I’m 24 and I have recently made the decision to go sober, indefinitely. I used to be, what I like to call a ✨ functional alcoholic ✨but was it functional? I would call in sick for work if I had a big night, cancel on commitments, make choices I wouldn’t otherwise make and that’s just the start of my list of why I no longer want to drink. These are all things I bet most people (especially in the UK) would admit to doing and ironically most people don’t think that’s a problem.
For the past couple years I’ve been experimenting with drinking less, going out out solely on mocktails, red-bulls and coffee’s and 80% of the time I succeeded and had a fantastic time but I would always slip back into drinking heavily again. I definitely don’t drink the same way I did 3/4 years ago but when I do drink I can never just have 1. 1 is too many and 100 is not enough
Now, I’m bonkers enough to dance on tables at 4am dead sober so really, what do I need alcohol for? This is the question I replay in my head every time I think of having a drink. It took me years to get to a point where I was happy enough with myself to even consider going out without a drink.
I used to think I wouldn’t be fun if I wasn’t drunk and being fun has always been one of my greatest qualities and I was terrified to loose that. Turns out that just learning who I am, what I like and don’t like, who I want to be around, have a significant impact on how joyful my life can be. I have this feeling at my core that my life has a lot more meaning than I give it credit for. Being sober is one of the first steps in accepting and exploring that.
If you told me when I was 20 that I would be sober at 23 I would’ve laughed in your face and cheers’d to it. It’s a decision I’m still trying to figure out if it’s the right one even after seeing how many more pro’s this decision has. It’s hard when the majority of people in their 20’s are in deep alcoholism. Sometimes I miss it. The stories you have after a night out are often hilarious or so embarrassing that later on in life become hilarious. I just have to remind myself that I am that fun, adventurous, wild person even without the drink and I can have incredible experiences I just won’t have a deadly hangover the next day.
I would love to hear your opinions and thoughts and feelings and if you’re sober too, what has helped you? If nothing else, I hoped this has helped even 1 person see that they can go sober as well. We are all made to do something wonderful.