Your Questions Answered

Six months into running the Sober and Happy podcast, I’ve received many questions from listeners. Some are practical, others deeply personal, but all are familiar challenges on the path to lasting sobriety.

In today’s post, I’m answering some of the most common questions I’ve received, from handling unsupportive loved ones to finding a routine that helps you thrive in recovery. Whether you’re newly sober or a few years into the journey, I hope you find insights here that help you continue growing.

The Most Asked Questions From People In Recovery

1. What Can You Do If Your Loved Ones Don’t Support Your Sobriety? One of the most challenging parts of early sobriety is feeling unsupported by those closest to you. My first advice: communicate openly. Don’t assume people understand your needs. Explain why sobriety matters to you and share how they can support you. For example, you might say, “I can’t control my drinking, and I want to live a life I’m proud of. Your support means the world to me, so please help me by not offering me drinks.”
2. Is Alcoholism a Disease? Questions about alcoholism being a disease or whether we’re “always recovering” often come up in recovery communities. While these debates are common, I choose not to focus on them. Instead, I put my energy into areas I can control: healing my past, making positive changes, setting goals, and growing into the best version of myself. By focusing on what moves you forward, you’ll conserve energy for things that truly impact your recovery journey.
3. How Can I Build a Daily Routine for Success in Sobriety? Routine can be a powerful anchor in recovery. My daily ritual starts with coffee—outside if it’s a nice day in Phoenix. It’s my quiet time to meditate, reflect, and observe my thoughts. I also take daily walks, listen to inspiring podcasts or audiobooks, and end each day by reviewing my progress and setting goals for tomorrow. Having a daily routine helps me stay grounded, and finding a balance between structure and flexibility has been key to my happiness.
4. Should You Wait a Year Before Dating? “Wait a year before dating” is common advice in recovery circles, but blanket rules don’t work for everyone. In my experience, I waited a year and still wasn’t ready, and it took more time and healing to reach a place where I felt prepared for a relationship. If you’re thinking about dating, check in with your motivation. Are you lonely or trying to fill an emotional void? If so, it might be worth waiting until you feel more secure in yourself. Pursue a relationship when you’re ready, not just because a rule says so.
5. Do You Still Crave Alcohol? Thankfully, I no longer crave alcohol, nor do I feel like I’m missing out by not drinking. This change happened gradually. For probably the first 18 months sober, I still occasionally thought about drinking but was able to resist. Over time, those thoughts became less frequent. After leaving AA, I realized one day that I hadn’t even thought about drinking in months. Today, the idea of jeopardizing my life for a drink seems absurd. My advice? Build a life so fulfilling that alcohol becomes irrelevant.
6. Were You Afraid to Leave AA? Leaving AA after five years was one of the scariest decisions I’ve made in my sobriety journey. I was taught that leaving the program could mean relapse, even death. But in my heart, I knew I needed something different. Leaving allowed me to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined, ultimately deepening my recovery. If you’re considering a change, trust yourself and be open to exploring new paths.
7. How Do I Stop Relapsing? Relapse is a tough topic, and I addressed it in detail in episode 10. The short answer? Learn from past relapses. Each relapse provides clues about what went wrong, so take the time to examine it. Identify patterns and avoid the same pitfalls, and you’ll increase your chances of long-term success.

Listen to the Full Q&A on the Podcast

For more in-depth answers and personal stories, listen to this week’s Q&A episode of the Sober and Happy Podcast. I dive deeper into each of these topics, sharing personal experiences and advice that’s helped me and many others along the way. Tune in, and let’s keep moving forward together toward a life that’s both sober and truly happy.