!!!! Also, thanks for sharing how you handled the party. I think being in social situations with friends and colleagues is what makes me most apprehensive, when in reality whether or not I am drinking will not even be noticed by anyone but me!
Have a great day!!!!
Have a great day!!!!
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