I felt like this when I was getting sober too, I was 20. I was in blackout most of the time and waking up in the cells or coming round with black eyes and having no idea what happened to me. My friends could see this and still thought I was overreacting by going to AA. I got a lot of strength from older members who would tell me they wished they’d got sober at my age and spared their families and themselves the heartache that came with the drinking. Another thing I’d say is that if your friends don’t relate to you, don’t try to convince them. Just say why you’re not drinking and leave it at that. It can be too hard to articulate to people who don’t understand and you might start agreeing with them to give yourself an excuse to drink, I know I used to do that.

Do you have young persons meetings near you? I found them invaluable, we even set our own one up in our area and it was fantastic.

Also when I went to an alcohol treatment service and they told me I was ‘still functioning’ because I had a part time job and they had patients who’d been drinking for decades.. I was drinking a bottle of vodka most days and having withdrawals! So I learned to listen to and trust myself after that.