The Phoenix
Free on-demand activities and community/event entry points.
Friends & a sober social life
What does a social life look like now?
Who do you spend time with when drinking or using is no longer the plan? A Friday night, a first date or a wedding can bring that question up. This topic covers meeting people, planning occasions and choosing what to share.
Your people
Friends, occasions and travel.
These guides cover finding company, deciding what to tell people and preparing for events and travel. Available reading explores connection and things to do in your free time.
Free to read
Guides for this topic.
Choose a question below. Every guide opens without an account.
Friends, dating & belonging
Guide · 4 min read
How can I approach dating and intimacy while changing my substance use?
You may want closeness while feeling unsure how dating fits the changes you are making.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I make friends outside recovery meetings?
You want people to spend time with, but walking into an unfamiliar activity can make the lack of familiar faces feel sharper.
Occasions & travel
Guide · 4 min read
How can I plan for an event where alcohol or other substances may be present?
You want to see the people at an event, but the possibility of drinking or drug use may make accepting feel complicated.
Guide · 4 min read
What can I say when someone asks why I am not drinking?
Someone has asked why you are not drinking, and you may suddenly feel more visible than you wanted to be.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I keep care and support connected while traveling?
You are planning a trip, but being away from familiar care and support may make it hard to look forward to it.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I host a celebration that accommodates different needs?
You want people to feel welcome, but trying to accommodate everyone can turn hosting into worry about money, food and who might feel left out.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I handle holidays or anniversaries when the usual plans no longer fit?
The usual holiday or anniversary plans may no longer fit, and changing them can mean disappointing people or facing a loss again.
From across SoberSphere
Related reading.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I make room for connection when I do not know where to begin?
You want company, but not knowing whom to ask can make even an open evening feel difficult.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I choose something to do with an open afternoon?
You have an open afternoon and may feel pressure to make good use of it before you even know what you want.
Beyond SoberSphere
Public resources for this topic.
These links open the publisher’s website. No SoberSphere account is needed. Each organization sets its own access rules and costs.
Member Benefits — in development