I quit drinking recently (just hit a month wow), and so far it's been fine because I'm spending all of my time alone or working/doing errands. I don't like drinking alone so it's been fine, but where I live now the ENTIRE social scene is bars and clubs, so I can't meet anyone without being sober in a room full of extremely drunk people. I don't like clubs to begin with, and there's not really any quiet, sit down pubs around here where I could just get a soda and relax.

I used to pound drinks with my buds, but now that I'm seeing demonstrable health benefits of quitting (I have epilepsy and alcohol was giving me seizures) it's getting less justifiable to consider drinking again. I could smoke weed but it often makes me quiet and awkward when alcohol makes me outgoing and confident, which is what I really need right now. Also weed makes me shit at darts and pool.

  • Quimby [any, any]
    ·
    2 years ago

    sort of stream of consciousness here, but I was sober all through college and it wasn't too bad.

    I think one thing to remember is that when people are drunk, they don't know or notice that you're NOT drunk. So you can still lean into being goofy and silly and whatever.

    One of the lessons that stuck with me from psychology is that study where they gave people non-alcoholic beer, but didn't tell them, and people still thought they were drunk and acted like it. One guy even peed on a wall or something.

    So go! Pee on that (hopefully metaphorical wall)! Lean into the atmosphere and energy, if you can.

    • AllCatsAreBeautiful [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      This is very encouraging, I hadn't considered the fact that drunk people don't know that I'm not drunk. I still feel like alcohol is social boost even once I'm sober, like it's reminding me how to loosen up and present myself as a normal human being. I guess pretending to be drunk is practicing "fake it till I make it"

        • AllCatsAreBeautiful [he/him]
          ·
          2 years ago

          I really wish smoking didn't give you lung cancer and all the other diseases because it's such a great excuse to leave an uncomfortable situation.

          • Awoo [she/her]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Just leave and go outside to stand with the smokers. Being a non smoker doesn't mean you can't go out and talk with the gang, "just needs some air" otherwise. It's all good.