The recovery community is divided. Old school recovery vs New school recovery / Sober Curious? Huge amounts of Hate. Rightfully so. Here we go. There is a war brewing in the world of recovery. On one side, you have old school recovery. Twelve step programs, lifelong abstinence, one day at a time philosophy. 12-step advocates, meeting-goers and the analog recovery community. On the other side you have new school recovery and the sober curious community. Asking questions, challenging the norms, attempting to redefine what recovery means. Holy monoculture on the battlefield brothers and sisters, we’re going to need a bigger tent. If you’ve spent anytime talking to people in recovery you know this fight can get bloody. Traditional twelve step recovery is not a fad, it is not going anywhere, and it has helped millions of people. I am forever grateful for what 12-step programs gave me. I love my meetings and my fellowship. But twelve step recovery can be black and white, non-critical and rigid. Either you follow the program, identify as an alcoholic/addict and abstain for life, or you don’t. Sober curious is curious about why you drink. It asks you to question your motivations and beliefs surrounding alcohol. It invites you to wake up one day and just…look at alcohol critically. Maybe even skeptically. It asks you to dig deep into your conditioning, trauma, and mental health to begin to ask yourself, who am I drinking for? What the fuck am I doing? Clinical goldmine. Sober curious people are actively rejecting the idea that wellness, mental health, and freedom from substances can only be achieved by abstinence, by working the steps, by labeling yourself. This scares the shit out of old-recovery. How can we “fixed” addicts be anything other than drunk? How can we meet people where they’re at if we can’t force them into our box? I have gotten hate from both sides. Told I wasn’t “sober enough” by old school recovery. Told I wasn’t “trying” or “doing it right” by sober curious people. If we can come together for ONE UNIVERSAL idea, it’s that progress is progress no matter how you slice it.

Is anyone getting value from this group?

Over the past decade, a quiet but powerful cultural shift has been taking place. More people are questioning the role alcohol plays in their lives—not because they identify as having a drinking problem, but because they’re curious about what life might look and feel like without it. This growing lifestyle movement is known as Sober Curious. Unlike traditional sobriety, which is often rooted in recovery, the sober curious mindset is rooted in exploration. It asks a simple but profound question: “What would change if I drank less—or not at all?” What Does “Sober Curious” Actually Mean? Being sober curious isn’t about rigid rules or lifelong abstinence. It’s about awareness and intentionality. At its core, sober curious living means: - Questioning why you drink - Observing how alcohol affects your body and mind - Choosing when (or if) alcohol serves your life - Removing autopilot drinking habits It shifts the narrative from restriction to empowerment. Instead of “I can’t drink,” the mindset becomes:“I don’t have to drink.” Why the Movement Is Growing Several cultural and wellness trends have fueled the rise of sober curiosity: 1. Health Optimization Modern wellness culture prioritizes sleep, mental clarity, gut health, and longevity. Alcohol directly impacts all four. People report improvements in: - Deep sleep cycles - Energy levels - Skin clarity - Hormonal balance - Weight management Even moderate drinking can disrupt REM sleep and increase inflammation—two key drivers of aging and fatigue. 2. Mental Health Awareness Alcohol is a depressant, yet it’s often used to manage stress and anxiety. The sober curious movement encourages people to examine: - Does alcohol reduce anxiety—or amplify it later? - Does it help connection—or numb emotion? - Is it relief—or avoidance? Many discover that removing alcohol improves emotional regulation, resilience, and mood stability. 3. Productivity & Performance Entrepreneurs, creatives, and high performers are increasingly alcohol-conscious.

Hey Gang! Let's Welcome Bethany to the group ! Has anyone taken the 30 day challenge?

I’m up in Pai, Thailand, literally the northernmost tip of the country—quiet, green, slow in the best way. Totally by chance, I came across a small yoga retreat that was offering sound bath healing. No expectations. Just showed up. About halfway through, my whole body dropped. Shoulders unclenched. Breath slowed. Mind finally stopped running laps. It felt like my nervous system got the memo that it was safe to relax. I walked out feeling rejuvenated, grounded, and genuinely calm—that deep, clean kind of calm I used to chase in all the wrong ways. What really hit me was this:Sound healing gave me a state I used to think only substances could provide—without the crash, guilt, or consequences. Just presence. If you ever get the opportunity to do this work—do it. You don’t have to be a yogi. You don’t have to “believe” in anything. Just lie there and let the sound do its thing. Recovery keeps showing me new doors. This one felt important. Curious—has anyone here tried sound baths or sound healing before?What was your experience like? Grateful to be on this path with all of you 🙏