If you've had a summer of rosé all day, you might be looking to hit the reset button for fall. But because alcohol is such an ingrained part of our society, it's totally natural to want a little help. Luckily, there are groups you can join for support during Sober September, no matter if your period of sobriety is just for the month or longer. While most people have heard of Dry January, Sober September is relatively new, but it makes a ton of sense. Summer is a season of long days, endless nights, and lots of socializing. As summer winds down, you may be tired and looking to adopt new habits as you head into fall. For some people, those habits include taking a break from drinking.
Research from the University of Sussex in England noted that abstaining from alcohol for just one month has myriad benefits. "The simple act of taking a month off alcohol helps people drink less in the long term," Psychologist Dr. Richard de Visser said in a news release. "Interestingly, these changes in alcohol consumption have also been seen in the participants who didn’t manage to stay alcohol-free for the whole month — although they are a bit smaller."
As you're starting on your Sober September journey, it's important to be mindful that for many people, sobriety is a lifelong process, and to respect the work that it takes to get there. Still, abstaining from drinking for a month can be an enormously helpful way to reset your relationship with drinking, no matter what your history with substance use is.
If you want to participate in Sober September, but you want a little extra support, these seven groups can help you stay on track.