Been experiencing some social anxiety now that I’m sober, which is really different for me. Anybody else feel this way? How do you cope?
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Yupppp. This is a major issue for me. 50% of the time I cancel plans and 50% of the time I want to cancel plans but go anyway and tough it out. Being social is a lot harder but is necessary.
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Absolutely! It gets easier but is still a challenge for me at times. It will help to find sober buddies and activities
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Sometimes I sadly just gotta bow out of engagements if they are too heavy on the booze.
What’s your sobriety count at? If you’re at the beginning it’ll be a bit tough, but eventually you might be thinking “yo, I’m still fun, can someone please recognize that and invite me to the cool stuff??”.
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Absolutely. It is completely normal. I am just over a year sober and I am still dealing with social anxiety on a daily basis. However, with the right counseling and/or medication, it can get easier.
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YES. Honestly, having a drink in my hand helps and yes I mean non alcoholic. Ginger ale, Starbucks, and olipops are my friend. I also think it's important to find new sober hobbies. That has helped me :). I also recommend sharing your journey with a close friend or two. When I did that my friends were very supportive about making plans that didn't have to include alcohol. Good luck 🩵 I'm sure you will find what works for you. 
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Thanks for your feedback Patrick. Im 3 years sober so I thought I would be less anxious with more clean time but….
I feel ya Rod. I hear you loud and clear. I don’t have much free time myself. I get maybe 1 day away from my restaurant a month. Those few days I get, I don’t want anything to do around people…
What’s got you anxious? Is it tendencies or just people in general? You’ve got 3 effing years man! That’s HUGE. If you can conquer that, you can conquer this. Effing warrior man. Reach out any time through a message, always here to talk to anyone who feels the same I do.
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I say to myself this: What others are thinking is none of my business.
I am not responsible for the version of myself that is in other peoples heads. I know who I am. I know what I am capable of. If people are going to make up stories and things like that, that's their problem, not mine.
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Same here man. I'm dealing with it as I type. I'm only 12 days sober. It's Saturday night and there's an AA meeting near my house....but I keep making excuses not to go because of my social anxiety. Very frustrating. At least I picked going to the gym instead. Hopefully next week I get the nerve up to go. I just keep reading/hearing how you can't do sobriety alone....
This gets better right???
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Yes it gets better. Addiction worked because it kept us in isolation. We do together what we could never do alone.
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It is Going to be a PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT for you to deal with Anxiety. Anxiety isn't eather good or bad. But how we channel our Energy. I'm in agreement that you are a LONG TERM THINKER. THINGS WILL WORK OUT FOR YOU. BE MINDFUL THAT YOU ARE NOW DOING SOMETHING THAT NORMAL PEOPLE ALREADY DO. OR THEY HAVE FOUND OTHER WAYS TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY. YOU CAN DO IT
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James I'm in agreement that your DRINKING AND USING CAREER HAS BEEN RUINED and YOUR RECOVERY becomes real for you. Be Mindful of 10 or 20 years of DRINKING AND USING WILL MAKE A PERSON FEEL A CERTAIN WAY
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Me too……. It is bad for me. I’m a day sober though but I want to try this again. I want to attend AA but I don’t know how with this issue.
I’m with you……. I really hope so:(
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I would say yes because not putting alcohol in to calm you down can do that. I know for me I could be the bell of the ball when feeling “good”. But being sober is so much better than being in a fog and the not anxious because your hiding behind alcohol is so much better. 
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