Are you in early recovery from alcoholism and struggling with the many challenges of life post-treatment? Whether you are in early recovery or have been sober for a while, being surrounded by people drinking alcohol can make it difficult to maintain sobriety. This can be a challenge in your personal and professional life.
Early on in recovery, individuals often try to avoid people and social situations that may expose them to alcohol. Doing so is prudent when you are newly sober. That is because the temptation to drink at that point may be too strong. It is wiser to avoid this exposure while you are building a foundation of sobriety.
Later in recovery, you may be stable enough to learn how to cope with alcohol exposure. You can learn and practice ways to stay sober in a room full of people drinking. NorthStar Transitions can help you do that.
Your time in treatment would have educated you about the realities of alcohol use disorder (AUD). This includes its chronic nature.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism describes AUD as “an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.” Unfortunately, this inability to stop or control alcohol use means that people spend the rest of their lives trying to maintain sobriety.
Now, the idea of working to maintain sobriety long-term can be daunting for some. Accepting that AUD has no cure is a harsh reality. This acceptance, though, is the first step toward being able to sustain real-life recovery.
Treatment should have taught you the many ways to cope with your condition. Aftercare programs and support group meetings may reinforce these skills. Regardless of how confident you feel using these tools, however, you will still face a common challenge when you are sober: alcohol exposure.
Unfortunately, there is no way to predict when you will be exposed to alcohol for the first time after treatment. Of course, a crucial component of living sober is avoiding relapse. That means avoiding bars, liquor stores, and other situations likely to trigger you in early recovery as you get your footing on sobriety. However, your initial exposure to alcohol may occur when you least expect it.
We typically caution individuals completing a treatment program around the holidays to be especially vigilant. This is because alcohol makes a roaring presence that time of year. Whether you attend Thanksgiving, a work holiday party, or spend New Year's Eve with friends, chances are alcohol will be present. You must prepare yourself for this exposure, especially in early recovery.
Risks of alcohol exposure are also present throughout other times of the year. Whether you attend a Fourth of July barbecue, tailgate at your favorite country concert, or celebrate summer with a pool party, lots of people will be drinking. Because alcohol is so prevalent in American culture, coping with it sooner rather than later may be beneficial. However, alcohol exposure too soon can be dangerous.
Exposing yourself to alcohol before creating a solid foundation for your sobriety can be dangerous. That is one reason why residential treatment can be useful.
Residential treatment programs require you to live on facility premises. This means that, during treatment, you will not be exposed to substance use. You will also have access to around-the-clock care and support from professionals and a community of peers. This allows you to practice your recovery skills and maintain sobriety without worrying about exposure in early recovery.
Upon leaving treatment, you will soon learn that life post-treatment does not have the same level of support. As a result, the urge to drink may intensify. Alcohol exposure while trying to handle the urge to drink can put you and your sobriety at risk. The risk is even greater if you are in early recovery.
Exposure to alcohol in early recovery can:
Avoiding alcohol exposure during early sobriety is prudent. However, alcohol exposure cannot be avoided forever. That is why, in later recovery, you must learn to maintain sobriety when you are around other people drinking.
Sometimes, in early recovery, friends, family, and loved ones will decide to abstain from alcohol so their loved one gets their footing post-treatment. However, that is not always the case. You will be exposed to alcohol at some point, and knowing how to maintain sobriety during these times is vital.
Individuals can maintain sobriety while being around other people who are drinking by:
Trying to stay sober will have ups and down, but it is possible. You can feel even more confident in doing so with the help of our alumni program and networks of peers and professionals at NorthStar Transitions. Call or visit our website to learn more today.
NorthStar Transitions offers people options regarding their addiction recovery to help during and after treatment. One way we do that is through our alumni program. Through this program, clients can access our network of peers and professionals to seek advice, support, and other resources as they navigate life and strive to maintain sobriety. This is exceptionally helpful during times of intense exposure to triggers. A prime example is when you are surrounded by people who are drinking. Alcohol exposure during early recovery can be risky, but people must also learn to manage their triggers and cravings to maintain sobriety. To learn more about long-term recovery or our alumni program, call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400.
