What does it mean to be sober curious?
Sober curious people may not have the intention of giving up alcohol completely. However, they may want to cut it out for a short period of time. So, they can see what happens when they limit alcohol or go completely sober. That way, they can also find out whether or not it would be beneficial for their lifestyle.
So, what does being sober curious mean?
Being sober curious defines as having the option to choose, to question, or to change drinking habits for health-focused reasons (whether or not it’s mental or physical). This doesn’t mean that they will go fully sober. Being sober curious means they are questioning the ways in which alcohol affects. This, of course, includes why they drink how they feel when they drink, and what would happen if they cut down on drinking or stopped drinking entirely.
How it all started
Being sober curious isn’t anything new. There are month-long sobriety challenges that Sober October and Dry January encourage. This invites people to reevaluate their alcohol use. This also allows some people to trying to break habits like drinking without thinking or drinking socially just because everyone else does. Aside from that, regular social drinking has become so normalized that many people find it more unusual when someone chooses not to drink outside of health or religious reasons.
The term sober curious, on the other hand, can be credited to Ruby Warrington.
Warrington wrote the 2018 book Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol. In her book, she described a pattern that sounds familiar to many. This, of course, include drinking socially, but not craivng or needing to drink daily. Aside from that, this also means drinking no more than others in their circle. Meanwhile, it refers to drinking that doesn’t appear to hurt you or anyone else.
Sober curiosity often begins with some concern about alcohol’s impact on one’s life. It also inolves some questioning of drinking culture and your own patterns of alcohol use. Sober curiousity and alcohol moderation can benefit anyone. Alcohol use occurs on a spectrum from no use to remission. Recovery doesn’t always equal abstinence and not everyone who drinks has a problem.
Although going sober curious isn’t necessarily a permanent change, it still has potential health benefits.
It allows people the opportunity to see how sobriety or moderation might fit into your life. Some people choose to avoid alcohol for two weeks, one month, or one year. Some people, on the other hand, don’t set any time limit but commit to going without for now or indefinitely.
Drinking frequently can result in effects like hangovers, trouble sleeping, difficulty concetrating, frequent illness, and/or feelings of anxiety or depression. It can also cause long-term health effects like liver disease, cancer, and alcohol use disorder. Aside from that, it also contributes to changes in mood and behavior that lead to conflict in their relationships.
Going or trying out being sober curious may help lower blood pressure and risk for alcohol-related diseases. Participating in month-long sobriety challenges also report increased energy, better sleep, and even weight loss. Aside from that, it also can improve their mood and help them communicate more productively.
So, will you be going sober curious? Let us know in the comments section below.
