If I Were Getting Sober Today, Here’s What I’d Do Differently
The five years since I quit have really changed my perspective
Five years sober, I have no regrets about my decision. For a problem drinker like me, living sober is much more pleasant than being a regular binge-drinker plus drinking alone a lot.
But there are a few things I would do differently if I had a time machine. If you are embarking on sobriety, then here are some tips about how I would approach it, if I had to do it again.
1. Be more honest with your inner circle about why you are doing it
I was so embarrassed about my inability to keep drinking that I struggled to be honest about why I was quitting. And this is to my closest friends and family. Rather than admitting I was very unhappy and feeling mentally unwell, I said that there was a history of alcoholism in the family, and so I was taking precautions.
This took extra energy that I didn’t really have to spare. And it also set my friends up to say stuff to me that didn’t really chime with what I was doing. I wish I’d given the people who loved me a better chance to honestly support me.
It also got in the way of the self-discovery I was undergoing. It overcomplicated…
