Sober October Link-Up – Week 2

Whether you’re sober curious, newly sober, or years alcohol-free, these stories and tools are here for you.

Welcome! Each week this Sober October, we’re sharing a link-up featuring supportive reads and resources from the alcohol-free Substack community.

Find the first link-up here, scroll down for this week’s edition, and check back next week for a new one.

We’d love to hear from you too! Share your favorite alcohol-free writers and resources in the comments, and if you’re sober, feel free to include a link to your own publication or website. We celebrate and welcome all paths to getting and staying alcohol free!

---

New or curious?

• Managing Expectations during Sober October, Colin Casey & Rachel Casey

• When sameness is scarier than change, Maria Luz O'Rourke

• 5 Signs You Might Be a Gray Drinker, Jolene Park

• so you wanna get sober, Paulina Pinsky

• Newly Sober? Good. Now Let’s Cut the Bullshit, Adam PT

• Emergency Resource for Alcohol Cravings When Quitting Drinking, Josh Woll

• Do I Drink Too Much? Dr. Paul Chadwick

Sober stories & takeaways

• When change beckons, something has to give. Enter sobriety, Amy Brown

• How Exactly Did I Get Sober? T.B.D.

• The day everything changed, Ellie Nova

• 8 Things That Have Held True In 8 Years Of Sobriety, Samantha Perkins

• Yes, It’s Been Hard. But worth every damn minute, Rob Walling

• 5 Takeaways From 5 Years of Sobriety, Amanda Younts

• Five Years Alcohol-Free: 5 Powerful Lessons I’ve Learned! Mindful Sobriety

• Interview with a 56-Year-Old Sober Person: Elizabeth Gilbert, The Small Bow & Oldster Magazine

Sober feelings

• mirth on earth! why postpone joy? C.P. Alemdar

• Dopamine in Sobriety, Sydney Allen

• The Relief of Grief, Allison Deraney

• The Hardest Thing I Found In Sobriety Was Boredom, Louisa Evans - Beyond Sobriety

• After The High: finding bliss in the mundane, Lindsey Goodrow

• Perspective, Peace, & Not Waiting To Be Happy All The Time, Josh Luton

• Recovery, Rage, and the Power of Voice, Kelly Thompson TNWWY

Sober dating & relating

• The Bumble profile that scored me my husband, Kristen Crocker

• From Hermit to Human Again: How Sobriety Changed My Social Life, Louisa Evans - Beyond Sobriety

• How do I stay sober on vacation with my wine-loving friends? Katie MacBride

• Too Drunk to F*ck, Snake Dog Journal

Sobriety & wellness

• The Lies That Kept Me Drinking, Rachel Casey

• Quit Lit Series: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace, Julie Fontes & Ellie Nova

• What if You Didn’t, Dr. Amber Hull

• U.S. Surgeon General Reports (today): Alcohol Causes Cancer, Cecily Mak

• The Science Behind Alcohol-Induced Anxiety, Gillian May

• Alcohol is the problem, not you, Ellie Nova

5 more alcohol-free voices

• Tim Lineaweaver, Wreckage to Recovery

• Jamey M, Ask Anonymous

• Jamie Magnant, Painting Nature's Poetry

• Christopher Robin, Christopher Robin's Nebulous

• Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Learning to Use My Words

---

What sober voices are you enjoying this October? We’d love for you to share—or just say hello—in the comments!

And before you go, would you take a second to tap that little heart? It lets others know there’s something helpful here and grows our sober community.

We know that sharing about recovery and sobriety can feel vulnerable. Like in recovery groups, we ask that commenters in this space refrain from giving unsolicited advice or spreading hate and division. Thank you for helping us foster a kind and inclusive community!

---

Dana Leigh Lyons is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine sharing heart-sourced, no-bullsh*t insights on addiction, sobriety, and holistic wellness. She manages Sober App Substack alongside writing her own newsletter: PERFECT HUNGER™, feeding your hunger for a more beautiful, more nourishing life.

---

If you’re sober and interested in contributing to Sober.com, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to our newsletter manager and editor here for submission guidelines.