Started playing with the idea of having a drink at

Recovery
#1

Started playing with the idea of having a drink at an event tomorrow and quickly slammed down on the brakes in my head! Redownloading my sober books, rereading my journals where I was desperate to be where I am now, checking through Loosid etc. I’ve always thought the word “insidious” is so fitting for addiction.
I’m a little over 21 months and there’s no way I’m not making it to two years (and beyond). There are lots of reasons, but being able to say “Oh yeah I’m two years sober” is my vapid guilty-pleasure reason :slight_smile:

Any tips are welcome for avoiding a very old track!

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#2

I would avoid going to events that tempt you to drink especially within the first several years. And if you do go, never go by yourself. Go with people that know you do not drink anymore and expect you not to. And yes, touting that multi year sobriety badge is a good feeling and is great motivation to keep it up! You seem to be on the right track. :slight_smile:

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#3

You got this! Every time I contemplate a drink or a joint etc., I play it out all the way to the BITTER END! Monumental Hangover, depression, anxiety, utter despair, shame, hopelessness and loneliness beyond comprehension.
Does the trick every time😁

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#4

Super happy for you Kate! I have really enjoyed being your friend and seeing you progress.

We all get those spooky thoughts from time to time. Way to handle it! :metal:t5::metal:t5::snowboarder:

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#5

Good for you. Can I ask what it was that made you decide this time would be different? I’m frightened to death of social situations. That’s the only time I enjoy drinking. Good for you for having the strength

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#6

It’s a tricky little devil isn’t it?

I would ask yourself, “wait why do I even want that? What do I have to gain from having a drink? Will that really make the experience better? Do I really want to fall down that road again? What did it look like last time?”

Usually the answers for me are, “I don’t know, because it’s what I used to do, probably nothing but a weird feeling of normalcy, probably not unless my goal is to numb, no, self-Sabotage.”

Remembering why you stopped is a really good reminder why you shouldn’t start. Best of luck :two_hearts:

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#7

I think socializing sober is just a skill like anything else, but it’s a muscle most people don’t use often. But I’m LOADS better at it now and I can actually have fun, when I didn’t think I ever would be able to go to events sober. Really, the first hour is awkward for everyone and then you loosen up and have fun. Some people use alcohol, some people (like the sober crew! :metal:t3:) use the social muscles they build.
I decided many times to quit, but one morning I woke up hungover and just hit a crazy point of desperation. I didn’t know why I seemed to forget the agony of drinking every time evening came around… so I grabbed a knife with the intention of carving “STOP” into my hand as a desperate plea to my future self to not drink again. And idk… right before I did it I thought ‘Give yourself one more try. You’re not this level of crazy, you just need HELP.”
So I went full into it. Looked up every way to quit drinking and tried all of it, keeping what helped and discarding what didn’t. Loosid was great! And online meetings. In-person meetings weren’t helpful for me at the time. Podcasts were! Exercising wasn’t at the time. Journaling was. Etc.
Thank you for the question too- I think I needed to remember that :slightly_smiling_face:

#8

I would not recommend you do that because your addiction is going to tell you you’re OK and before you know it you’ll be off and running again I learned one thing if I don’t take the first one, I don’t want the second third and fourth one

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#9

Great comments. For me its first and foremost about health. Not only does it cause high blood pressure it messes up my sleep (bc I can't drink just one). When tempted I just think about how shitty I would feel the next day and how I don't need to give myself HBP.

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#10

Appreciate your support man! :metal:t3: Also I’m definitely incorporating “spooky thoughts” into my sober vocab lol

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#11

Very true. It snowballs unbelievably quickly.

#12

Yes! This was a big motivator for me too, for sure!

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