Sober Story: Making Friends and Having Fun in Sobriety

In this story, Emily, shared the following how to make friends in sobriety, how do you have fun sober with friends, how do sober people make friends and tips for making friends in recovery.

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

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There was one main reason why I was drinking, and that was because I had this deep-seated sadness within me that I didn’t know how to escape from. Alcohol provided that escape, that numbing effect.

Then I discovered drugs and thought, “Wow, alcohol numbs me, and drugs give me that euphoric feeling.” It seemed like a perfect combination. At the time, I lacked the tools to handle it differently. I was dealing with intense depression, and that’s how I coped. I didn’t have a different perspective. I behaved based on whether it was the euphoria or the attempt to escape my sadness.

Looking back, I can clearly see the times I acted inauthentically. There were moments when I tried to appear happy and chill, even though deep down, I was struggling with sadness. I felt the pressure to show up as that happy and likable person, which was sometimes authentic, but sometimes it wasn’t. For me, it was about wanting to be reckless; I had these unhealthy thoughts and engaged in risky behaviors. It’s weird talking about that version of me because I don’t recognize that person anymore.

Alcohol negatively affected me in multiple ways: the physical, the mental, and even the spiritual.

Regarding the mental aspect, it took me a long time to realize how much space alcohol was occupying in my mind and how it was directing my thoughts. To me, the term “addiction” makes sense in relation to this compulsive thinking and action.

It’s this inner drive that sometimes feels out of control, where I know I shouldn’t do something, yet I’m compelled to do it. It’s like seeing a sale while shopping and feeling compelled to buy something I don’t need, even if rationally, it makes no sense.

This pattern applies to my relationship with alcohol. Over time, I learned that I’m capable of resisting that compulsion, and this knowledge built my resilience.

It’s like training for the big, challenging moments by practicing with the smaller ones.

I’m currently experiencing a breakup, which is testing my authenticity and boundaries. This situation forced me to recognize that, even when I love someone, I have to honor my boundaries. It’s difficult, but it’s also about respecting myself. These moments of staying true to my boundaries have led me to where I am now, making tough decisions like ending a relationship that doesn’t align with my values.