Last night my best friend dragged me out of my cave. By 7:30 pm I was eating grilled bruschetta (so delicious!) and laughing with a group of new friends at a sushi restaurant on the Hollywood hills. A standup comedy show then took place featuring five hilarious comics. Everything was great and I was in heaven! Except NOT. When I looked around and saw that everyone was drinking except me. I felt like an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Or better yet, a piece of floating soda can in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I had to dash out of there while apologizing to my friends. Honestly, I'm going on 3 and a half years and this is the most triggered I've ever felt. Does this happen to anyone else???
4 Likes
I have found myself in similar situations. I think it makes me angry that other people are drinking and I can’t. Then I start beating myself up for feeling angry. It’s just a lot of frustration, for me anyway. I don’t know if any of that helps; but you’re not alone. And I’m proud of you for removing yourself from the situation. I know that’s far from easy.
4 Likes
Yep. And you did the right thing by making an escape. I live in Milwaukee… ain’t anything that happens here that doesn’t involve drinking. I have had to remove myself several times from triggering events. It happens. Big win for you here is you did go out. You did have fun. And you did the right thing by leaving when you needed to! Great job.
3 Likes
At some point we are going to have to just learn to cope with daily life and not respond to "triggers". You either insulate yourself from those triggers if possible, by not hanging out in alcohol establishments, or we have to come to terms with other fact that most people drink at every occasion, and just make the decision to not be like everyone else. Be authentic. Stop feeling left out if we aren't doing whatever dumb sht other people are doing. Most peoe drink because they are so bored/boring that they think it makes them/things more interesting. We don't have to play along, and we don't have to feel bad for not playing along.
3 Likes
I find a mocktail helps me keep from feeling like I stick out too much, but I've dealt with feeling isolated by sobriety for a while. Seems like no one has fun sober no days
2 Likes
If it triggers you then you did the right thing. Not about appearances. About you doing what has to be done to not use again. You did good. After 2+ years I still refuse to put my self around others using. They can, I can’t. Feel proud you looked after yourself. No one ever said sobriety would be easy. Yet, you are still living this new life soberly. All that matters.
3 Likes
Triggers are very real. Good job an advocating for yourself and doing exactly what you needed to do to protect your sobriety. A lot of people reach that point and unfortunately don’t walk away. Be proud of yourself. Triggers no matter how light or hard can hit at anytime.
3 Likes
I learned triggers are like excuses.if you don’t have any not going to happen .
1 Like