Contrary to what you might have heard before, curiosity didn’t kill the cat. In fact, it was Albert Einstein who said that the most important thing in life is not to stop questioning. He was onto something with this: It’s actually a good thing to be curious. A healthy level of curiosity in life is what leads to some of the greatest discoveries. Questioning our actions, our choices, our goals, our beliefs — within reason, these are all things that can help make us better people who make better decisions and live better lives. This is the central guiding principle at the heart of being sober curious.
But what exactly does it mean to be sober curious? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Where did the idea come from, and who is it for? How can one begin to take steps toward sober curiosity? These are all excellent questions, and they’ll be answered in due time. Read on to learn more about how Transformations Treatment Center can help you attain sober curiosity.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “Do I drink too much?” How about, “What would my life be like if I didn’t drink?” Or, “Why do I always have to have a drink at every meal or get-together?” These are the very questions at the heart of the definition of sober curiosity.
Originally conceived by author Ruby Warrington in her book Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol, the titular sober curiosity is defined by the choice to question — or at the very least, be curious about — every urge, invite, and decision to have an alcoholic drink. This mindset is used in opposition to simply going along with the culture of drinking. Instead of just taking the alcoholic beverage handed to you or offered to you without thinking about it, sober curiosity encourages you to stop, think, and question first.
The thing that sets sober curiosity apart from full-fledged sobriety is that, at the end of the day, you can still feel free to take the drink being handed or offered to you. You don’t have to give up drinking in order to be sober curious. You merely have to exercise a healthy bit of questioning beforehand.
Warrington’s book was first published several years ago in 2018. However, the guiding light behind the idea of sober curiosity has been around for a long time. Think of things like Dry January or Sober October, or No Alcohol November. for example. These are, in essence, exercises in sober curiosity.
Here’s the long and the short of it: sober curiosity never requires the individual to give up drinking or even refuse to have a drink. Sober curiosity only asks the individual to recognize that they have the right to choose, to question, and to change their habits for the sake of their physical and mental health. Read more about finding treatment for a mental health crisis here.
Ruby Warrington identifies a target group for sober curiosity in her book on the subject:
According to Warrington, these are the kinds of people who are perfect for trying sober curiosity: The ones who don’t have a problem with drinking or a dependency on drinking but, somewhere deep in the back of their minds, might worry that their drinking habits could one day lead to something far more serious and addictive.
On the flip side, sober curiosity might not be for those with a more severe dependency on alcohol. Merely being sober curious probably wouldn’t work for individuals who have a serious dependency or craving for alcohol. The same goes for those who experience withdrawal symptoms, partake in dangerous activities, or are actively dealing with a physical or mental illness — especially one linked to the consumption of alcohol.
For the millions of adults in the United States who have been diagnosed with alcoholism, sober curiosity isn’t enough. For those with a dependence on alcohol, sobriety is typically the lone option. Read more about alcohol withdrawal symptoms here.
If you’re interested in trying sober curiosity, here are some steps you can take.
One of the best ways to exercise your sober curiosity is to try going without a drink for a certain period of time. Experts are somewhat divided on exactly how you should go about this — some say a week, two weeks, or a month, while others say it’s reductive to set an exact amount of time — but the key is to go at least a little bit without it. Maybe that’s just one night. Maybe it’s just one drink. Maybe it’s a whole week. Whatever you choose, it’s not a permanent thing, only temporary (whatever temporary looks like for you).
There’s a real strength in numbers, and being around other sober-curious people really emphasizes this. Surrounding yourself with others who are just as willing to interrogate their drinking habits is a worthwhile thing because you can all hold each other accountable should any one of you decide to forgo drinking for the night (or even pursue full-on sobriety).
Sometimes, the best way to try sober curiosity is to pursue some activities that don’t involve drinking of any sort. Whether it be going to the gym, picking up a hobby, or some other activity that removes drinking from the equation, you can exercise sober curiosity without ever having to refuse a drink in the first place. After all, there’s nothing to refuse if there’s nothing to offer.
So, what does it mean to be sober curious? At the end of the day, a sober-curious person can continue to drink the same amount they’ve always drunk without ever changing a thing about their habits. The key isn’t the alcohol itself, but rather the way a person thinks about alcohol and the impact it has on their life. This notion is at the very heart of sober curiosity. Instead of mindlessly going with the flow, question the flow and how it makes you feel. Question — or, at the very least, be curious about — each and every urge, invite, and decision to have an alcoholic drink. In the end, you might feel the need to make a change.
If you’re interested in changing your drinking habits but aren’t sure where to begin, contact Transformation Treatment Center. You are not alone in what you’re going through, and our experts are here to help you through each and every step along your personal journey, whether you’re moving toward sober curiosity or full-fledged sobriety.
