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Going Sober is the New Trend in 2024
Thanks, sober influencers
When I first tried going sober in 2010, no one was getting sober unless you were an alcoholic. Even though I fit the bill, I didn’t resonate with everything Alcoholics Anonymous had to offer. While I think it’s a great program for many, it still doesn’t resonate with me today.
I was sober for a little over a year back then and not happy about it. I was the weird one at social functions, either pretending to be drinking or sulking in the corner with my water. I felt like a pariah, it ended up filling me up with shame, disgust about my behavior, and feelings of being a failure.
I was the giant elephant in the room. I could feel my long nose touching the floor while everyone mocked me.
Social media wasn’t big back then. Facebook and Instagram barely scratched the surface of what they have become today. There were no TikToks or Reels. There weren’t sobriety books that I knew of, podcasts about going sober, or anyone to follow online.
There was only AA. The meetings depressed me and I never found my crew. So, as you can imagine, I eventually ended up drinking again and moderately for a while. I fooled myself into believing that I wasn’t one of those AA people.
