Sober Story: How to Manage Stress Without Picking Up a Drink

In this story, Jenn, shared the following tips on how to manage stress without picking up a drink, healthy alternatives for managing stress without alcohol, ways to ease stress without using alcohol or drugs and managing stress in recovery.

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

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

My drinking started with stress, but it was fueled by heartbreak.

I turned to drinking as a coping mechanism, which only created more stress. Due to my childhood conditioning and societal influences, I believed alcohol would help me relax and alleviate tension. It became a way to deal with nerves before social events and handle overwhelm.

In managing stress, I’ve embraced a morning routine that has been instrumental in my well-being.

My day starts at 4:45 AM, focusing on meditation, breathwork, readings, and gratitude. Exercise has become a vital tool to relieve stress and promote mental clarity. I switch up activities to keep it engaging. Essential oils, such as Peace and Calming from Young Living, play a significant role in calming my senses. Prioritizing sleep and setting boundaries with my schedule and relationships have also been key to managing stress.

For those who find these tools overwhelming, start small with the two-minute rule from Atomic Habits by James Clear. Prove to yourself that you can keep your word by establishing a habit for just two minutes. Habit stacking can help by adding new habits onto existing routines. Consistency is crucial, even on days when life feels easier. Build self-trust through these small habits, and over time, they will become automatic and improve your overall well-being.

Learning to trust ourselves is vital in sobriety.

Starting with small habits and keeping our word to ourselves builds self-esteem and self-love. Though seemingly elementary, these small things have a profound impact on becoming the person we want to be. Taking it slow and starting small can lead us to achieve our goals and reach our potential.