Giving back is a great way to connect with kind-hearted people who could be potential sober friends! There are so many different volunteer opportunities out there, and the need is greater than ever. It also works with the hospitality industry to encourage more offerings to people who choose not to drink alcohol. You can learn more about treatment through some of our sobriety stories. These are only a few of the signs that may indicate a substance use disorder. A licensed clinician uses this criteria—and more—to determine the likelihood and severity of a substance use disorder and formulate a treatment plan.
Are online sobriety support groups right for me?
GRC is committed to the health and wellness of all of our clients and staff. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have implemented new pre-screening protocols and other safety precautions while we continue to admit new clients 24/7. Our facilities remain open for treatment, we are expanding virtual services, and we remain dedicated to our clients and their recovery. Knowing what you need will make it easier to recognize who should be a part of your support network. AA’s sister program Narcotics Anonymous (NA) follows the same framework, but is designed for those recovering from other substance use disorders. The first step is for a person to admit that they are powerless over alcohol, and that alcohol use has made their life unmanageable.
- The Washington University School of Medicine reported in March of this year that “alcohol use disorder is linked to 232 million missed workdays annually” in the United States.
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Cultivating Personal Growth: Setting Achievable Goals
Expedition cruises are an even more reliable way to get away from the alcohol-centric experiences on some mainstream cruise lines. Check out offerings from Uncruise, HX (Hurtigruten), Seabourn, or Lindblad, which are often so packed with adventure that most passengers fall into bed early at night. In other words, the rush of the expedition itself supplants the need for alcohol for even non-sober travelers. Almost any kind of cruise can be more alcohol centered, so sober travelers really need to do their research — particularly focusing on reviews by previous cruisers, like in Cruise Critic’s community forums. Other lines, like Silversea, Oceania, and others, do have a more chilled-out, quiet reputation that reflect cruises with less of an emphasis on drinking. Many people who misuse alcohol or drugs have trouble dealing with anger.
Developing a Self-Care Routine Takes Time and Refinement
If you don’t have alcohol use disorder but live with a different type of substance use disorder, Narcotics Anonymous may be an alternative option. The AA website offers a listing of alcohol support groups and meeting places in your area, as well as links to the local chapter’s website. Like Sober Grid, Loosid has a community feature (think MeetUp for people in recovery) organized around topics and interests.
Sometimes, sobriety is all about the direction of healthy friendships where young men and women are assisted, and support one another to remain faithful to their rehabilitation. If members of your support network would also like to learn about the recovery process and ways that they can support you, direct them to information sources, including the specialists at your treatment center. Rehab centers often offer couples and family counseling and are typically able to educate the people who surround individuals who have struggled with substance abuse.
- These people should generally avoid inviting you to settings that may trigger your tendency to abuse drugs or alcohol.
- Therefore, you should try not to get discouraged as you meet new people.
- App users can share their stories with the community and it can alert other app users when you need some extra support.
- Nevertheless, people often find it challenging to effectively build a support network.
Expanding Your Network through Sober Activities and Volunteering
LifeRing is free to attend, but donations are encouraged after meetings. Alcoholics Anonymous is available nationwide with support groups in all 50 states. In addition to a geographical group locator on its website, AA has added a phone app that makes it even easier to find support groups and resources right from your phone. When it comes to sobriety support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is probably the first group that comes to mind.
However, for some people, online meetings may not be an ideal format. Loosid focuses on living a happy, fulfilling life with other people in sobriety and offers resources and suggestions for sober dating and sober nightlife activities. Sober Grid is a social-media-style app that connects people recovering from addiction and people who are sober. You can create a profile that is anonymous, or you can decide to share as much personal information as you’d like.
Would you say that luxury cruise lines are better suited to sober travelers than others?
While surrounding yourself with others like you provides a sense of comfort, having a diverse group of friends gives you access to fresh new perspectives. When building your support network, consider attending 12 Step meetings and introducing yourself to everyone and seeing who you click with. By including individuals of different ages, cultures, backgrounds, and years of sobriety in your life, you will be exposed sober networking to a wealth of knowledge. First and foremost, find a treatment program that has a positive track record in terms of patients completing treatment and maintaining sobriety. This is most likely to occur in programs that provide services and therapies based on research. Evidence-based addiction treatment uses the current and best research-based evidence to make informed decisions about your rehab care.
- Understand that you are forming new connections and you need to build them up over time.
- However, it’s important to remember that 12-step programs are not for everyone.
- If you’re struggling with your relationship with alcohol, Koob recommends first evaluating your habits against the NIAAA’s 11 symptoms of alcohol use disorder.
- You don’t just have to exercise caution when getting behind the wheel – be careful with driving a boat or swimming while intoxicated.