Friendships

[Lou]

I was just wondering how many of you have kept up friendships that were associated with drinking?
I myself have swept the slate clean due to the fact that whenever we all got together it would always involve alcohol or maybe even other substances. I have kept one true friend whom i house shared with last year and to be honest i led her astray( she is 4 yrs younger than me)....however ironically enough she is now engaged and helping keep me on the straight and narrow!!! I do feel sad when i think of my old friends but at the same time i know that if we got together it would be a drink and whatever else fuelled party...so i have to say i do miss my old partying buds but i think what i have done is the right thing.....any opinions?? anyone been able to carry on being friends and socialising with friends who are serious drinkers and not be affected by it????

Loves

Lou-Lou x x

[Flip]

Friendships

I don't see those friends nearly half as much, but I have taken steps to fill my life with things other than drinking... that said, the really good friends have always helped me when I am staying sober and won't drink around me.

My new friends (from the motorbike club I joined to reward myself for not drinking) that don't know me as a drinker, just accept it and drink like fish, but I am under no pressure to join in with them and I often excuse myself from occassions/functions where there will be lots of grog. Besides, I really don't enjoy watching other people getting drunk!

I do miss the sense of closeness I had with those old drinking friends, you share an awful lot of intimate crap with them when you are drunk. However, being sober I have realised I was using them as a substitute for REAL intimacy and am now actively seeking a partner that I can feel close to emotionally. In simple terms, I was lonely and needed them and the grog to deal with it.

Now I know what it is that was driving my drinking I am learning to deal with those feelings.

Sorry, rambled on a bit. :-)

[Accountable for Me]

Friendships

I think it is still possible to remain friends with those who are drinkers. If they are really your friends they won't pressure you. I believe many who have quit drinking stay away from situations that may lead them astray from AF for the first while. I would suggest you wait until you are feeling strong enough to resist temptation. You don't have to drink to have fun!!!! My whole family drinks and I now don't. I can be around these 'party animals' and remain temptation free. As for going to bars and stuff - I really don't know!! Although I am hell-bent against drinking again, I really haven't challenged myself in that type of situation yet. It is easy for me to say I wouldn't, because I am at home most of the time. It is safe and alcohol free here. If I were caught up in the moment of fun, fun, fun, who is to say??? So, I don't dare to go there yet.

[shitzulover]

Friendships

I actually have a superbowl party to attend on Sunday with very heavy drinker friends ! This will sure be a test if I do attend. I am not sure yet, because I don't know if I am ready yet. So, my advice to you is take it slow and if your unsure just wait until you are strong enough to handle your drinking buddies. I do think starting anew is the best medicine, though!