It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to get through rehab and head out the door with the goal of maintaining sobriety for a lifetime. It is an ambitious goal but the number says almost 60% of the people who go through rehab the first time never have to come back. That might leave you wondering how do they do it? It really is no secret. People are able to maintain their sobriety because they continue doing the hard work outside of rehab.
They also do it by following several important rules. Those rules include:
- Do not tempt yourself by being around alcohol if at all possible
- If you feel the need to drink, reach out to a support resource for help
- Keep yourself busy to avoid empty spaces of time
- Quickly identify triggers and employ coping skills
- Learn to be honest with yourself and others
- Do not let other people temp you
The last item on this list should be of particular interest to you. Why? In most cases, the recovering addict has people in their life who enjoy having a cocktail or beer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that since they likely don’t have a drinking problem.
If someone around you is drinking, it is you that has to make a choice. Do you stay or do you go? It really is that simple. Of course, your decision will likely involve you having to consider other factors. Some of those factors might be:
- Your relationship with the person or persons who are drinking
- Is it an occasion where drinking was to be expected?
- Would you getting up and leaving present a problem?
- Do you feel strong enough to stay while others drink?
Assuming you are a younger person, you are going to be presented with these kinds of situations for the rest of your life. Yes, there will be friends and family members who might choose to refrain from drinking around you as a show of support of your efforts to stay sober. However, you really have no right to expect such treatment, though you should show your appreciation when it happens. There is one other scenario you might want to consider ahead of time. That would be whether or not you should date someone who likes to drink. Let us discuss this.
Can a newly sober alcoholic date a drinker?
This is an interesting question. Most adults don’t have a drinking problem. If they have a drink or two when appropriate, that is their right as adults. You have to decide for yourself whether or not you can maintain your sobriety if your date is having a cocktail at dinner or a glass of wine after work. Of course, there are certain scenarios that are tougher to deal with than others. Let’s look at a couple of the most common scenarios.
Continuing an established relationship with a drinker
There is a good chance you were dating someone when you went into rehab. If they are waiting for you after treatment, it might indicate they care for you. If they drink, how would you handle that? In all honesty, someone who really cares about you would likely refrain from drinking around you. If they do want to feel comfortable drinking around you, you should have an open discussion with them and see if you can establish ground rules. If they have a drinking problem, it is best you stay clear unless they too are willing to get treatment.
Dating a new love interest who drinks
If you have just met someone who drinks, they likely don’t know your past. It is also unlikely they will feel obligated to abstain around you. There are lots of potential partners out there. You have to wonder if you would not be better off waiting to find someone who doesn’t drink. If you decide to take the chance, it is up to you to be strong and not fall.
Before you worry about this issue, you need to start your recovery. That is something we are prepared to help you do. If you would like to learn more about the addiction treatment process, you can call one of our staff members at (833) 922-2653. As you are going through treatment, you will learn enough about yourself to deal with the titled issue when the time comes.
