Giving a Big Thanks to Laura of The Sobriety Collective^[1] for contributing this piece. Full bio is at the end of the article. You can read Part 1 of this series here^[2].

So – you say you want a revolution (John, Paul, George, and Ringo would be proud!). Let’s start with some revolutionary thoughts from our panel of amazing women on how they plan on doing their part in the greater sober influencer community.

Jackie^[3]: By constantly calling out the ACTUAL fake news, by naming and shaming the pseudoscience promoters and showing, through my blog and platform that sober is normal. Not the other way around.

Rosemary^[4]: I’m writing articles, doing webinars, blogs and interviews for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

Julie^[5]: It would be amazing to see brands empowering women to make honest changes in their lives rather than just telling them they can be part of the “hip” crew. How about we discuss how yoga helps with things like anxiety and spiritual connection…

Sarah^[6]: We must keep talking!! The more people share, the less we are hidden and the more others might speak up, as well. My partner and I have just launched a website called Sobriety Starts HERE, where we interview people – like you and Erin! – [Editor’s note: hey, that’s us!!) in recovery so that their story can serve as inspiration to others looking to get sober. We also highlight the various pathways to recovery, as there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all.

Kristina^[7]: I write blogs and talk about it in my social media channels (or in real life when possible). But I would like to start a public campaign.

Helaina^[8]: The timing of this is pretty wild, I’ve actually begun to work with a nonprofit that hosts free, super fun events like comedy nights, laser tag, knitting, movies, etc, for young people in recovery to show them that sober life is fun and there is “life” after you stop drinking, so helping them spread that message feels directly counter-active to the epidemic of all boozy everything. #StayOutofMyPaintingClassToo

Erin^[9]: For me, it’s about continuing to surface media and marketing content, including that in the health/wellness space, and having a constructive dialogue around it. I’m acutely aware of how big this problem is, but am encouraged by the responses I receive every day. Women — and men — are saying they too have been bothered by the constant barrage of messages around alcohol. I’m encouraged by feedback I’m hearing from friends who are decision makers in media — editors who have said, “Hey, I’m thinking a little differently about how we tell stories around alcohol.” That makes me overjoyed. You don’t have to be sober to get it. We’re waking up to so many things in this world; I believe that these discussions are just part of the greater whole. Ultimately I want people to be smarter and more thoughtful content creators and consumers — about everything.

Laura Silverman and Erin Shaw Street

Lindsay^[10]: First of all, I am a huge fan of #TellBetterStories [Editor’s note: this is getting pretty meta, isn’t it?]. Honestly, I wish I had thought of it first. What I can hope for is that we see more people stand up for this and use their skills and passion to create change. I’d also like to see people have real conversations about this, not fueled by anger but with the intention of educating. Most people just don’t realize the prevalence of alcohol in their daily lives – whether they have an alcohol use disorder or not. It’s our responsibility to ask them, hey have you ever wondered why this or that OR did you know that you don’t have to drink?

Want to join the #resistance? Start an alcohol-free meetup in your area. Post mocktail recipes. Drink water before/during/after class. Get your beauty rest and relish in those hangover-free mornings. Be a source of strength for yourself, your families, other women, and the world. Keep sharing those stories and don’t be afraid to be #SubversivelySober.

____

See below for a — by no means fully comprehensive — list of a few digital places to stage your revolt.

https://drinkrevolution.global/
http://instagram.com/tellbetterstories2018
http://clubsoda.nyc
http://sherecovers.co
http://ekkarecovery.com
http://clubsoda.co.uk
http://vryeveryday.com
http://sobrietystartsHERE.com
http://recovery2point0.com
http://livsrecoverykitchen.com
http://lauramckowen.com
http://hipsobriety.com
http://dybrkr.com

Om Vibes Only

http://klenandsobr.com
http://www.thesobrietycollective.com

THANK YOU to our guest writer Laura Silverman!

