As much as we might want to ignore it, social drinking is an important part of adult life. There are the happy hours, company parties with drinks and the dreaded office functions that involve cocktails. What do you do if you’ve gotten sober? That’s a question that plagues many people who have been hitting the bottle a little too hard.
Getting sober can be scary, but there are also some great things about sobering up. You find hidden talents, discover new hobbies and have more energy because you’re not spending so much time recovering from a hangover. But it can be difficult to adjust to this new life. The trick is figuring out how to integrate sobriety into your life in a way that doesn’t isolate you or make you feel like you’ve given up everything fun in life. It isn’t impossible – here are some tips on getting your confidence back after getting sober:
Find Some New Activities To Fill The Time
One of the biggest things that people miss after getting sober is the social aspect of drinking. People love to go out and party, to hit bars and clubs, to meet new people and to just let loose after a long day. If you’re trying to get your confidence back after getting sober, then you’ll need to find some new activities to fill that void. One great way to do this is to sign up for a hobby. It can be anything from learning a new language to playing a sport. It doesn’t matter what hobby you choose, as long as it gives you that same social experience that you’re used to getting from drinking. It will help give you confidence and a feeling of purpose that you would otherwise miss out on when you’re sober. If you don’t have time for a hobby, then find some other way to meet new people. Volunteer for a cause that you care about, or join a group that interests you.
Join a Support Group
There are a number of support groups out there for people who are newly sober. They can be a great place to meet new people and get the emotional support that you might find lacking in your everyday life. If you struggle with low self-esteem, having that extra confidence in your life could be what you need to get back out there and start doing the things you love again. If you don’t know where to start, try Googling “sober support groups” and see what comes up. You may even want to look into online support groups, which can be very helpful if you don’t have a support group near you. Having that extra boost of confidence in your life can make a huge difference.
Celebrate Small Victories
When you first get sober, you’ll probably be celebrating every single milestone as if it were a huge achievement. You’ve been hitting the booze for a long time, so the first month or so of sobriety is definitely going to be difficult. You may feel a little overwhelmed by your new life, but you shouldn’t let that stop you from celebrating the small victories. If you’ve made it through a particularly difficult day, or if you’ve managed to make it to the end of the week without drinking, then celebrate that win. You may have been told that you need to “expect success” when you’re getting sober, but you also need to celebrate your achievements as well. It will help bolster your confidence and remind you that sobriety can be a good thing.
Exercise
Getting your confidence back after getting sober starts with loving who you are. So many people struggle with low self-esteem, which can come from a variety of places. For some, it might be the result of something traumatic that happened in childhood or adolescence. For others, it might be related to something that happened in adulthood. Getting sober can be a great way to work on your self-esteem. One of the best ways to do this is to exercise. Working out can drastically improve your self-esteem and help you feel better about yourself and your body. It can also help you deal with any stress and anxiety that you deal with on a daily basis. Getting your confidence back after getting sober can be difficult if you don't have an outlet for your emotions. Exercise is a great way to channel your feelings and release them in a productive way. It can even reduce depression and cravings.
Hang out with sober friends
Having sober friends can be a great way to get your confidence back after getting sober. You can go out and do the things that you normally would have done while drinking, but without the hangover the next morning. These are the people that you can go out with and celebrate your small victories with. They can also be a great source of support while you’re getting used to your new sober life. In fact, studies show that people who feel greater levels of social support are more likely to stay sober over the long run.
Take up a new hobby
One of the best ways to get your confidence back after getting sober is to find a new hobby. It can be anything from painting to skateboarding. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it gets your creative juices flowing. You may find that you are very gifted in an area that you never even considered before. This can be a great way to get your confidence back after getting sober.
Building Confidence in Our Los Angeles Sober Living
If you’ve recently made the decision to get sober, it’s probably been the most difficult challenge you’ve ever faced. Not only did you need to give up your favorite pastime, but you also had to face all the stress and anxiety that comes with stopping a bad habit. It’s no wonder that so many people relapse after going through something like this. Fortunately, getting sober isn’t just about giving up drinking forever. Instead, sober living is about moving forward with your life and learning from past mistakes. Once you get out of that first phase of fear and paranoia, life gets a whole lot easier. You begin thinking clearer, talking more openly about your problems instead of hiding them away inside of a bottle, and even start to rebuild trust in others again by being honest about who they are and what they mean to you.
If you do all of the above, you’ll be well on your way to building confidence in your newfound sobriety. And having this confidence can prepare you for anything life throws your way. Your future might be a little bit different than you thought it would be when you were in your drinking days, but it can be just as fulfilling.
If you are ready to take these essential steps and get your mojo back in sobriety, reach out to Sober Living West today!
