How To Talk About Sobriety With Your Friends

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Entering a new life of sobriety can be extremely
rewarding, but its not without its fair share
of challenges either. In addition to staying
clean, it can be difficult trying to help
friends understand the importance of your
recovery post-treatment. In this presentation,
we will explore some ways to take the reins on
your new life of sobriety when it comes to
maintaining friendships.
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Many people find it hard to talk about recovery,
especially if friends arent properly educated on
what it means to be truly sober. Some friends
may underestimate the disease, while others may
be in denial about battling a substance abuse
problem themselves. Whatever the case, it is
important to stay true to yourself and your goals
by being completely straightforward about the
situation. Some of the most common challenges
when opening up about sobriety may include
feelings of shyness, embarrassment, shame,
guilt, or just plain awkwardness. Maybe you dont
want to feel like a burden or make others feel
uncomfortable. All you can do is throw these
worries away and face the conversation head-on.
This is how you will find out who your true
friends really are.
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• Set your own personal
• boundaries.

• Be honest.

• Share your story.

• Be prepared to let some
• people go.

• Make your needs clear.

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Oftentimes, there are some people who just dont
get it. No matter how hard you try to explain
your circumstances, they become dismissive or
perhaps try to enable you to continue using
harmful substances. Identify who these people
are, wish them well, then delete them from your
contacts. As hard as it may be to accept, these
people are not your friends.
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Fortunately, there are plenty of people who will
offer support and be compassionate
and understanding. These are the friends youll
want to hold on to. Just as youre saying
goodbye to fair-weather friends, youll soon find
yourself strengthening bonds with those friends
who really care about your health and wellbeing.
Ultimately, its much healthier to have a small
group of strong, supportive friends than a large
group of careless acquaintances simply posing as
friends.
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While your supportive friends are great to have,
they may not always have your best interests at
heart, even if their intentions are in the right
place. This is why its also important to
establish a network of sober friends in addition
to your existing friends. When existing friends
decide they want to hit the club for a night of
drinking, you can call up your sober friends and
catch a movie instead. Finding sober friends is
incredibly easy with support groups like AA and
NA. Get out there and socialize!
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Just because youre sober doesnt mean your life
has to be boring. There are plenty of ways to
have fun without drugs or alcohol involved.
Replace those nights you used to spend partying
with new social activities. Some examples include
joining a local sports league, hosting a night
of board games, throwing a mocktail party, taking
an art therapy class, or learning a new skill
like sewing or music production. The skys the
limit for unleashing your true creative potential.
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Throughout the process of opening up about your
recovery, you may be surprised to find just how
different your old life appears in retrospect.
Standing in a room full of drunk people always
seemed exciting when you were drunk, but now
sober, you will see just how negative the
atmosphere can become around people under the
influence of drugs or alcohol. Meanwhile, youll
find joy in your new hobbies and notice just how
positive the environment is by comparison.
Eventually you will find that the new you is
who you were always destined to be!
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Retreat Premier Addiction Treatment Centers is
dedicated to helping individuals struggling with
substance abuse problems receive expertly
tailored treatment for a successful recovery.
Located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and
Palm Beach County, Florida, Retreat is here and
available to help. Call our 24/7 helpline at
(855) 859- 8808 or visit us online at
http//retreataddictioncenters.com/.
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SUMMARY
Not sure how to talk to your friends about your
road to recovery? This helpful guide will walk
you through the process of being open about
sobriety.