8 Struggles Every 20-Something in Recovery Knows About

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

Being in your 20’s in recovery can be quite a challenge and some tough years to begin your sobriety in. I’ve thought of 8 struggles every 20-something in recovery knows about.

8 Struggles Every 20-Something in Recovery Knows About…

1. Being at a point where you don’t want to go out and party anymore, but all of your friends still do (or vice versa)

This can work one of two ways – either you’re sick of the party scene and your friends aren’t or you want to keep going out and your friends don’t. Either way, it sucks when you and your friends are on a different page in life. In our 20’s, we end up all growing up and changing in different ways at different times.

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

2. Being considered an adult, but still not really being an adult

This one is confusing to me. When you are in your 20’s you are legally and adult, and expected to act like an adult and take care of yourself – but you’re still not technically an adult. You are still able to go out and make dumb decisions, stay up all night, date the wrong people, etc. You’re an adult – but also not an adult at the same time.

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

3. Being legal to drink alcohol, but now you can’t and don’t want to

You’re finally legally able to drink alcohol; even though now you can’t and you don’t want to. This is something I didn’t have to experience because I got sober at 22-years-old, but it was explained to me in a way that made sense – if you’ve been drinking and doing drugs this entire time anyway, what’s the difference? You had your fun, and when we drink or drug bad things happen and no one wants that.

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

4. Finding late night activities that don’t revolve around alcohol

This one has always been a challenge for me. Finding late night activities (I’m a night owl) that aren’t surrounded by alcohol. There are so many different things you can do though like go to the movies, bowling, an amusement park, dancing and etc. Even if alcohol is around, once you’ve reached a point in your sobriety, it won’t matter anymore. Being sober today I can go where I want and not feel scared to drink or get high.

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

5. Making some friends who are sober and your age

Believe it or not, this is hard for some people. Making friends who are sober and your age can be tricky. Luckily, in South Florida there are so many young sober people. In other places they aren’t so lucky, so take advantage of your opportunity and make friends!

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

6. Learning to be a grown-up, pay your bills and take care of yourself

Part of being a functioning member of society today means paying your bills and taking care of yourself. Now that you’re on your own and sober, life still shows up. You have to pay your bills and be conscious to take care of yourself.

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

7. Trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life

I still am not 100% sure what I want to do with my life, so this one is definitely the hardest for me. Being in your 20’s and a recovering addict or alcoholic, you want to find out what you’re going to do with your life now. Explore and see what’s out there and what you enjoy!

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

8. Juggling your recovery, going back to school and a job

I don’t know how some young people do this but I commend them for working so hard to achieve so much. Working a program of recovery, being in school and having a job is a lot to handle all at once. If you always put your program first, everything else will fall into place!

Photo Credit: www.wifflegif.com

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll free 1-800-951-6135.