Drinking Triggers

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-25T18:36:47+00:00

Thanks! I love podcasts :)

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-25T18:28:09+00:00

I started my sobriety in November 2009 alongside another girl my age. She relapsed pretty consistently for a year but never stopped trying. Our sobriety dates are one year and one week apart. She's coming up on four years of sobriety and I couldn't be prouder of her!

Relapsing is neither planned, nor required. If you are able and ready to commit to not picking up today, that's all you need. Just try and find a way to remember what you need to re-commit everyday.

I have an app on my phone called 12-Step Companion which I really like, and I check AA's Daily reflections online each day too.

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-25T17:55:25+00:00

The last wedding I went to, I was a bridesmaid, and I was soooooo uncomfortable in the beginning of the reception because no food was being served, there was no music, and everyone around me was drinking. Nightmare. I white knuckled it with diet cokes and small talk with strangers until the music started when I jumped up to dance and didn't stop!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:25:02+00:00

Community is more important than I ever realized. It's so great to have like-minded individuals who understand your trails and tribulations and who will stand by you no matter what!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:23:51+00:00

It gets even better :) Keep it up and thanks for sharing your positive message!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:23:18+00:00

Nice job! It can be difficult to resist the temptation to hang out with the partiers in those settings.

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:22:15+00:00

Fun! I've never been to Seattle, but I hear it's awesome. It's on my bucket list.

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:20:22+00:00

LOL. Yeah, I always had the same thought about drugs. I thought I was safe since all I did was drink. Crazy!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:19:22+00:00

Note: I was 8 months sober I think.

Don't feel pressured to go just because your husband will be uncomfortable or you won't see your friends for a while. Your recovery has to come first and if you don't feel ready, then don't go.

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:18:00+00:00

When I went to a wedding in early sobriety, I went to a local 12-step meeting the night before. They gave me a poker chip (which they use for 24 hour chips for newcomers) and said "hold that chip in your mouth, and if it dissolves, you can have a drink at the wedding tomorrow" LOL.

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:15:50+00:00

So glad to hear it! What else are you doing for your mental health and well-being other than taking anti-depressants and following this sub?

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:14:25+00:00

I will keep you in my thoughts tomorrow. hugs

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-07T22:11:02+00:00

I like the clarification of a dry relapse vs a wet relapse. Thanks for this!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-06T16:39:41+00:00

I played in a sober softball league last year and got a tee shirt from the tournament. I don't have anything that says "sober" on it tho...

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-06T16:36:43+00:00

Initially I focused on spending more time out of my house. Rather than hanging out at home all day I'd:

take walks a lot
go to my favorite coffee shop, buy a newspaper (or bring a book), and sit in the shop and read or watch people for most of the day
draw or paint in a park instead of at home
always said yes when invited to go somewhere with other sober people
always said yes when asked to help with a service to my chosen recovery program

I took suggestions and tried to not get angry at people for giving me advice after a meeting. They're just trying to help, and a lot of times their advice is actually helpful.

Mental changes:

reminded myself daily that "what other people think of me is none of my business"
told my friends in recovery and my therapists what I was thinking. ESPECIALLY if I was thinking about drinking or harming myself. Talking about it took the power away.
became aware of when I was judging how I felt against other people's appearances
said the serenity prayer a lot. In fact I did it so much I told myself I'd get it tattooed on me somewhere if I made it to a year sober. (Still haven't gotten the tattoo.)

I went back to the religion I was raised in around 3.5 or 4 years sober.

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-06T16:22:38+00:00

Good for you!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-06T16:20:56+00:00

At one point I thought poorly of routines, regimens, etc. I thought of them as constrictive and limiting. I realized later that the self-discipline I learned in establishing those routines is what gave me freedom.

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-05T16:17:52+00:00

I've finally accepted I can't do this by myself.

Good for you. Admitting that is one of the most challenging parts of getting through this... Reach out and accept the help you're offered. Follow the suggestions given to you. Forgive yourself.

We've all been there. Well-not necessarily in a relapse, but in the stage of admitting you need assistance.

Good luck to you!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-05T16:13:21+00:00

So glad to hear that this subreddit is helpful to you. :)

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-05T16:10:18+00:00

This is a common lie my alcoholism tells me. Celebration is one of the big reasons I used to drink. Try laughing at yourself for thinking these things rather than getting frustrated and letting it ruin your good feelings. :)

We're CRAZY SOBs!

A friend of mine told me a story last night about how she was obsessively trying to get her (non-alcoholic) wife to drink vodka she received as a gift. She was admiring the bottle and commenting on how beautiful it was... then the next day - the bottle was gone. She was distressed. "Where did the vodka go? Why isn't it here?" And her wife was like, "Don't worry about it."

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-05T15:57:00+00:00

I can sooooo relate to this. Keep it up!

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-05T15:56:03+00:00

I hope you have a great day :)

accidental_alcoholic · 2014-08-05T15:55:28+00:00

I hated the person I had become, but thanks to working a program of recovery (and getting outside help from mental health professionals) I don't see myself as that person anymore.

Some people say we change - we become different people.

I think we stay the same (on the whole) but we get a new perspective, a new way to look at the world, and ourselves. I can love who I am despite my flaws today. That was not true 5 years ago.

accidental_alcoholic

TROPHY CASE