Can I Be Around Alcohol in Recovery?

Many people feel like their “life is over” when they choose to enter treatment. They feel like their life will never be the same. The reality is that, in many ways, it won’t. It will be significantly better! Getting sober and entering recovery can rocket someone into a dimension of positivity they never dreamed possible. With the right amount of work and dedication to a recovery program, people can also do many things, be around many of the same people, and be in many of the same places they were before they got sober. This includes being around alcohol. The key is to have a plan of action for long-term recovery.

Better Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder

Millions of people struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and excessive drinking every day. This includes in the U.S. and around the world. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Alcohol Use Disorder, by Doctors Nehring, Chen, and Freeman, “Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in the United States, with 84% of people 18 and older reporting lifetime use, according to data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Alcohol use exists along a spectrum from low risk to alcohol use disorder (AUD). The intervening category, known as risky drinking, includes heavy drinking as well as binge drinking.”

The reality is that most of these people will never get the critical help that they need. They may be in denial that they have a problem or are unaware of the resources that are available to help them get sober. Many people are also confused about what addiction is. These people often feel like AUD is some moral failing or choice. This is simply not the case. Addictions like AUD are diseases. They have more in common with chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes than they do a choice. Addiction is also a “family disease.”

The reference “family disease” simply means that addiction affects everyone and everything it touches. It is often referred to as a “tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.” This tornado can be especially devastating when AUD is combined with other addictions like substance use disorder (AUD) and behavioral addictions like gambling or shopping addiction.

Better Understanding Co-Occurring Addictions

Co-occurring addictions are more common than many people may think. It is much more likely that an individual with one addiction will acquire another. This is often because one’s cognitive abilities are impaired from one addiction and the consequences of other addictive behaviors are missed or ignored. This can be especially true with behavioral addictions.

Many people are now looking at behavioral addictions in the same way that they are viewing substance addictions. According to the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, “Growing evidence suggests that behavioral addictions resemble substance addictions in many domains, including natural history, phenomenology, tolerance, comorbidity, overlapping genetic contribution, neurobiological mechanisms, and response to treatment, supporting the DSM-V Task Force proposed new category of Addiction and Related Disorders encompassing both substance use disorders and non-substance addictions. Current data suggest that this combined category may be appropriate for pathological gambling and a few other better studied behavioral addictions, e.g., Internet addiction.”

It is also true that many professionals also consider behavioral addictions a sign of mental illness (though the debate is still out on this). However, it is true that many people who struggle with issues of addiction (whether substance-related or behavioral) also struggle with issues of mental illness.

Better Understanding Co-Occurring Addiction and Mental Illness

Many people don’t realize just how common issues of mental illness and addiction actually are. They affect millions of people every day. It is also true that comorbidities can also include other chronic physical conditions.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “People who have substance use disorders often have other mental disorders. Common risk factors related to a person’s genes, individual characteristics, social environment, and other life circumstances can contribute to both substance use and other mental disorders. Other health conditions that commonly occur with substance use disorders are HIV, hepatitis C, and chronic pain. When someone has a co-occurring disorder or health condition, it is usually better to treat these health issues at the same time rather than separately.” It is also true that many people who struggle with co-occurring disorders also share similar signs and symptoms.

The Signs and Symptoms of AUD, SUD, and Mental Illness

Now, the signs and symptoms of AUD, SUD, and mental illness are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms of these addictions and mental illnesses. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
• Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
• Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Not being able to stop once starting drinking or using
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and wellbeing
• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• Isolating away from family and close friends
• Experiencing trouble at work or school
• Causing harm to oneself or others
• Having suicidal ideations

Now, many people can minimize AUD, SUD, and mental illness, or falsely categorize them as that previously mentioned “choice.” However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as possible is vital. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. One of the keys is making the right choices in recovery, such as asking the question, “Can I be around alcohol?”

Making the Right Choices in Recovery

So, what does making the right choices in recovery mean? It means understanding that one should focus on where one goes, who one is around, and what one does in recovery. For example, one should be wary of “hanging around” in the same places where one used to drink and use. This is especially true in early recovery. 

It is also important to understand that some people may be toxic to an individual who is in recovery. These are people who don’t respect one’s choice to be sober, or other individuals who are in active addiction. Being around these types of individuals can also lead to a potential relapse.

Relapses are more common than many people may think. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment. For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.” Another action that could potentially lead to a relapse is being around alcohol. However, with the right treatment program, one can be comfortable around alcohol.

Can I Be Around Alcohol in Recovery?

The answer to whether an individual can be around alcohol or not is “it depends.” It all depends on whether an individual feels comfortable in their recovery or not. This usually takes time and a lot of work. This is why people in early recovery are often more vulnerable when they are around alcohol.

