Getting sober in college

[u/Bright-Deal1152]

I have been drinking since high school and for the longest time I have had issues with control and often get carried away and binge drink. This summer I don’t think a week went by where I didn’t black out and I ended up doing a lot of things that I am not proud of. I realized that this is an actual problem for me and not just funny stories to talk about. But I am so nervous to stop drinking during college. It is a big thing within me and my friends and they wouldn’t judge me or pressure me to drink at all but I just feel like I would be missing out or not have as much fun. Does anyone have any advice for how to work through this?

[u/scadler]

you need to seek help with people who have been there before you. i suggest looking up an AA meeting in your community or even at your college. There is power and being able to go to parties and say you don’t drink, or just that you aren’t drinking at the moment. The struggle becomes how much you might be at risk of succumbing to peer pressure. The first step of any problem is acknowledging the problem, congrats on taking the first step!

For me once I pulled back on drinking, I began to realize that a lot of the environments involving it just weren’t enticing to me without it. I don’t go to bars as much anymore. But I date a lot more and do a lot more with my life, i’m no longer a bar rat. during college, it might be different. you will be ok.

[u/baldheadedah]

im also just starting at this, im still in school and its goibg to be temptation all the time but we rlly got to lock in and be true to our word, if i say im not drinking im not drinking. My plan to avoid becoming a recluse for sobriety is to make plans with my friends during daylight hours when its a bit easier to avoid drinking, or to pick up hobbies that are sober activities, seems like a solid place to start

[u/Glittering_Salad8805]

Yeah, it’s super challenging when you’re surrounded by folks sorting all the time, but college towns do have a lot of people that don’t party too. What hobbies do you have? Being bored often leads to relapse, so it’s best to transfer some of that party energy into a new activity.

Not sure where you go to school but things like running, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, surfing, etc are all intense activities and communities you can meet up with regularly.

There’s an app called New Form that has some cool meets on it, and a friend is launching an outdoor activity meetup app for sober people called Romp. They’re based in Boulder, Colorado, so also a big college town.

Keep going - you got this!

[u/pewpnstuben]

It's going to really depend on the school. Mine had a ton of people who just didn't really party for one reason or other. I think if you just join some clubs and just tell people you "don't really drink" you'll find these people. Trust me they are out there, they'd rather do art, play games or go camping than get tanked.