Before social media, it was hard to tell how much drinking your peers have done when you are not around them. Now with social media, your peers are probably posting plenty of pictures of themselves with drinks in their hands. By learning how to have a healthy relationship with social media, you will not allow these pictures of your peers drinking to trigger you into relapse.
Staying Sober While on Social Media
It can be triggering to see your friends or relatives drinking on social media. If your friends are partying or posting photos of them drinking, you should be careful with what you are seeing or what you see as fun. This can lead to the fear of missing out on all the fun your friends are having. If seeing these pictures bother you, you should cut back on how much social media you consume. If you cannot help but see these photos on your feed, replace your thoughts on drinking with positive thoughts like scenes of nature, a nice memory, or anything else that brings you joy. It is like storing a painful memory away and replacing it with a healthier one.
Using Social Media to Your Advantage
Remember that people use social media to post their best times. It does not mean they are having a better time than you because of drinking, as there are many parts about their life that are not being posted. When you are looking at your social media feed, change your thoughts that you do not need to be in an environment with alcohol to have a good time. Think about all of the fun things you can do that do not involve drinking. Post pictures of yourself celebrating your new sober life and how much better your life is now. You can find several hobbies to replace scrolling through social media that do not involve blackouts or hangovers.
The Power of Sobriety
Sobriety tends to change your way of thinking. You will see that your life will be so much better sober when you land a good job and have more fulfilling relationships. When you see a liquor ad on social media, you will be in a better place and realize you do not need to lose what you already have. Change your social media feed to reflect the life you have built from sobriety.
Social media can provide triggers if your peers online are posting photos of them drinking. You may be feeling like you are missing out on the fun you used to have. It is important to change your thought patterns on how you view drinking and realize the life you have now is even better than what you had before. At Alta Loma, we understand what a struggle it is to avoid triggers. Individualized therapy, 12-step programs, life coping skills education, and more will increase your chances of sobriety. Please give us a call at (866) 457-3843 for more information.
