New Year’s Eve in recovery: Is it worth the risk?

So, once again it’s New Year’s Eve. A date in the diary where millions of people in the UK get drunk.

This will be my 6th New Year’s Eve sober. To me, it’s just another day.

I think, for anyone facing their first New Year’s Eve sober, that’s the key – just treat it like any other day. You are not missing out on anything by not drinking.

I’m choosing to not to go out and celebrate because I don’t enjoy it. I don’t enjoy being around people who are drinking. How ironic is that!!!

I can hear the yells of ‘get off your high horse!’, but that’s the truth. I am comfortable enough in my recovery to be around people drinking, but I do not enjoy it.

My advice to anyone who’s new to recovery and contemplating going out and not drinking tonight would be to ask yourself ‘is it worth the risk?’.

Recovery is especially HARD at the beginning! If you have concerns about being around alcohol and a party atmosphere, then you need to treat that as a red flag.

Self-awareness is key. Why put yourself in dangerous situations. If you are in recovery, you know what the repercussions will be if you end up drinking. Is it really worth the risk? Is New Year’s Eve that important?

I’m not saying that people in recovery should avoid celebrating the new year for the rest of their lives!

I just know from my own experience that if you have concerns about a particular event/function where there will be drink, the best thing to do is to remove yourself from the situation. Listen to your gut.

There will be a day when you feel comfortable in almost every scenario – but you can’t rush it.

Think about the BIG picture. Think about how proud you will be of yourself if you wake up tomorrow without a hangover.

Think about how proud your loved ones will be. Think about the platform that will give you to smash the new year. What a way to start 2022!

Whatever you end up doing, I wish you all a great New Year.

Take care, Toby.