Why does living alcohol free feel lonely?

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Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind is answering reader's questions live. Today she answers, Why is living alcohol free feel lonely? You can start reading This Naked Mind free at: thisnakedmind.com.

[@dannyr.8326]

Just knock it off. Don't wait for anybody to tell you it's ok to quit drinking. I quit at 60 and was drinking for 45 years. Don't wait this long! Get it done.

[@ThisNakedMind]

❤️

[@jannorris4140]

A "social circle"? Lol...Um, sure, maybe when we were in our 20s. There are so many alcoholics like me that drank because we didn't have social groups to begin with! We drank to fight the loneliness. There are so many isolated alcoholics, especially once you pass 40.

[@ThisNakedMind]

That can be true. They say that addiction is really about lacking connection.

[@vilmarylopez6630]

I just purchased your book today and couldn’t put it down. I have been trying to quit drinking for many reasons and sometimes I say to myself I just have a few drinks but, once I start is like I lose control over the amount that I wanted to consume in the first place. I’m excited about this journey.

[@ThisNakedMind]

Please let us know how your journey is going!

[@BlackfoxCritterGlitter]

I’m in my 30s, not married and no children. Two years ago, I quit drinking. My best friend at work all but told me I’m boring now and I’ve been ostracized socially, which has been hard for me. And I’ve told her I’m okay with hanging out with everyone else drinking, but I think she feels guilty or that I’m judging everyone. However, she knows the road I’ve been down well and that I have stopped drinking for my physical and mental health. But it hasn’t been the same and now she won’t even hang out with me in non-alcohol events in favor of her new drinking buddy.

[@ThisNakedMind]

That is so sad and hurtful. Makes you question how a true a friend she was.

[@sairaferguson8737]

Rejection is gods protection, she al so could be jealous of you x

[@doromamire]

I journey hence without knowing whither, wandering through the byways of yonder.

[@ThisNakedMind]

Love that quote!

[@happy_nancy4530]

I can be happy and engaged with people as they have one drink...maybe two...and then the drinky-drink laughing begins, because of something not funny, but b/c they are already feeling the effects. I gave up going to bars and parties even when I still had alcohol; I find no appeal in being around anyone that gets past 2 drinks.

[@ThisNakedMind]

Yes, it's hard to carry on a conversation when they have zoned out at that point!

[@scottm5001]

I don’t like people anyways. I mean I do and I don’t but loneliness to me is about my intimate relationship. I can’t get a partner to be on the same page as me. My x wasn’t even a drunk like me so she didn’t understand why I stayed away from social situations. It’s because I don’t like myself when I drink so other drunk people annoy the fuck out of me. So I’m outcastes because I choose to not drink or partake in social situations that are consumed by the use of alcohol. My new relationship she loves to be social party and drink. People who are consumed by alcohol are not useful to me. I am not useful to anyone while under the influence of alcohol. I’m not saying I look at my relationships as how can I use people in the general definition of the world I just mean it in the same way as if I was sitting around watching a group of people play dungeons and dragons and they were all super excited and into it and for a while it’s ok to watch but if I wanna have fun I need to join or leave and consume my mind with something that interest me. I’ve had fun eating dinner and dancing at a classy place recently alcohol free. But for me people who drink typically piss me off because of how they act. Now I have control over ME and my reactions but still how much fuckery do I really want to expose myself to? I have a threshold for sure and that’s why it is lonely for me.

Thirty years ago it was socially acceptable and cool to smoke and drink. Smoke has been banned from society and so will alcohol. Just wait for a few millions more to die from alcohol consumption, and we will be there.

[@ThisNakedMind]

Time shall tell.

[@SCHEY101]

It's already at 3 million a year World wide. It's very profitable for governments, they don't give a flying rats arse about your health.

[@scottjackson163]

I think that non-drinking is slowly gaining acceptance. However, behaving differently from any majority group is always going to be stressful. I tell people - when or if the issue arises - that I am in a non-drinking phase. That statement is both true and non-threatening.

[@michaelvalverde845]

Wat u think about comes about ....it the law of attraction... coming from recovery ING addict to another ... happy freedom 💪

[@ThisNakedMind]

So true!

[@craiganthonyhill]

Because you loose all the drunk friends Who can't do, what you achieved

[@ThisNakedMind]

I've gained so much and inspired so many others through this. I think many experience the same. Maybe less friendships but better quality.