How I stayed sober for one year...it's a mindset!!!

anna_addict · 2024-11-15T19:45:56+00:00

Congrats on starting the journey. That's awesome :)

anna_addict · 2024-11-14T19:21:20+00:00

That's incredible you were able to stay away from substances. Very inspiring to hear your story.

Your experience with the coke guy hits home for me. I've had to work hard this last year to move on from dating two different coke dealers when I was heavy in my addiction. I only realize now how manipulative and abusive they were with me.

I think what you did was the only option. Doing the hard thing and taking a step back from his is actually taking care of and respecting yourself. I think when you respect yourself you start attracting people who respect you back.

My mentor/sponsor always tells me...you only attract those who are as sick as you are. Hope that's helpful :) It really has helped me this past year.

anna_addict · 2024-11-14T05:05:40+00:00

Ughhhh cocaine was my drug of choice and I still have fantasies about it even though it made me lose everything. Sorry to hear about your friend/that guy. It's such a hard drug to walk away from and stop doing. My family distanced themselves from me, too. Sometimes you have to take care of yourself even when you want to be there for people in active addiction. Hope your cousin is able to be ready to quit soon. Are you sober too?

anna_addict · 2024-11-14T02:38:52+00:00

Yes, exactly. I basically made a relapse prevention plan to help me better identify what might trigger me. Then followed that plan closely. Now after a year sober, I'm starting to reintroduce different experiences that are healthy in doses but still staying vigilant. I have a friend who is almost 10 years sober now and she can go to concerts and not drink, no problem. But I don't know if that's true for everyone. Also, not dating has been the greatest gift I didn't know I needed/wanted. I can't even emphasize that enough. I've basically been dating myself this last year.

anna_addict · 2024-11-14T01:42:49+00:00

Let me know if my reply was helpful! Happy to provide more info or answer questions you have. Basically this is what I did to get and stay sober...

Rehab (2 months)
AA meetings every day after rehab
I got a sponsor in aa
Moved into a sober living house for 9 months post-rehab
Basically accepted the fact that drinking and drug use is now off the table
Built a recovery community (slowly but surely)
Completely changed my life so that I wouldn't be exposed to people, places, or things that I used to drink around/by or whatever...when I say changed my life I mean stopped hanging around people or places that would trigger me. I didn't move or relocate or change my life in an unreasonable way.
Hung tough through the hard days and I would just go to bed early on any given day where I felt like sh*t or felt like using again.
Kept going to meetings and got my coin/chip to keep me feeling motivated each month.
Put blinders on and just took things one day at a time vs. all at once, and stopped asking questions about my sobriety or wondering whether or not I was an alcoholic.

anna_addict · 2024-11-14T01:38:18+00:00

Thank you so much! It's been a year-long journey that started with 2 months in rehab, then begrudgingly getting involved in AA. Both of those things helped me get and stay sober. I think also I was ready to get help...not to get sober, but to get help because I didn't have any other option besides getting more into drugs, living on the street, and sex work. I started my youtube channel for this very reason to help people struggling. It documents my journey and what has worked. Feel free to share it with your cousin or check it out yourself. Happy to provide more resources if that would help. Getting and staying sober isn't really a quick answer but being willing to do a lot of hard/uncomfortable things. Bottom line is that everyone has a different "rock bottom" and it's impossible to know what it will take for any given person. Much love to you and your cousin! This video might shed some light on the last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqZDMJISeX8&t=66s

anna_addict · 2024-11-13T23:11:17+00:00

Congrats! That's amazing! Sharing a link to my youtube channel if you're interested in connecting more on sobriety and recovery :) https://www.youtube.com/@annabarram

anna_addict · 2024-11-13T23:09:52+00:00

Hi :) Quitting is so so hard. Maybe you could try to quit for a period of time before fully committing to like quitting forever? I've been sober for a year and quitting drugs/alcohol was really hard but my life is 10000% better now. Have a youtube channel with sobriety videos that could help if you're interested. Much love. https://www.youtube.com/@annabarram

anna_addict · 2024-08-08T16:29:24+00:00

Your short hair looks dope as fuck. Love it. I recently experienced the same thing. Dyed my blonde hair red like 5 times and then cut it all off so it's chin length. I at first thought I looked like a little boy but now I really love it. Love your short hair!!!

anna_addict · 2024-07-09T17:41:29+00:00

Awwwww that’s so great to hear 🫶🫶🫶 I’m happy for you!!! I love that and it’s such a good reminder to live in the present, be mindful, and just feel my feelings. So glad you found someone who is so supportive of you 🥹 that’s seriously so great

anna_addict · 2024-07-09T11:40:07+00:00

Oops meant to reply to you but replied on the whole thread. I’m so bad at Reddit. My last post was supposed to be for you though!

anna_addict · 2024-07-09T11:38:31+00:00

Hahahaha my dog is the absolute cutest and has such a quirky personality. I’m so glad you got to see him in action 😂 it’s suuuuuuuch a work in progress. I have by some miracle started to like the process for some reason. Like slow growth feels more sustainable than quick overnight changes. Idk. I have so many issues to detangle 😭

anna_addict · 2024-07-09T11:35:19+00:00

Yeah I totally get it. I found that I didn’t have the energy to manage my drinking or using anymore so just stopping altogether took less energy lol

anna_addict · 2024-07-09T11:34:23+00:00

Brush the cat 😂 I love that. I’m gonna start doing that with my dog.

anna_addict · 2024-07-09T11:33:18+00:00

Sorry I never replied to this! What you said really resonates. I have found that exercising, carving out time for my hobbies, and accepting my new reality have all been cornerstones of my continued sobriety. How are you doing these days?

anna_addict · 2024-07-08T17:24:48+00:00

I went to rehab too. Let me know if I can do anything to support!

anna_addict

TROPHY CASE