sober support for everyone
What if you can predict that you’re about to relapse? Can you imagine being able to avoid it before it happens?
There are many red flags that indicate that a relapse may be coming your way. I like to call this the “Pre-lapse Stage”. Triggers and events that lead up to your relapse.
Here I’m going to talk about the common triggers and stages that lead to a relapse.
Continue reading “Relapse Warning Signs”
If you have to ask yourself “Am I drinking too much” then the answer is probably yes.
I imagine you already feel that your drinking is getting to an unhealthy level and starting to negatively impact parts of your life. If you weren’t concerned about it, would you even be asking yourself this question?
This does not mean you’re an alcoholic or even alcohol dependant. Although it does mean you need to take a look at your drinking, because it’s not making you feel great, right?
Now, what’s too much for one person is not necessarily too much for another. It all comes down to the way your drinking makes you feel.
Continue reading “Am I Drinking Too Much?”
Simply put the Fading Affect Bias, or FAB as phycologist call it, refers to the way your brain will forget or fade memories associated with unpleasant emotions faster than memories associated with pleasant emotions.
Your brain’s ability to dampen a negative memory over time is a great coping mechanism but it can be a problem for the newly sober. What happens if you need to remember the bad drinking days to avoid relapsing?
Continue reading “Fading Affect Bias”
H.A.L.T – Are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired? If the answer is yes to one or more of these, then your basic needs are being met and you may tend to react emotionally or impulsively to a situation.
HALT is an acronym you can use to help you stop and check in with yourself before you react to a situation or give in to a craving.
Continue reading “H.A.L.T for your Mental Health”
So many people crave sugar when they quit drinking alcohol. Why is this? And, what can we do so one addiction does not turn into another?
When you decide to stop drinking you may get sugar cravings, possibly for the first time.
Continue reading “Sugar Cravings in Sobriety”
Dry January is the UK’s one month alcohol-free challenge. After all the excess of Christmas and New Year you may be ready to give up the booze for January also so here are my Dry January tips.
In the past, I have attempted Dry January many times but only managed to stay the course for about two weeks before I would make up an excuse to drink.
Heard of any of these?
“I’ve got a party to go to next week”
“2 weeks is enough time to detox”
“I’ll have a drink tonight and tag an extra day on at the end of the month”
These are all just excuses.
Continue reading “Dry January Tips”
I have created a 12 day Christmas Countdown filled with yummy recipes, sober inspiration and self care suggestions to keep your sobriety on track this festive season.
You can see my Christmas Countdown on Instagram @sober_thinking but I wanted to share them all here too.
I may have called this article the Christmas Survival Kit, since we are only 3 weeks away from Christmas. However, the knowledge, strategies and advice I give here will help you conquer any celebration, holiday or family gathering.
Continue reading “Christmas Survival Kit”
Alcohol Awareness Week 2020 will take place from 16 – 22 November 2020 on the theme of Alcohol and Mental Health. It is a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change and more.
Alcohol is the most widely available drug in the UK and it is used by many as a coping mechanism to manage their stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
You may relate to this. A lot of people self-medicate with alcohol to get through life’s difficult situations.
Continue reading “Alcohol Awareness Week 2020”
One of the fears holding people back from given up alcohol is the belief that they can’t sleep without alcohol. They believe their nightly drink is needed to help them fall asleep.
When they do try to quit alcohol and struggle to get to sleep their belief is confirmed. They are even more convinced they need that drink to get to sleep and subsequently start drinking again.
However, this is a myth. Alcohol does not help you sleep and I am going to explain why.
Continue reading “Can’t Sleep Without Alcohol”