Finding New Sober Friends:
You may have a best friend who always seems like they’re there for you. If you feel down or just want to have a great time, they’re the first person you reach out to. Their name might also be Jack Daniels, and they may not really be your friend.
If you’re just starting your recovery away from alcohol dependency, you need sober friends. They do more than just help you along the way and keep you away from booze. Sober friends tend to replace drinking habits and people learn to depend on them as they get better.
The best part of having sober friends is the fact they understand how to best protect you.
Everyone needs support during a journey away from alcohol, and sober friends will understand that. They’ll pick up on signals that you may be struggling, and will pull you away from booze and into a better environment.
Finding them is never as easy as finding drinks, though. Keep reading below for tips on building your sober tribe and connecting with a new group of sober friends!
It’s Easier to Be Social With Social Media
Social media has earned a well-deserved amount of criticism recently since it can hurt someone’s physical and mental health. It’s not all bad, though. Social media is just a tool people can use to connect with others and simply be social.
All that matters is how you use it. And you can use it to find new sober friends and connect with them instantaneously. However, there are precautions you should take to be safe online.
First, you should always remember that you can never fully trust someone online. It’s impossible to tell if they are ever who they say they are. In fact, many scams target people in recovery to take their money for fake services.
Secondly, you should stick to major platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Using unknown platforms will hurt your chances of finding new friends. Major platforms also feature vetted groups of people struggling with the same things.
It makes finding a connecting with people easier if groups are already in place. It also ensures that you will be safer online!
Talking Over the Phone Is Better Than Nothing
Some people prefer to talk with someone and hear their voice too. It may sound like a luxury today to talk to someone with something besides text, but it’s possible! All you need to do is a little bit of research.
A government helpline called SAMHSA is in place to help people in a substance-abuse related crisis. You shouldn’t ever hesitate to call them if you need immediate support. They can also connect you with similar services that will allow you to talk to someone when you need it.
Hearing someone’s voice may be better than reading chat messages or texts. It’s a different experience, and for many people, it’s more powerful.
The Best Place to Find Sober Friends
I am not a fan of AA as a solution to problem drinking but it is one place where you’re guaranteed to find people who stray away from the bottle. Alcoholics Anonymous and similar 12-step programs are designed to connect people with others also avoiding certain substances. They are essentially enclaves of people dedicated to staying sober.
Many people also benefit from the rigid structure 12-step programs provide. You’re guaranteed to find a sober friend in them because that’s basically one of the steps. Newcomers are introduced to a sponsor who will follow and support them through the recovery process.
Then, after progressing through your sobriety, you will get the chance to sponsor someone yourself. This cyclical process helps develop a sense of community around staying sober. If you slip up, you’re not just betraying yourself; you’re betraying your community.
By the end, you will be a part of a community of sober people. You’ll have friends who know how to have fun without picking up a bottle.
Get Out and Away From Alcohol
The most important thing to remember about finding sober friends is that you can’t do it yourself. You can introduce yourself over social media, or call people when you need to talk. But you can’t meet someone face-to-face if you never leave the house.
Staying home will perpetuate the unhealthy habits which led to dependency in the first place. If you never leave the house, you never give yourself a chance to change. And if you don’t welcome change, every day will be a struggle to avoid the bottle.
There are many opportunities you can take advantage of to get out of the house. Your community likely hosts many family-friendly live events that don’t involve alcohol. You can also visit a museum, or join a group for hiking.
By doing something as simple as going for a quick walk or driving around town, you’re trying something different. You’re not just avoiding the chance to slip back into booze. Instead, you’re enriching your life in a whole new way, which may replace any bad habits entirely.
Drop The Bottle And Pick Up A Hobby
It’s important to remember that when you commit to going sober, you’re essentially sacrificing a part of yourself. Although it’s a part of you that needed to go away, the hole that remains still needs to be filled. To do that, you should look into picking up a new hobby.
Reflect on the things you enjoy doing and which skills you’d want to refine. Some people may want to try video gaming and will dedicate some time to playing the latest releases. Others figure fitness would give them a new sense of focus and commitment.
No matter the hobby, it’s essential that something replaces your substance use. By having a hobby, you’re also opening a new avenue to meet people and find sober friends. You’re creating the opportunity to forge friendships on something other than booze.
It’s Always Worth It To Find Sober Friends
By finding sober friends, you’re finding a vital source of support for your sobriety. You’re finding a community of people who care about you, and who want to ensure you stay safe. You’re not just finding sober friends – you’re finding friends.
And that’s not always easy. Searching for new friends feels like finding needles in a haystack. But you should never give up on it because if you do, you’re giving up on yourself.
You’re not just investing in other people when you find sober friends. When you join a sober tribe, you’re investing in yourself, your future, and your health.
And for more support on getting sober, click here to join us for a free quit drinking webinar.
We’re always here to give you any advice, and help, you may need.
