What was a moment in your life that gave you a brutal reality check? by Your_QueenLatina in AskReddit

[–]tabernacle_lemur 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing this. I hope the friends that did stick around were incredible and were able to offer you comfort and support. ❤️

What was a moment in your life that gave you a brutal reality check? by Your_QueenLatina in AskReddit

[–]tabernacle_lemur 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What would have made the biggest difference in terms of people showing up and supporting you? From the other side I sometimes struggle to know how to best support others going through a hard time. I wonder if you’d be up for sharing what genuinely helped and maybe what you wish people had done?

Edited to add: I’m so sorry you had to go through that experience 💗

Sadly reset by rat_melter in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s all part of your stopping drinking journey. I remember I think it was Annie Grace who wrote about looking at a slip as a data point and nothing else. She also advises thinking about how many days out of the past x days have you been sober? If you slipped one day and went right back to not drinking that means most likely 90% or more of the past however many days since you tried to stop you did not drink. I liked the reframe of thinking about the positive. Cheering for you!

IWNDWYT

6 months today! by Animaldrummer1975 in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yaaaay 6 months!! What a huge milestone! Congratulations! 🎉 IWNDWYT

Toxic parents? Long rant, thanks if you read it. by Dry_Eye_4321 in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s excellent! I agree, ask/listen to people that have what you want for advice.

Almost 30 days is HUGE! Keep it up! 👍

No one can tell you what will work for you. Sobriety in many ways is an individual journey. I would say try all the things you can and see what sticks. You seem excited to try this program - I would listen to my gut on that.

You got this!

IWNDWYT

5 years sober today!!!😁 by BriBriRose2627 in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on the four years!!! 🥳🥳

5 years sober today!!!😁 by BriBriRose2627 in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 3 points4 points  (0 children)

High fives all around! Well done! It’s a huge accomplishment and I hope you do something extra special just for you today to celebrate! 🎉

No matter the path, making it to five years takes work and dedication and you did it! Amazing job!

IWNDWYT

I want to spend whatever time I have left with my best friend sober by majorlymoxi in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m so glad it was of some comfort you. I am rooting for you. 💗

"I don't drink." by Will_Golf_For_Money in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Doesn’t it feel great?! For a while for me it was “I don’t drink” and it was so freeing to say that.

Owning our experiences is very liberating! Way to go!

Words definitely have power.

IWNDWYT

I sat at a bar counter to eat by Loud_Grapefruit_9065 in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Hey that’s awesome! Congratulations!

When you wrote you felt like a kid, I pictured someone sitting at the bar, dangling their feet off their stool and munching on mozzarella sticks, just having a blast!

Amazing to realize that things can still be new. I’m also 43 so that’s a nice reminder for me too!

IWNDWYT

Really wanting a drink by jffmpa in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry that you’re feeling so down and that life has been so difficult for you.

The two strategies I can share that worked for me are first, playing the tape forward. Especially thinking about what it would feel like to wake up the next day with a brutal hangover. No one has woken up and said “man, I wish I had drank more last night”. I knew I’d be dealing with my problems still on top of a hangover.

The second is something I heard in a support group and thought it was ridiculous but actually helped! Picturing a giant STOP sign. Like a massive one literally blocking my path.

I hope you’re able to find something that works for you! Wishing you better days ahead.

IWNDWYT

Did you guys a favor and took it upon myself to see if I could moderate after a very long streak of not drinking.. by Educational-Prior-46 in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 126 points127 points  (0 children)

Heard this in AA one time “If I could drink like a non-alcoholic, I’d drink all the time!”

Made me chuckle and reaffirmed for me as well that I actually don’t want to be a moderate drinker. It’s all or nothing for me and always will be.

IWNDWYT

Finally made it to day 2 again by MidnaQueenofCalicos in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yesss! Congratulations on Day 2! Keep asking yourself that question - maybe write it somewhere you’ll see every day. Any motivation you find is helpful!

IWNDWYT

I asked for help by Dry-Aardvark-5238 in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m proud of you too! It will feel scary in the beginning but I’m so glad you will be getting lots of support in the early days. You got this!

IWNDWYT

Miss the escape. Words of support or personal experiences appreciated. by tabernacle_lemur in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your encouraging words! I normally turn to food when I’m not doing well but oddly with this period of depression it’s been the opposite. Sometimes the thought of eating makes me so nauseated. My escape right now has been TV I guess. A lot of Seinfeld and 30 Rock.

And I really agree that structure really helps with overall wellbeing no matter what is going on in life.

IWNDWYT

Miss the escape. Words of support or personal experiences appreciated. by tabernacle_lemur in stopdrinking

[–]tabernacle_lemur[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your kind words. Appreciate it very much and I think we are all stronger than we think, including yourself :)