Being around alcohol is also a personal choice. Some people choose to stay far away from any environments with alcohol because they are concerned that they may be tempted to drink. Other individuals feel more comfortable in these environments. As is often said in 12-Step recovery, “The desire to drink has been lifted.” Speaking of 12-Step recovery, being around other people in recovery can also determine whether or not one feels comfortable around alcohol. 

Around Alcohol: ‘Sticking With the Winners’

It has been said that, when it comes to relapse, one of the best aversion tactics is working with other people in recovery. This is such an important concept, that it is even discussed in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book). The chapter is even entitled, “Working With Others.”

“Working With Others,” states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail. You can help when no one else can.” This is also symbolic of what it means to “stick with the winners.”

Connecting with others who are also very serious about their recovery is important. These are the individuals who are going to be there when one may feel tempted to drink or act out in other addictive ways. These are also the people who understand that one cannot avoid being around alcohol altogether.

Around Alcohol: The Reality of One’s Environment

The fact of the matter is that alcohol is everywhere in today’s society. This is especially true in the United States. This is why one must be vigilant and always connected to one’s recovery program.

In most cases, there will always be alcohol advertisements, liquor stores, and bars in one’s environment. Of course, this is unless someone lives alone in the woods. However, that is not what recovery is all about. Recovery is about making one’s life bigger, not shrinking away from life.

This is why one should always work on one’s recovery. It means utilizing as many means, modalities, and methods as possible is going to help an individual feel comfortable in their recovery, and comfortable being around alcohol. One effective modality that can help with this is psychotherapy.

Putting in the Recovery Work: Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can be particularly helpful in helping people with their addictions because it helps them see the underlying negative ways that they have been viewing themselves and the world around them. Psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be particularly helpful in changing these underlying feelings.

DBT can be especially helpful for individuals struggling with co-occurring disorders. DBT also helps people be present. This is critical for potentially “triggering” situations.

According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychiatry (Edgmont), “In DBT, mindfulness skills help patients attend to what is happening in the present. Some of the mindfulness skills involve attending to and nonjudgmentally observing the current experience, describing the facts of the current experience or situation, and fully participating in the activity/experience of the present while attending to one thing at a time (‘one mindfully’) and focusing on effective, skillful behavior. Therapists teach patients mindfulness skills in skills training, encourage mindfulness in individual therapy, and often practice mindfulness themselves.” Another way of being mindful is via yoga and meditation.

Putting in the Recovery Work: Holistic Healing Methods

Holistic healing methods can be ideal for individuals who are trying to stay comfortable in situations where alcohol is present. This is especially true regarding the holistic healing method known as mindfulness meditation. Meditation also offers a myriad of other health benefits, including physical health benefits. 

According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “Research has shown that a program of comprehensive lifestyle changes (including vegetarian diet and stress management – meditation and breathing exercises) improved health and modulated gene expression in prostate cancer patients who were not treated with surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy. This 3-month study showed changes in more than 500 genes: 48 genes were up-regulated and 453 genes were down-regulated. The down-regulated genes included disease-promoting genes with critical roles in tumorigenesis.” Meditation can also be a big part of individualized care and getting to the underlying issues of addiction and mental illness.

The Importance of Individualized Care and Getting to the Root/Core Causes of Addiction

The reality is that the recovery and treatment industry is worth billions of dollars. While this may be positive in that there are more options for getting well, it has also opened the door for many predatory actors who put their own financial bottom line over their client’s well-being. These are also the types of recovery centers that focus on “one-note” overarching recovery plans that don’t consider their client’s individual needs.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we find that these types of treatment plans rarely work. That is why we only offer comprehensive treatment plans that focus on individual needs. This begins with an intake process that looks beyond one’s addiction and takes into account familial dynamics, occupational and educational factors, and one’s goals for the future.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we also focus on getting to the critical underlying issues of one’s addiction. Many people don’t realize that addiction is about much more than simply picking up that drink, drug, or credit card. It is about the underlying thoughts and feelings that lead to those actions. That is why we focus on the internal as much as we do the external. This is what healing at the cellular level is all about – total recovery.

Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term fixes. This is why we only offer individualized and comprehensive treatment plans with a focus on the future. We know that doing the work will allow our clients to feel comfortable in their recovery anywhere that they go.

The Buddha famously said, “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” This is what recovery is all about – finding oneself again. There is perhaps no better place to do so than with us on the Hamkua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island.

Many people worry that they are going to have to avoid all situations involving alcohol when they are in recovery. This is simply not true. The key is to stick to a healthy recovery plan and stay physically, emotionally, and spiritually “fit,” and one can navigate any situation (including in environments with alcohol). If you feel like you or a loved one may be struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery, right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about maintaining a healthy recovery, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.