Laura Silverman is the founder of The Sobriety Collective^[1], a resource and blog created to celebrate the intersection between creativity and recovery. In 2007, Laura went from insecure, anxious binge drinker to newly-minted sober 24 year old. This step catapulted her into a journey of long-term recovery. She believes in the raw power of storytelling, mental health awareness, and love.

Laura is the hostess of a dormant mental wellnesshttps://oceanhillsrecovery.com/creativity podcast, Bad Story Pod^[11], on the Since Right Now Podcast Network. She was a member of the inaugural She Recovers in NYC sober blogger event team in May 2017, where she shared space with Glennon Doyle, Marianne Williamson, Gabby Bernstein, and Elizabeth Vargas. To pay her bills, Laura is the Director of Community Relations at Potomac Pathways, a substance use disorder treatment program for teens and young adults in the Washington DC metro area – and she freelance writes and web designs. Somehow she still makes time for yoga, family, friends, and self-care.

Sources:

[1] http://www.thesobrietycollective.com/

[2] /take-the-bar-out-of-the-barre-booze-womens-fitness/

[3] http://www.jackieelliottwrites.com

[4] http://www.sobermomsguide.com

[5] http://www.soberjulie.com

[6] http://www.sobrietystartshere.com

[7] http://www.iogt.org

[8] http://www.helainahovitz.com

[9] http://www.erinshawstreet.com

[10] https://tdhvoice.com/

[11] http://www.thesobrietycollective.com/badstory-listen/

About the author:

ocean hills

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does drug and alcohol rehab last?

The length of your stay at drug and alcohol rehab will vary for each person attending rehab and from treatment center to treatment center. Most inpatient programs are at least 30 days long; however, some programs may incorporate a shorter inpatient stay with a more extended outpatient stay. The best rehab centers will provide a more custom treatment plan for each person that takes into account the individual’s needs before determining the length of treatment. Ocean Hills Recovery offers a variety of options for addiction treatment. A typical stay at our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs last between 30 to 45 days.

Do I need inpatient or outpatient treatment?

Outpatient is an excellent option for people who are unable to take time away from work or their families while receiving addiction treatment. Inpatient treatment is an excellent option for people who can be away from their work or families for at least several weeks for treatment. We recommend that you contact a reliable treatment center, like Ocean Hills Recovery, for a complete assessment before you decide whether inpatient or outpatient treatment for addiction is best for you.

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The answer to whether you should go away or stay local for addiction treatment is very individual. Many people need to get away from their everyday life for them to fully submerge themselves in their addiction recovery process. For these individuals, going to an out of state treatment center is the best option to be able to commit fully and concentrate on their recovery. For others, this is not an option because of work or family obligations.

What do I do if I don’t have insurance for drug rehab?

There are options for drug rehab, even if you don’t have insurance. When you decide to get help, the best thing to do is to find a treatment philosophy that you believe may help and contact them for assistance. Rehab professionals can help you determine if you have insurance coverage for addiction treatment, and what options are best for you. Many drug rehabs accept insurance but also have private pay, or financing options available. Contact our rehab admissions specialist today, and we can help you navigate insurance questions, payment options, and treatment plans.

How to find a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website is a great place to start when you are looking for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. We recommend that you make a list of a few different centers to contact and speak with them to get a feel for their programs, therapies, and staff and find the center that you feel most comfortable with. Have a list of questions that you can ask each center to help you through the process. One of the most important questions to ask is if the rehab holds accreditation by CARF. Having a state license is no longer enough to ensure that a rehab center is reputable. If the rehab holds CARF accreditation, they have had to meet a more strict set of guidelines and procedures.

Do I need detox before addiction treatment?

Many people require detox to help manage withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. There are several factors that we take into consideration to determine if you will need detox before addiction treatment. Our admissions professionals work with each person to obtain a thorough history of substance use and other medical conditions to help make the appropriate recommendations for care. You must give accurate information so that we can keep you as comfortable as possible if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, detox is only the first step in addiction recovery. For long-lasting addiction recovery, a person must deal with the underlying issues that lead to substance use in the first place. Contact us today for a confidential assessment.

Part 2 Of The Boozification of Women’s Fitness: How To Fight Back