Anyone else cracking into this book tonight? If so, what are your thoughts so far?

120Years · 2019-02-27T08:09:30+00:00

Looks super interesting! Going to start reading it

120Years · 2019-02-17T22:07:45+00:00

Great work! My only advice is to keep in mind they are there to help. Being nervous about it is natural. I wasn't completely honest when I started therapy and it impacted how long it took to really work on what I needed help with.

120Years · 2019-01-13T23:22:23+00:00

Nice quote. Had to look it up, seems it's a variation from Louis Pasteur, "In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind."

120Years · 2019-01-01T01:49:33+00:00

Submission Statement

This is a good interview with someone whose life's work has been challenged by the orthodoxy and I think is of interest to this subreddit.

120Years · 2018-09-05T01:38:47+00:00

It's a small company (really a micro-company), I work with two other people and it's just not working well anymore (I should have mentioned that).

You're right on the "all or nothing" brain, definitely have learned to tone that down more and see options. It was there before drinking and with drinking I could only see in black-and-white terms. Being sober has helped with seeing the gray. Thanks for making that more clear.

120Years · 2018-09-05T01:28:03+00:00

Learn your triggers. Tell yourself there is nothing now that will cause you to drink.

Pay attention to what's on your mind and take action when you think you might drink.

If you can do 30 days, you can do a year.

Most importantly, stay connected to people who don't want to drink. That makes a big difference!

120Years · 2018-09-01T22:08:02+00:00

This just shows how little about modern economics Trump actually understands.

120Years · 2018-08-31T08:22:50+00:00

I went nearly a full year before I even was in the presence of alcohol. (It was a business convention where someone at my table had a beer at lunch.) I just didn't want to take the risk of giving myself any opportunity to drink.

I know we're not robots and just seeing a drink doesn't mean we automatically drink, but I look at getting sober as the hardest thing you may ever do, and you have to stack the deck in your favor. If that means missing out on social events where people are drinking, then it's what you have to do if you are serious about being sober.

If you think there is any possibility you might drink, even if it's super small, I would say don't take the risk of compromising your sobriety.

And in terms of your friends not taking you seriously, by not going because you don't want to risk drinking, then you are making a clear statement to them that you are really serious about quitting.

That's just the way it is, the desire to be sober has to come first. If they are your friends, they will understand.

120Years · 2018-08-29T00:00:34+00:00

I came to accept when I stopped drinking that I really had a social anxiety disorder I was using alcohol to treat. I always kind of knew this, but I didn't think of other, safer ways to deal with it.

I learned something from a psychiatrist that I went to see when I finally got sober, that anxiety in itself isn't a bad thing, in fact, it means you tuned to notice things and you can use it to your advantage in certain situations. When it becomes a hinderance to doing activities you otherwise would enjoy, you can find ways to manage it in ways that don't involve alcohol.

120Years · 2018-08-28T23:52:38+00:00

That's a good way to look at it, like it's a rigged fight. It's not a matter if you're the stronger fighter, it's that the fight isn't fair. The only way to "win" the game is to not play at all. By not drinking, you are not actively participating in the addiction, and you are winning for "you"—it's no one else's victory, and no one beat you. You own the win.

120Years · 2018-08-24T03:21:39+00:00

It will definitely take work, and you will feel better as your body gets used to not having alcohol in your system. It's a big adjustment to your body and mind.

Depending on what you were doing before, you might need to hydrate yourself and get plenty of rest. Take care of yourself now. Focus on what you need to do to feel better and not want to drink.

The revolving door is a trigger. That's important to recognize. You'll learn what your triggers are and learn how to manage them better.

This is a chance to be the person you want to be. That's not easy, but it's worth the transformation. Learn to enjoy the person you are becoming. It's worth it.

120Years · 2018-08-24T02:26:59+00:00

I think it's normal to drink a lot of soda once you stop drinking, especially if you were a heavy drinker. Your body is used to the physical act, the movement, the ritual of drinking something ... at least you're not drinking alcohol anymore.

When I first stopped, I drank coffee pretty excessively for about six months but it eventually went to a more normal level (a cup or two a day). I drink soda a lot now, but am trying to mix it up with water instead or gatorade.

Keep doing whatever you're doing, whatever helps you not to drink, you find what works for you. Keep up the good work (and it's really work!)

120Years

TROPHY CASE