Breaking Free from Alcohol: Chris Marshall’s Transformation
Chris Marshall’s story begins with a teenage misstep. At 16, during his second encounter with alcohol, he crashed his mother’s car, earned a DUI, and spent a night in jail. Yet, this didn’t jolt him into sobriety. Instead, he found alcohol smoothed his social interactions and bolstered his sense of belonging. When he enrolled at the University of Texas at San Antonio, joining a fraternity only intensified his drinking habits.
Over time, however, Marshall’s excessive drinking began to alarm even his fraternity brothers. “Even in that booze-heavy environment, my drinking stood out—harder and driven by different motives than my peers,” recalls Marshall, who hails from Houston. By age 23, he faced a stark truth: he couldn’t quit or even cut back alone. Fortunately, still covered by his mother’s insurance, he accessed alcohol rehab. A psychiatrist uncovered the root of his heavy drinking: it masked deeper struggles with anxiety and depression.
“That was the first time someone told me, ‘You’re self-medicating with alcohol,’” Marshall says. The realization clicked everything into place. His doctor prescribed medications for anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. Over the next two years, he not only achieved sobriety but also weaned off the prescriptions. Looking back, Marshall sees how he once leaned on alcohol as a crutch to connect with others and craft an identity. “Alcohol is a form of social currency,” he reflects.
The Key to Sobriety: Support and New Habits
James Murphy, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Memphis specializing in addictive behaviors, emphasizes that seeking help, as Marshall did, is pivotal to overcoming alcohol misuse. “Recovery thrives with robust support—from professional counselors, friends, support groups, and family,” Murphy explains. He adds that therapies, appropriate medications, and fresh pursuits can ignite “passion, curiosity, and joy,” cementing a sober lifestyle.
Marshall’s path bears this out. After getting sober, he trained as a licensed substance abuse counselor, serving in a detox facility for 18 months. Later, he noticed a recurring issue among clients: a lack of alcohol-free social spaces. In 2017, he launched Sans Bar in Austin, Texas—a venue serving only non-alcoholic drinks. It became a haven not just for him but for others seeking a safe, social alternative.
Shattering Stereotypes: Sobriety Isn’t Dull
Tawny Lara once embodied the “party-girl bartender” archetype, dabbling in alcohol and drugs from her mid-teens. Now a New York City-based writer and speaker, she wrestled with sobriety repeatedly before tiring of the “mental gymnastics” to rationalize her habits. “Every night followed the same script: binge drinking, emotional breakdowns, 2 a.m. fast food, and morning hangovers,” she recounts. Sobriety flipped that narrative. “Now, my life brims with self-awareness and potential—I have time and money to chase my dreams.”
Sobriety also empowered Lara to embrace her bisexuality fully. She now speaks on sober intimacy and authored a book on the topic. Initially, she felt awkward not drinking, as if a neon sign blared her choice to the world. But she soon learned, “Most people don’t notice or care what you’re sipping.” Those who pried into her abstinence often revealed their own unease with alcohol. “I used to think sobriety was boring,” she says, “but now I see the party-girl life was the monotonous one.”
Mapping Out Sober Socializing
Navigating social settings post-alcohol requires forethought. Murphy advises, “Attend events with a clear goal. If it’s moderate drinking, plan your drinks’ type, amount, and pacing precisely. For abstinence, remind yourself why you chose this.” He suggests rehearsing drink refusals—opting for non-alcoholic options—and preparing for cravings with tools like breathing techniques. Aligning with supportive allies and knowing you can step away or leave early are also vital.
Lara echoes this. “Never jeopardize your mental health for an event,” she asserts. “If a date or boozy party spikes your anxiety, it’s fine to skip or exit early. Those who matter will get it.” She now relishes sober moments at concerts and weddings, cherishing the clarity to “recall conversations and experiences vividly.”
Healing Through Helping Others
Raised in a religious, teetotaling Black family, Marshall faced cultural stigma around medication and mental illness. Overcoming that added layers to his recovery. “Early sobriety can feel rough—more anxiety, less joy—but you’re choosing a path that gradually lifts your well-being,” he says. After sobering up, he became a “wounded healer,” aiding others as a counselor. Sans Bar’s success—hosting corporate happy hours and popping up nationwide—reflects his mission to foster alcohol-free connection.
The Journey and Meaning of Sobriety
Sobriety is both a process and a goal. Marshall’s mantra is, “As long as you’re striving to improve bit by bit, you can’t fail.” Lara agrees, viewing sober life as rich with possibility, far surpassing her drinking days. “Sobriety is about self-care, not people-pleasing,” she says.
With professional guidance, self-discovery, and smart social tactics, sobriety becomes attainable. Marshall and Lara’s stories prove it’s not just possible—it’s a gateway to a truer, fuller existence.
