Drinking alcohol is normalized throughout much of society. Most people think little of addiction while having a glass of wine with dinner or breaking out a few beers while hanging out with friends and family. However, especially as alcohol consumption patterns changed during the pandemic, many people have started to reevaluate their overall alcohol consumption, including what life might be like with less alcohol.
Sober curiosity offers a greater focus at what alcohol consumption has done in your life, how it impacts you, and what it might look like to drink less alcohol as part of your daily life.
What is the Sober Curious Movement?
The term “sober curious” was made popular by Ruby Warrington, who started exploring the concept in a book titled Sober Curious. The sober curious culture strongly encourages people, either with the guidance of Warrington’s book or without, to take a closer look at what life might look like without alcohol and how alcohol intake impacts a sober curious individuals daily perceptions, interactions, and lifestyle.
Alcohol abuse has the potential to impact much more than many people first think it does. It can impact:
- Sleep
- Blood pressure
- Control of the temper and other emotions
- Overall health
- Weight
- Relationships
- Mood disorders, including depression
- Alcohol Dependence
Periods of sobriety can help people who have a drinking habit get a regular feel for how that impacts them, which may make it easier to make thoughtful decisions about alcohol consumption. The sober curious movement encourages people to take a thoughtful look at those elements, which may offer a sober curious person better overall awareness of their decisions regarding alcohol consumption.
Does Sober Curious Mean Sobriety?
A sober lifestyle involves giving up alcohol for a specific period, which does not necessarily mean the person has an alcohol use disorder. How long someone stays, sober may depend on their specific goals and what they want to learn or accomplish. They might give up alcohol for a week, two weeks, a month, or even as much as a year.
The goal is to take a closer look at how being alcohol-free impacts their lives. Many people discover that, after that period of sobriety, they do not want to resume alcohol consumption or that they want to decrease the amount of alcohol they regularly consume significantly. Others may choose to resume former alcohol consumption rates.
Sober curiosity does involve finding substitutions for time and activities that used to be filled with alcohol. It may require connecting with other people who have the same general feelings about alcohol and are willing to embark on that journey together. Many people face regular pressure to consume alcohol around friends and family members. Partnering with like-minded individuals can make it easier to avoid those common interactions.
What are the Benefits of a Sober Curious Lifestyle?
Many people take alcohol consumption for granted and do not examine their relationship with alcohol. It’s part of their everyday lifestyle: their interactions with friends, their chance to relax in the evening, and even how they meet new people.
A sober curious lifestyle offers the opportunity to genuinely consider those interactions and how alcohol might impact those individuals. That lifestyle has several potential advantages. People have the opportunity to understand how alcohol impacts their physical and mental health.
More Knowledge About the Personal Impact of Alcohol
Some potential impacts of alcohol can prove difficult to see. Others, however, quickly become obvious, especially during a period of sobriety. For example, some people may notice improvements in mood and energy when they stop drinking.
Others may find improvements in their relationships with some friends and family members or see that they get better-quality sleep. Over a more extended period of sobriety, weight management might grow easier. Due to that period of sobriety, many people get a closer look at alcohol’s impact on them.
Enhanced Mindfulness
Many people take drinking for granted and do not consider their drinking habits problematic. They may not think twice about grabbing a drink with dinner or enjoying a nightcap before bed. However, those automatic activities can have several health impacts, particularly over time. Sober curiosity provides the chance to be more mindful of alcohol consumption.
Increased Opportunities
A period of sobriety often makes it necessary for people to go outside their former patterns and habits. Alcohol often becomes the default for many people. During periods of sobriety, they may have to look for new activities, get to know new people, or have the chance to explore new areas they might not have visited. As a result, they may have increased opportunities in the future, even if they choose to go back to drinking.
People do not have to quit alcohol altogether to make the sober curious movement, or a period of sobriety, beneficial in their life. While many people do discover that they do not want to go back to drinking after a period of sobriety, others may choose to resume some drinking behaviors following that sober curious period. However, as they pass key sober milestones, many people discover that they want to continue that journey and embrace its benefits.
Sober Curious for the LGBTQ+ Community
Substance abuse is more common among members of the LGBTQ+ community. Participating in the sober curious movement can prove particularly beneficial for community members, who may need to mindfully examine drinking habits and their impact on their overall lifestyle. That may mean the chance to connect with others who also enjoy that sober curious lifestyle.
Find Wellness in Sobriety in Los Angeles
Many people discover that they can find enhanced overall wellness in sobriety. At No Matter What Recovery, we offer support for members of all communities but specialize in wellness and sobriety for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you embark on your sober curious journey.
