How do you have confidence sober? I have a bit of a drinking problem, but I can't talk to people when I'm sober. I feel like I need alcohol to talk to people, and I want to cut alcohol from my life, at least a little bit, but I can't talk to people sober. I just think things that I should say, and then don't say them

how often are you talking to people IRL? online doesn't count

>>33385408
>how often are you talking to people IRL
I don't know, like most days I guess? I tend to have more of a problem talking to people irl than online

>>33385320 (OP)
Sounds like social anxiety. Practice is probably the only thing that will help, unless you want to try paying for therapy or whatever.

Start slow with lower effort things to slowly get out of your comfort zone, and ramp up. Start with being around people even where you're not especially expected to speak (e.g. go to a cafe and read a book for an hour?). You can later ramp it up to joining some hobby, activity or volunteering group where the focus is the activity itself and not specifically socializing?

Don't forget non-verbal stuff and body language. Even if you're not talking, a casual polite smile or nod when you see a person comes/passes nearby.

>I just think things that I should say, and then don't say them

Think about why you do this? Trace back your thought process and make a plan to change something next time it happens.

And the hardest part is probably taking care of yourself. If you have a drinking problem, the rest of your life is likely not great either. There's no quick and easy solution, get off your ass and put some work into it. You will fail, but don't stay in the fail state for long and try again.

>>33385320 (OP)
>"self medicates"
I won't read drunkard threads. Just don't.

>>33385320 (OP)
Exercise in the morning.
The more intense your workout, the better. You end up getting a runner's high through most of the day which gives you a huge confidence boost.
Not to mention you'll have the post-workout pump throughout the day so you look in a little better shape than you are.