Life without alcohol is a life without fun or anything interesting happening. So the mind play games on a person in recovery and makes them think this is the case. When someone enters rehab, one of their concerns might be whether the party is over and they’ll never have fun again. The problem with this thinking is it can hinder progress in recovery to heal and learn how to navigate life without substances. ‘Sober curiosity’ is one way people use to think consciously about their drinking habits, but it does not mean they stop drinking altogether. Find out why this can be particularly dangerous and a risk for some people in recovery and how to help people find healing after alcoholism.
What Sober Curiosity Entails
Alcoholism or alcohol use disorder is defined as being the option to choose or question drinking habits. This can be for mental or physical health reasons. It might be for other reasons. The sober curious movement encourages people to recognize unhealthy habits associated with alcohol. When faced with personal failures in the face of substance abuse, a person can admit the need for help and seek support. Sober curious people are not fully sober but decide to ‘cut back’ or engage less with alcohol and drinking behavior. People with chronic, long-term alcoholism are not likely to be successful in cutting themselves back from drinking. It is not recommended for most people to go this route because they may be putting their brains and bodies at risk of cross over substance use disorders, overdose from relapse, and other issues.
Why People Drink
To answer this question, it helps to know the culture. In America, as in many places, alcohol binds people together in communication and connection. People often celebrate life’s events with alcoholic drinks. Even if some can do this without it becoming dependence, it may still be dangerous and risky to assume a person has no issues with drinking behavior. Sober curious people recognize the stigma associated with sobriety and seek to find help. The goal is to find support and healing on the other side of addiction.
Embracing Sobriety
Instead of seeking a ‘sober curious’ lifestyle, it might be more beneficial to seek mindfulness, sober community, and loved ones who support a sober lifestyle. People are starting sober bars with kombucha on tap but it may be too triggering for some to walk into a ‘bar’ even if it is non-alcoholic. Every person has to know their limits. Professional rehab centers can provide the best support upfront for detox on through to aftercare programs that create space for people to heal and find hope in the midst of the struggle to stay sober.
The Guest House Ocala welcomes people who are struggling with addiction. Our goal is to support your individual recovery. We are here to help you fight back against addiction, recover from substance use, and build a better life. Call us to find out how to get started: 1-855-483-7800