Sober Story: How Not Drinking Changes Your Relationships (Dating & Family)

In this story, Rex, shared the following tips on how sobriety improves personal relationships, how does alcohol affect your relationships with family and how sobriety affects your dating life.

This post was created for the sober and sober curious looking for relatable, inspiring sober-positive content. The following are Rex’s experiences, words and opinions. Enjoy :)

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Let me start by sharing three things that have blown my mind in sobriety:

1. I’ve traveled to three countries in four months.

2. I have a healthy relationship with my partner, where we argue and fight, but it’s in a healthy way, not manipulative or nitpicking. We grow together instead of hiding ourselves.

3. I have found my purpose in life and now use my experiences to help others through life coaching. I feel like I have a gift and a responsibility to share it, so I’m creating a 90-day program for people in recovery.

But this was not always my experience….

I think shame played a significant role in my hesitation to ask for help when I was struggling with alcohol. I was afraid of disappointing my parents and letting them down. Moreover, I was fearful of being honest with myself and facing the reality that I needed to stop.

However, once I did open up and told my parents, it was a massive weight lifted off my shoulders. I felt like a completely different person, and my relationship with my parents has transformed. They are incredibly proud of me now, and I feel seen and heard as part of the family.

In sobriety, I have learned to believe in myself and embrace positive affirmations.

I now know that I am capable, lovable, and accepted for who I am. I feel the love and pride from my family, and it’s not just something they say to make me feel better. I have found a beautiful relationship where I can grow together with my partner, and we support each other in healthy ways. It’s a far cry from my past relationships, where I was seeking connections in all the wrong places.