sober support for everyone
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.
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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.
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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.
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It’s not uncommon to feel lonely during early sobriety or even years into sobriety. It was certainly the case with me. Loneliness is a negative emotion and can feel very isolating at times but remember there is a difference between being alone and loneliness.
I feel there are two main situations that can cause me to feel lonely.
I believe both these scenarios can cause loneliness in sobriety as there is a lack of connection.
In early sobriety it is not uncommon to feel lonely. Think about it, you lose some drinking buddies, you don’t go to parties that may jeopardise your fragile early sobriety. You may have lost friends due to your previous drinking antics. You may not have anyone to confide in who understands your decision to quit drinking or you may be hold up at home getting your bearings, trying to figure out this whole sobriety thing. Whatever your reason for feeling lonely, I think this article can help.
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Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, we are spending more time stuck at home than ever before and I want to share with you my top tips for staying sober while stuck at home.
A lot of us view exercise, recovery meetings and visiting places with friends and family as an important part of our mental health and sobriety. So being asked to stay at home and avoid public places and gatherings is a big disruption to our everyday lives and therefore a disruption to our sobriety and overall wellbeing.
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Today is International Self-Care Day. It’s a great reminder to take some time out of your busy life just for you.
Before you start saying, “I don’t have time” or “I cannot possible justify taking time out for just me.” I need to remind you of all the times you sat wasted in front of the TV drunk or laid up in bed with an awful hangover.
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So you’re sober. Now how do you stay sober? I’ve got loads of practical advice and tips to add to your sobriety toolbox which, will help you deal with the craziness of life, without reaching for the bottle.
Continue reading “How to Stay Sober – My Toolbox Tips”
There is never going to be the perfect time to stop drinking. You will always make up excuses like, there’s too many nights out in the calendar, there’s a wedding at the end of the month, my holiday is already booked or what about that work thing?… the list goes on.
I lost count of the amount of times I said this was my last drink; that I would quit tomorrow or Monday morning. Until tomorrow or Monday came and I had a hundred reasons why giving up that day was a bad idea. I kept pushing the date further and further away.
If you are reading this, then there is a really good chance you are not happy with the amount you drink and you’re wondering how to stop drinking.
Continue reading “How to Stop Drinking”
One of the things I found difficult when I decided to stop drinking was what to tell people. I didn’t want to sound like I had a ‘problem’. I needed something that would be concise, something that would not encourage questions, yet it still had to require an element of truth for me. Telling people you don’t drink alcohol can have some surprising responses.
Being sober is hard in the beginning and having a plan of what to tell people is actually helpful. Even if it’s none of their damn business. My greatest fear was stumbling over my words, getting embarrassed and ending up sounding like I had a huge problem!