I have been 1.5 months sober from alcohol and honestly I feel absolutely amazing. However, I am noticing it is getting harder to fight off the thoughts of “I can handle just one drink.” I have been largely just drinking NA beer at social gatherings to curb some of the anxiety/feelings of needing to have a drink in my hand to not feel awkward. Any advice for how to get over this? I don’t want to take my self out of situations where alcohol is involved because at my age that is almost every social occasion. I don’t have plans to relapse obviously but I just noticed this over the past week and figured I would reach out to those who may have experienced a similar issue.
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I’m curious, too, about how to handle post-30 day milestone…. I’m not there yet and taking it ODAAT, and I am part of a Group and do Zoom Meetings daily and have a psychiatrist. But I’ve read more than one post that says it’s hard once you hit 30…
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Congratulations on your 1.5 months. I don’t drink any NA beverages which imitate the alcoholic version. there are many people who can. I don’t want to risk it. I always drank to get the buzz. Many years ago when I tried to cut down my amount I tried NA wine which I drank in few minutes.
Now some years later, I don’t want to drink anything like this.
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Hi,
For me meetings and participating here.
Meetings have helped me to socialise with people where there is no pressure to drink.
For me non alcoholic beer I feel would be a huge trigger for me as I didnt drink for the Taste i drank to feel the buzz.
This is a good question you raise here, because I think we will always have some kind of thoughts that will try and trick us into it’s just one drink il be okay, but how we deal and learn to react to them gets easier with time.
The more you say no to that voice and just dont give it what it wants your actually re wiring your brain and healing and balancing out when quitting takes some time, different times for each of us. But it does happen and each time you get past a craving and urge you are building stronger foundations. In the meantime this is where meetings can really be a powerfull thing.
Listening to others experiences and being around people who understand what your going through because they have been there, the powerfulnes I cant put into words, I’d suggest giving it a try for yourself and you will help yourself get over those bad moments.
This ie a 24 hour zoom meeting code
2923712604
You can join with your camera and audio off and just listen in, you dont get called out unless you want to share your experience by clicking the hand icon.
Give it a go when your having these thoughts and see If it can help you too, as trying to put into words how positive affect and how powerfull it is isnt easy 
Congratulations on your 1.5 months
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NA drinks will prob lead u back to the real stuff my experience. early sobriety its wise to stay away from events that have drink available my experience but i wish you well
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It gets easier when you make sobriety your priority. It’s getting more difficult because you keep placing yourself in those situations. Early sobriety is not a situation where you have your cake and get to eat it to. Eventually, if you put in the work, you will be able to attend those events again if that’s what you want to do. But if you keep going to those events things will mostly likely continue to get harder and you will most likely relapse.
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It’s good you noticed it 
No one plans to relapse. Relapse is like having a rock balanced on a hill, then pushing it a little, then it rolls back to centre, then pushing it a little more, and it rolls back to centre, then pushing it again…
Relapse is a long process. It takes days, weeks, sometimes months. It starts when you lose track of your boundaries (or don’t understand them) and gradually you drift a bit and push and pull and teeter and totter and then…
you get drunk.
It’s a fun game, pretending health and sobriety is the same life just minus the alcohol contents in drinks - and it feels harmless and I’m not planning on making the rock roll down the hill - and then one time the balance tips and the rock rolls down the hill.
What you’re feeling now - what you’re noticing - is that rock teetering, and you know if you don’t change something then the rock is eventually, inevitably, going to fall.
What that looks like is up to you and your journey and what you learn and where you go to learn. But your heart is giving you a signal there’s a problem with the way you’re currently living.
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This will probably be an issue for you.
Something very valuable I have come to accept is the reality if impermenance. Things are always changing. Something else I learned that I didn’t get when I first came into recovery is that boundaries are flexible. So a boundary that I set today to keep myself safe can be moved around as I need it. You are at a vulnerable place in your journey right now where abstinence is needed in order to even consider begining recovery. Putting yourself in safe situations is your best bet for now. You can go to bars when you have some time under your belt… if you want to then that is. I am 2.5 years sober and I went to a bar for the first time this summer, it was ok… mostly annoying.
If you need a drink in your hand why not a soda/lime or a soda/cran?
The closer you stand to a fire the more chance you will get burned… you’re standing in the middle.
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Hi Twizzle,
Where do I use that 24/7 zoom code?
Thanks,
Keira
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You can use it on Zoom:
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You just tap “Join Meeting” and put that number in as the Meeting ID
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As far as not feeling left out at social gatherings with booze I’ve gotten into craft sodas. I’ll try different brands and stuff and bring them with me. Sometimes people are more interested in the soda than all the fancy beers around haha
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Hi @Matt has explained how to get on to the meeting. Let us know how it goes for you
Hope your having a good day.
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As others have stated It will be very difficult to stay sober if you keep putting yourself around alcohol heavy situations in early sobriety. Honestly if sobriety isn’t your #1 priority you probably aren’t gonna make it (speaking from experience). I certainly hope you make it, you have to do what you feel is right for you. Welcome to the forum, best wishes to you.
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The urges will probably subside if you can just hang in there for a while