How Can I Quit Drinking When Everyone Around Is Drinking All the Time?

Substance abuse disorders affect millions. Often, the level of abuse not only disrupts your life, but it can become life-threatening. One of the most abused substances is alcohol. Alcohol is a common beverage across dozens of venues.

We drink at sporting events, dinner parties, business conferences, or for a myriad of special occasions. There are millions of people who have lost the ability to control their drinking. How or why they became alcoholics doesn’t really matter.

The simple fact is, like millions of people, drinking is something they cannot do. However, it seems like everyone else can drink without consequences, or so it appears. How can you quit drinking when everyone around you is drinking all the time?

Thankfully, millions of sober alcoholics have walked the path of sobriety before you. It requires a commitment on your part to follow the suggestions that can create a wonderful life in recovery. Sobriety won’t always be easy, but there are ways to resist that dangerous next drink.

There are a number of proven suggestions that can help you stay sober, even if and when you’re exposed to alcohol. Here’s how to stay sober despite the overwhelming presence of alcohol in the world, and it seems everyone around you is having fun drinking.

Learn How to Say No

This may sound so simple. Just say no is an old cliché. However, many people who are trying to stop drinking come up with cute excuses. The list is endless, and might be comical if it were not for one problem. You’re making excuses.

Don’t say you’re allergic to alcohol, or your doctor suggested you don’t drink, even if this might be true. Simply say that you do not want to drink, period. Certain people may question you. If a friend insists that something is wrong with you, maybe you should revisit that friendship. Learn how to say no and mean it.

Have a Backup Plan

Possibly, you will attend functions where alcohol is served. Those who work a program of recovery don’t stay home locked in their house. We have to live. There are going to be places where alcohol is present.

These may include special occasions such as weddings, or a trip to the ballpark. Alcohol is all around us. Americans indulge in alcohol at hundreds of enjoyable activities. If you feel you will be challenged, have a backup plan.

This could be a sober friend who either goes along or is ready to come and get you. Be prepared to leave a function when before the cravings become overwhelming. Better to miss the bride and groom toast than to lose your sobriety.

Work Your Program

Learning how to say no to a drink or a drug, or having a backup plan for certain situations, is great. However, to be confident using either of these tools, you need to be working a program of recovery. Recovery is different for everyone.

While there are proven guidelines you can follow, you will be free to follow these suggestions or not. If you don’t, the challenges of staying sober when everyone else around you is drinking may prove overwhelming.

If you’re like many in recovery, your program may begin with treatment. There are various types of treatment and an assortment of programs you can use. One key piece of advice is to make your decisions using the expert knowledge of a trained addiction specialist.

Trying to figure out what the best course of action to take on your own may prove very disappointing. The consequences could be drastic. There are also recovery fellowships that provide alternative activities and vital friendships with people who do not drink or use drugs.

Living clean and sober can be challenging. It can be even more so when it seems everyone around is drinking and having fun. However, before the consequences become serious; if they haven’t already, you need to explore why you may not be able to safely drink alcohol.

This doesn’t mean you have to be a boring person who never has fun. People in recovery are not a glum lot. If you couldn’t have any fun, why would anyone consider recovery? It’s the opposite. People in recovery learn how to have fun, without mind-altering substances.

If you feel you may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, reach out for help today. An exciting journey without drugs or alcohol begins with that this call. Learn how to stay sober even when everyone around you is drinking. It can be done. Make that call to 424-499-2603 for help today to learn how.