Newly sober attending 2 day music festival...any advice would help

I am newly sober and looking for advice on how to stay strong and sober during an event where I would normally drink the night away. I will be taking 2 of my children so I plan to just focus on them and making sure they have a good time but the adults I will be with will most likely drink the whole time. I feel a little dumb even asking for advice but I don’t want pride to stand in my way.

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Welcome to the forum!

I, and many, will say that not going is your best choice. Especially if none of adults in your group are standing with you, they will likely encourage the opposite of your plan.

Good luck!

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Drink a ginger ale or coca cola, and less people will even notice you’re not drinking alcohol. Also, if it comes up, if you get pressured, have a undebateable excuse ready, like ‘I’m on antibiotics, doc says no alcohol with these’. Then you should not get any ‘aw, come on’ type pressure.

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Welcome to the forum and congrats on your newly sober days. :clap:t3::clap:t3:

No question is dumb. You have probably never encountered this situation before so asking people who have been through it is the right choice.

I am going to echo @EarnIt and follow with what many others will probably say and advise you to skip the festival. My early days were really tough and it was impossible for me to focus on anything other than just staying sober.
I didn’t add social events with alcohol back into my life for many months after my sober date and I am still a lot more choosy than I used to be. My old “up for anything” mentality has been replaced by questions about should I be doing this? Do I really want to?

Can you sell the tickets?
Are your kids old enough to go alone?

If you do go make a plan. Always have a soda water or a non alcoholic beverage in your hand. Start building your sober toolbox. My favorite tool is to play the tape forward. Mindfully stop when you are tempted to think through what would happen if you had that first drink. Walk yourself mentally all the way to the crippling hangover or another inevitable negative consequence.

Early days are tough and full of sacrifice in the name of sobriety. Keep focused and keep talking it out. Again, welcome!

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I just need to speak up for myself and not feel embarrassed for not wanting to drink. They will definitely support me, I am just struggling mentally feeling like I am going to give in to myself like I have so many times before. I am probably making a mountain out of a mole hill! I appreciate everyones advice. Just need to buck up and be my own advocate.

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I went to a festival when I was less than a month sober. It was fun, but uncomfortable. It was also one day (or at least, I only attended one day).

Some things that may help lessen the discomfort are:

  • Eat, stay well fed theoughout the day/evening.

  • Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water.

  • Go to bed early, wake up early.

  • Take time outs if/when cravings get intense.

Just remember, no one will care if you aren’t drinking, don’t let the “what ifs” put undue pressure on you. Have fun and dance like no ones looking!

What festival is it and who are you most excited to see?

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Railbird Festival in Kentucky. Most excited for Noah Kahan, Hozier and Lord Huron. Im excited for Counting Crows but I’ve seen them a few times already. I’m juat glad it’s not Electric Forest this year lol I would most definitely have to just stay home :slight_smile:

Thank you for your advice as well!

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Oh fun! That’s my jam!

I saw Lord Huron at that aforementioned festival I went to, they were really good, I enjoyed them.

The Counting Crows is one of my favorite bands, and dwspitw seeing over 100 other bands, I’ve yet I’ve never seen them live.

I hope you have fun, stay sober, and make a life time of memories with your kids, they will remember this their whole life!

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You are newly sober, so it may be a little more difficult for you, but I went to a festival sober and it really solidified sobriety for me. All those people spending all that time queuing to put liquid in or let liquid out of their bodies, the crazy expense of drinks, not remembering stuff, getting lost and confused, just seemed totally nuts. Sober I could avoid so much hassle and really just enjoy the music.

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The only way to do that for me, as I did at metal festival years ago, was to find pride. Be proud of being a non drinker. If you only focus on the crave and the memories from the past it will be hard. Stand strong, stand tall and be proud of who you are now, of what you’ve became.
I mean, that’s what I did, what worked for me

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