A monthly roundup from the alcohol-free Substack community
Welcome to Sober Link-Up, our monthly collection of stories, reflections, and resources from the alcohol-free Substack community.
We publish new posts twice a week through the Sober App Substack. We also welcome new and returning contributors. Are you interested in sharing your story?
This month’s roundup explores how life can change in sobriety. Our featured writers reflect on relationships, aging, vulnerability, long-term recovery, and the lessons they wish they had understood sooner.
With summer underway, you will also find practical advice and personal stories about navigating holidays, weddings, concerts, and family days without alcohol.
Now, on to the links.
On the Path of Sobriety
What changes after we stop drinking? These writers explore the unexpected lessons, difficult choices, and new perspectives that can emerge along the way.
- What I Wish I Knew at the Start of My Sobriety
By Louisa Evans, Beyond Sobriety - One Night Stands Went Out the Window With Sobriety
By Maria, The Sober Vagabond - Aging Through the Lens of My Sobriety
By Kristen Bear - Thirty-One Years
By Jeremy Evans
Enjoying an Alcohol-Free Summer
Summer can bring holidays, celebrations, concerts, and social situations where alcohol seems to be everywhere. These stories offer reassurance and practical guidance for enjoying the season while staying alcohol-free.
- Surviving Your First Alcohol-Free Holiday
By Dr. Paul Chadwick - Swinging Into Wedding Season Sober AF
By Elizabeth Jannuzzi - A Guide to Your First Sober Concert
By Suzanne Warye - This Particular Splash Pad, Five Years Apart
By Kristen Crocker
You Are Not Alone
Sobriety does not make life’s challenges disappear. However, honest stories can remind us that we do not have to face those challenges alone.
These writers explore hidden struggles, fading motivation, inner strength, and the unexpected books and ideas that can support recovery.
- For Those Fighting Battles Nobody Else Can See
By Shane Willbanks - How to Stay Motivated When Sobriety Feels Hard
By Ellie Nova - Accessing the Power When Life Is in Session
By Jamey M - The Book That Changed My Life Wasn’t a Recovery Book
By Jessica Dueñas
Share Your Favorite Alcohol-Free Writers
Which alcohol-free Substack writers, newsletters, or recovery resources have helped you recently?
Share your recommendations in the comments so that other readers can discover them. If you are sober and publish your own writing, you are also welcome to include a link to your publication or website.
We celebrate every path to getting and staying alcohol-free.
Dr. Dana Leigh Lyons, DTCM is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine offering heart-sourced guidance on body-mind-spirit wellness. She manages Sober App Substack and writes PERFECT HUNGER, a newsletter devoted to living a more beautiful, nourishing life.