Getting sober is a huge achievement that is worth celebrating. Being able to handle life and making the conscious choice to do so without substances is no easy task. While sobriety gets easier over time, certain instances can challenge your ability to remain sober.
When you are sober, you will begin to experience life through a different lens. While parties and celebrations used to be a fun and exciting experience, they can become an anxiety-provoking circumstance when you are focused on maintaining long-term sobriety.
With that being said, you should continue to celebrate with your friends, attend parties, and have fun outside of recovery meetings and activities with your sober support. However, it is important to do so in a safe manner.
Learning why celebrations can be challenging in sobriety and understanding how to cope at parties where alcohol may be present is of the utmost importance.
Unless you are attending a celebratory party with your friends in recovery, attending these events can be extremely challenging. Oftentimes, celebrations are often associated with champagne toasts or binge drinking.
While it is a good idea to avoid instances where heavy alcohol consumption will be taking place, sometimes it is impossible. For example, if your best friend is getting married, they may have an open bar at their wedding. Because missing the celebration of your best friend’s marriage may not be an option, it is important to be aware of the challenges you may face.
Common reasons that celebrations and parties are challenging in sobriety include:
Because attending celebrations can put you at risk of experiencing triggers, it is important to know how to protect yourself. There are many positive coping mechanisms you can utilize to ensure that you never miss the celebrations you previously enjoyed before sobriety, without feeling the need to pick up a drink.
Attending celebrations of any kind can be difficult for a sober individual. From Christmas dinners to graduation parties, many celebratory events include alcohol and other substances.
Because of this, it is important to know the ways you can cope with a celebration in recovery.
The first and most important tip for coping with celebrations in sobriety is to know your triggers.
There are two main types of triggers: internal and external. Internal triggers come from within, typically stemming from feelings like anxiety, boredom, isolation, and even sadness.
On the other hand, external triggers come from the outside. This means that you cannot control these triggers, making it imperative for you to understand how to counteract them.
Examples of triggers you may come across at a celebration:
Once you know your triggers, you can prepare for them. For every trigger you think of, remember a positive coping mechanism you can use. For example, you could plan on calling sober friends when you feel triggered to drink or use drugs at a celebration.
Another great way to ensure your sobriety during celebrations is to have an escape plan ready. One of the best ways to do this is to drive yourself to the event. If you begin feeling triggered, having your own car will allow you to leave whenever you need to.
If you are nervous about leaving a celebration early and upsetting people, have an excuse lined up. For example, you could tell your friends that you have work the next morning and you are feeling tired. Always remember that your sobriety comes first.
Lastly, bringing one of your friends from your recovery support circle is a great way to ensure your sobriety during a celebration or a party. If you are attending a party and you know it will include triggering events, bringing along another sober individual could keep you accountable and safe.
By having another sober individual with you, you may feel less left out. If everyone else is drinking, you will still have a sober friend with you to keep you company. Additionally, if you begin to feel triggered they can help you use positive coping mechanisms to get you back on track.
Michael Herbert, The Recovery Guide, has more than 30 years of experience working closely with individuals and families dealing with addiction and recovery issues. He is a seasoned Coach and can help you and your family establish long-term goals and access the tools you need for continued abstinence and recovery for the entire family. Get in touch with Michael today at 561-221-7677 to schedule an appointment.
