I’m glad you’re here, that you’re asking for help, and that you are on the path to become more self aware.
Having a support system was and is a big part of how I got sober and continue to stay sober today. Sounds like, despite the difficulty of distancing yourself from your friends who use your DOC, that you know it’s a necessary step. Distancing or cutting out people/places/things that threatened my sobriety was a big first step for me on my sober journey.
Places like this are great for finding a community of people who can empathize and understand the struggle of addiction. There are also places like NA, SMART Recovery and Recovery Dharma that offer meeting for peer support and accountability!
The link below is a great thread here for daily check-ins that I and many others find to be very helpful!
Some of the most useful coping strategies and sober tools I use to deal with cravings as well as anxiety are the 4-7-8 breathing technique, radical acceptance, HALT, opposite action, STOP, and Urge Surfing!
As for distractions, I’ve found music, movies, art, photography, reading, video games, and exercise to be some of my top go-to activities! Maybe spend some time building a list of things you enjoy doing (things that aren’t triggers) or new things that you’re interested in trying!
I’m going to include another link to a thread that is a good jumping off point for getting sober, some good first steps and explanations, as well as other people’s experiences!
Again I’m glad you’re here and that you are asking for assistance. Seeking help is not a weakness, it is a strength. There are a lot of people here who are willing to listen and share their experiences, please don’t hesitate to reach for additional support
