Managing Sobriety at a Party

Available for Interviews: Dr. Pete Loper

Dr. Pete Loper, MD, MSEd, FAAP, is a triple board-certified physician in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child psychiatry. He is also a professor and executive coach dedicated to mental health and wellness advocacy.

What Dr. Loper could say on
Managing Sobriety:

For many, deciding to consume alcohol is no longer a big one. For those with alcohol use disorder or alcoholism, it can be lifesaving. Regardless of your reasons for sobriety, here are some tips to explain why you are not drinking alcohol at parties. 

  1. Anchor in your “why.” It is vital for sustained sobriety, particularly in social settings, to remain anchored in your “why.” One of the best ways to do so is to review the personal values that informed your decision to abstain from alcohol before attending holiday gatherings. Perhaps you stopped drinking because alcohol use was threatening your values of health, financial security, or close relationships with friends or family. Whatever your reason for no longer drinking, anchoring in your “why” before arriving at the holiday party prepares you mentally and emotionally for tip #2. 
  2. Be direct, honest, and genuine. Anchored in your “why,” being direct, honest, and genuine in expressing the values that informed your decision for sobriety is the most effective way to communicate to others why you are no longer drinking. 
  3. Give yourself permission to leave. If you anchor in your “why” and verbalize in a direct, honest, and genuine manner the values that informed your decision to be sober, and you feel like your sobriety is not received, acknowledged, or appreciated, then these are not your people, and this is not the party for you. It’s completely fine to leave.

 

Interview: Dr. Pete Loper

Dr. Pete Loper began his undergraduate studies in English at Kenyon College before completing his premedical coursework and Bachelor of Arts at the University of South Carolina (U of SC).  He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and his Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.  Following medical school, Dr. Loper completed a residency in pediatrics. He then worked as a pediatrician in a private practice setting while completing a second residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry.  He has also completed the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Psychoanalytic Fellowship Program and the Teleos Leadership Institute’s Coach Development Program.

Dr. Loper has been featured in numerous academic publications and media outlets, and it is through these channels that he can dedicate his time to being an advocate for mental health and wellness.

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