wellbeing Archives - Sober Thinking

12th June 20236th July 2023

Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where an individual doubts their own abilities, talents, or accomplishments. They will have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud or “imposter.”

Despite external evidence of their competence, such as positive feedback or achievements gained, individuals with imposter syndrome may feel like they are undeserving of their success. They will put their success down to luck or other external factors rather than their own skills and hard work.

4th May 20234th May 2023

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive Dissonance is a term used to describe the mental discomfort that you feel when you hold two conflicting beliefs or find your actions contradict your beliefs.

For example: Someone can acknowledge that their alcohol drinking has caused problems in their life. Such as missed work or strained relationships with loved ones. However, they continue to justify their drinking behaviour by telling themselves that they need alcohol to cope with stress or anxiety.

18th April 202318th April 2023

What Does Sobriety Mean?

Sobriety generally refers to the state of being sober which is abstaining from drinking alcohol. It is often associated with addiction recovery and can be seen as the opposite of addiction. Sobriety can be a personal goal for individuals who struggle with addiction and can be achieved through various methods such as therapy, support groups, and rehabilitation programs.

5th October 202122nd February 2023

Am I Drinking Too Much?

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.

24th July 202028th June 2022

International Self-Care Day

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.

12th June 20206th August 2020

Giving Myself Permission – Day 1533

One thing I know I need to work on is giving myself permission to do less or even nothing.

Yesterday, I was busy doing a few jobs around the house and home schooling the children. Oh, and I went for a jog. By 4.30pm I didn’t fancy doing anything else but it also felt wrong to just chill out and do nothing.

26th May 20201st October 2020

Kids of Today – Day 1516

Today it’s sunny and the kids are on their half term break from (home) school. Not that they want to go out and enjoy the weather. They are quite content on their computers, playing video games and socialising with their friends online.

I have to resist the urge to kick them outside. Something my parents would have insisted I did, on a day like this. I can almost hear my mother yelling “get outside and call on your friends.” However, with social distancing in place it is impossible for my kids to go out and meet up with friends; most friends don’t live that close anyway.

13th April 20209th May 2020

Easter Weekend in Lockdown – Day 1473

Over this Lockdown Easter Weekend it has felt hard not seeing my parents and my sisters and their families.

Normally, I would have planned a visit to my sisters over the Easter Holidays to catch up and swap Easter Eggs with the children. My parents would have been invited to our house on Easter Sunday for lunch. There would have been drives out for family walks or even a weekend away somewhere.

However, during lockdown none of this can happen. I don’t want to dwell on what I cannot do though. That is too easy and does not actually help me. When I find things which are out of my control, I try to focus on what is in my control.

31st March 202012th May 2020

The Serenity Prayer – Day 1459

In my first year of Sobriety I went to AA for a couple of months. This is where I came across the Serenity Prayer for the first time.

These simple words resonated with me immediately upon hearing them. Their meaning hit me somewhere deep inside and I have never forgotten them since.

When I find myself facing a difficult situation and getting overwhelmed, I quietly say these words to myself.

25th March 20202nd April 2020

Adapting to Change – Day 1454

Due to the school closures here in the UK, I am on Day 3 of home schooling the kids. So far, it’s going okay. (though it is only Day 3). Modern technology means their schools have set homework online and they have a great choice of subjects to choose from. I’m so pleased I didn’t have to come up with their school work myself, Phew!

The tricky part for me is resisting the urge to compete with all those parents out there who are jumping on social media to share idyllic pictures of their children studying and sharing copies of their unrealistic home-school timetables.

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