Bitterness and irritability as a sober person

Like the title says, bitterness and irritability towards my sobriety are something I significantly struggle with. Logically, I know that if I start using again, I’ll be dead in short order. That said, it doesn’t stop me from having all sorts of negative feelings about BEING sober and not “having the ability to be normal.”

Somewhere in my brain, I still associate alcohol with fun. And as a result, have largely avoided social situations the last 6.5 years whenever I can.

Have very recently started trying some NA drinks, which help take the edge off when I’m alone, but not so much in a group setting. The bitterness creeps in and I end up being fairly miserable by the end of the social occasion.

In case you read this and are wondering… No, I don’t do AA/NA. It’s a personal trigger.

A sober buddy helps. But if they’re one who doesn’t struggle with problematic use, I feel guilty and like I’m taking away their opportunity to “let their hair down a bit.”

Idk where I’m going with this line of thought. I guess I’m curious to know if others have similar experiences with sobriety and how they have managed to navigate social situations sober?

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After a few years sober social events dont really bother me i get up and dance and sing but my friends circle is old farts now in my early sobriety in the eighties i lost a lot of my friends as i didnt really go to places that sold drink , gets easier the longer you are sober wish you well

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I understand the feeling that drinking alcohol can be remembered as a fun thing to do (that euphoric recall) - and I was sure scared of giving in and relapsing again. However, and luckily for me, my thinking evolved from I can’t drink to I don’t want to drink to I have less problems when I don’t drink to finally, I like being sober.

The last phase is the easiest for me to sustain, Happy, Joyous and Free!!

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