Here’s my trick for avoiding alcohol. When I’d just stopped drinking most recently and was freaking out and having huge panic attacks over the pressure of never being able to drink again, I started telling myself that I can just not drink NOW. In this moment. The future is the future and I will not drink right now. And I keep telling myself that. Sometimes it’s a couple times a week, sometimes it’s every five minutes. It makes me think of it as just an indefinite break. The goal of never drinking again can be terrifying, so I take a different route. My goal isn’t to drink again someday, I don’t even think I have a goal. I’m just here to take an indefinite break. 11 weeks so far this time, I’ve been offered alcohol many times in those weeks, haven’t touched a drop.
And yeah, talking to people is definitely one of the best things you can do. I’d suggest looking for friends at in person meetings to fill any sober in person friend gaps so you can get that sober social life you deserve. As a backup, is asking your friends to maybe spend a weekend not drinking so that you can be with them comfortably an option? Their answer might also tell you a bit about whether or not you should stay close in your recovery right now (if they won’t give up even one weekend of drinking, maybe they aren’t right for you at this stage). Look after you right now. That’s the most important thing, especially early on.
Congratulations on your sobriety! You’re doing great and you’ll get through this lost feeling, I promise you. It’s not gonna be easy every day obviously, but it’s better than being in active addiction even if it doesn’t feel that way all the time. Your overall quality of life will be so much better.
The meeting after the meeting. That’s when you go to coffee or lunch or whatever with people (of the same gender as you) after the meeting.
Did you attempt a treatment center? I went for 105 days, mine is opiates and I do think alcohol is harder in the sense that it’s everywhere, socially acceptable in almost every situation and in your face constantly but there are lots of people that don’t drink, plenty of places that don’t offer it, you just have to look! I will be a friend and talk to anyone who needs or wants it as well!
It may be best for you to skip some events for now. It’s ok to say no. And Just remember that craving last for 20 minutes or less and then they pass. And find your tribe. There is so many sobriety options today. Get on to any social media medium and type “sober” “recovery” etc. and tons of things pop up.
There is a great program called Phoenix recovery that is free and has multiple communities throughout the country. Look it up. It has an APP as well.
Find a program and get involved.and meet people.don’t isolate.go to 90 meetings in 90 day.what ever you chose.
I’ve used fitness and hobbies to distract. I can’t be around drinking right now, it triggers me into relapse within days. It’s happened about 6 times to me since November so I’m learning to stay away and it’s working. Sucks. But it’s working.
Iam here! A lot of my friends drink but I try to ask about going out for lunch they know Iam in recovery so if they are willing to do that I’ll keep them close if not then it’s there loss!! Cus the one thing I did was put myself in treatment for me!! I did not contact anyone in my family nor friends after two weeks I only reached out to my family. After I was out probably a month or to I did reach out to some friends and work friends! But I only found 5 friends to understand me the rest I keep at a distance!! What Iam trying to get at is … do this for you and only you!! 
Get into meetings. It helps.
yes this! the thought for me of never using again makes me feel sick. so as messed up as it sounds sometimes in my head i have to say i’ll get to feel that euphoria again. just not today
I’m always up to talk if you need someone to listen. I don’t sleep well. Especially at night. Hang in there.
Get to a Mtg and take all suggestions…
Honestly this may sound extreme but I am ghosting everyone in my area that uses. I’ve had clean time and started all over again so many times. The one common is how easily influenced I can be. I’m influenced by the people that are near me. I can pray much tell you how my recovery day will go on who I contact. Find your people. The ones going in the direction you are and the ones that you can be open an honest with. Another helpful thing I’ve used is breathing. Stopping in the moment and breathing. Not worry about the future but in that second remind myself of the truth. Of what I really want and what I’m really going through. I’m sorry. I know it sucks but you can do it.
Go make connections at aa that’s it man download the meeting app it’s a picture of a white chair find a meeting to go to and stick to it and make an effort to share honestly and after the meeting go up to one or two ppl and let them know they had a great share. But be honest say what you just said in a meeting ask if they have things going on, my aa members go play volleyball and do things together all the time.
Also get numbers from the meeting apart if this sober deal is doing service work. So if you got numbers to call on the days you are struggling you call one of them and believe it or not just by calling them with your struggles you’re helping them. I lost my license a while back and can’t drive and it was always a shameful feeling for me to ask ppl at meetings for rides so I never went but finally realized my life is on the line here and I need to not fear wht they think of me for asking for a ride to and from meetings. Come to find out by me asking it not only holds them accountable to older to meetings and to stay sober but it allows them to also do service work for someone in need and a ride was what I needed to stay sober. It also allows you to build companionship in the rides. But the things we believe are burdens and creates fear and lies in our heads usally are why need to be said and seen and heard because it only reminds another suffering alcoholic how truly crazy this disease we have is
I always felt the same way and always ended up drinking again. It was so hard bc I’d think about it 24/7 and well, I couldn’t do it alone. I finally took my a** to AA and that’s worked for me. It’s actually been a huge blessing and I feel a sense of ease and confidence that I never felt before about not drinking. Everyone is wired differently and not one thing works for everyone. I’d suggest exploring until something feels right..try not to stress..remind yourself that this is the beginning of your journey.
Trade in your old routines for healthy sober ones. Stay away from your friends for now. Send them all messages informing them what your are trying to do. The truel friends will be supportive... get to as many AA meetings as you can, try different ones until you find meetings you enjoy and people that you like. Not all meetings are good ones. But even a bad meeting is better than a good day drinking...this works for, my one year birthday is just a few days away..
Removing myself from triggers for a while and acamprosate for cravings
Change your people, places, and playthings. Stick to a program like AA and it will get better.