One of the most difficult parts of attempting a sober lifestyle is dealing with the fear of missing out – commonly referred to as FOMO. The feeling of missing out is a challenge people must navigate when attempting to cut alcohol out of their lives.
Fortunately, the team at Private Rehab Clinic, Delamere, have put together some useful advice for dealing with the fear of missing alcohol when attempting to go sober.
One of the biggest drivers of FOMO is social media. Watching everyone out in bars or nightclubs can trigger those feelings of missing out and may induce the temptation to drink.
Take a break from social media when you know that your friends or family are out in an alcohol-based setting or generally nights on the weekend.
Not only can this help reduce the feelings of FOMO, but time away from screens, in general, can positively affect overall mental well-being.
Get support from family and friends
Involving friends and family in your journey with sobriety can also aid you in tackling these feelings of missing out. Knowing your sober lifestyle will help them develop self-awareness, especially when making social plans.
Realign your thoughts
When FOMO begins to creep in, and with it, the temptation to drink again, it’s important to stop and take some time for self-reflection. Take the time to remind yourself of why you chose to cut back on alcohol use in the first place, your goals, and the benefits that you are experiencing from sobriety.
Writing down these thoughts on paper, either in a diary or journal, can help you visualise the benefits and help you to realign your mindset to focus on the positives rather than the negative feelings of missing out.
Benefits can include: improved mental health, better general health, saving money that would previously be spent on alcohol, and having plenty of free time to enjoy the next day, which prior may have been spent suffering from a hangover.
Take up a new hobby
Filling your time with sober activities is a great way to keep your mind occupied and the alcohol-related FOMO at bay. This is an ideal opportunity to take up a new hobby that doesn’t involve alcohol. From cycling or swimming to painting, plenty of fun activities should be taken up in place of drinking – plus, you can make the most of your hangover-free days.
Exercise is also an ideal way to improve both physical and mental health. Not only does this benefit your health, but it can also help to keep you occupied and focused on your fitness goals. If fitness is a personal goal of your journey through sobriety, regular exercise combined with cutting out alcohol is a great way to lower cholesterol and help you to keep fit.
A sober lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to miss out on social events. If you can be in those environments without the temptation to drink, you can opt for sober nights out instead. No alcohol doesn’t mean you have to miss out on socialising.
Invite friends along to sober activities
If you are undertaking sober activities instead of going out drinking, be proactive in inviting your friends along too. Whether it’s swimming or yoga, you may find that your friends and family could also appreciate participating in social activities not centred around alcohol.
Specialist treatment and support groups
If you are deciding to remove alcohol from your life due to developing an alcohol addiction, there are plenty of support options available for you.
If you’re having trouble reaching your target, seek support from a professional who will help you to change your habits and ways of reducing consumption. Support groups can be a huge help in achieving your sobriety goals.
Private rehabilitation is often the best method when treating addiction, as it offers a tailored and structured approach to helping the person overcome their problem.
Rehabilitation programs will understand and deal with the underlying causes and triggers of the issue by suggesting trauma therapy or offering support with coping with feelings of anger, frustration, and anxiety that may be causing the issue.
