As a musician, I am vulnerable in my job. I sit on a stage with 40 to 80 people and perform for hundreds, or thousands, depending on the program. Sometimes I play completely alone in my orchestra and sometimes with my section/team, in a duet or trio or quartet, accompanied by a sea of strings.

It can be terrifying to play a single note, entirely alone, within an orchestra, in front of an audience.

For example, the very beginning of this piece, performed here by an absolute master of the art .

That may sound simple in comparison to many things but it can be absolutely terrifying to perform. Sometimes orchestral wind players develop nerves of steel and sometimes they end up taking beta-blockers to keep their hearts from jumping out of their chests.

Over the 30 years that I’ve been performing professionally, I’ve become accustomed to vulnerability. I’ve learned how to enter a sort of essential in the moment, pure concentration, that doesn’t allow doubt to enter….most of the time. Dealing with that vulnerability is all about focusing on the right thing at the right time, but all performers know that the membrane between absolute focus and chaos is thin. 

When I was in my second year sober I realized that binge drinking, for me, had become a defense mechanism. It had been a way of entering a zone where I felt invulnerable to the chaos of life. It allowed me to shut out my present and my past and just disappear. It allowed me to go to an empty space where no one expected anything of me and I didn’t expect anything of myself, because

I

simply

wasn’t

there.

When I stopped drinking it felt like that dream you have when you have to perform or speak publicly and you realize you’re butt naked. 

I found myself raw and exposed like a baby bird with no feathers.

During my first weeks alcohol-free I wrapped myself tightly in a protective bubble because I could not risk anything triggering me. I knew that any feelings of added exposure, vulnerability, or stress, would be an excuse to drink because then I would NEED to defend myself. I knew, however, that if I drank again I would lose my sober momentum.

I had tried and failed to stop drinking so many times, I wasn’t sure I could start the stopping again.

I remember coming home from work my first week sober, sitting down at the kitchen table, looking at my kids, and thinking “help… I need my wine”, not because there was anything challenging going on, but simply because entering that invulnerability zone the minute I walked in the door at the end of the day, was my routine.

Wine had become my buffer against a world that actually meant me no harm.

The truly amazing thing that I have completely internalized now in my fourth sober year is that my life is NOT a performance and it doesn’t NEED to be. No one NEEDS me to be perfect and it’s just fine if I’m buck naked on that stage letting my imperfections show.

But when I first stopped drinking I didn’t know yet how to face my early evening world without my buffer.

I realized pretty quickly after I stopped drinking, that my fantasy of sitting around the table after school playing games with my kids while I sipped tea was going to take a while to achieve. I wasn’t ready to be that exposed. In my first weeks AF ( alcohol-free) I was so raw without my buffer that all I could reliably do at wine o’clock was read inspiring stories of recovery, in the bathtub or in bed. Safe and warm.

But my kids were so happy to have me be truly present, NEVER drunk, NEVER vacant, NEVER gone behind unfocused eyes, that they were just fine with me moving to the safety of the bathtub and a book for a couple of weeks.

That early sobriety vulnerability is long gone now.

When I first stopped drinking there were rules I had to follow to protect my quit. Then, I could not risk going to the grocery after 2 pm, but now, I can shop anytime of day without worrying that a bottle or two of wine will find its way into my cart. 

Then, I had to protect myself from stress in the afternoon and early evening, but now I can deal with any stress at any hour without feeling like I NEED to drink or even want to. 

I can have fun sober, be bored sober, relax sober and socialize sober. 

But first I had to acknowledge that I was vulnerable, that I needed to find a healthier buffer against the world while I stabilized, and I had to build myself a bubble. A soft space to land in the evening that did not include unnecessary stress.

That’s what many of us were trying to do when we drank. We were trying to take care of ourselves. Pamper ourselves. Protect ourselves. 

There are many tips and tricks in this post to help you figure out how to build a bubble for yourself: Simple Solutions to Beat the Binge Drinking Routine

I recently watched Brene Brown’s first Ted Talk and I started thinking about vulnerability, and how important allowing ourselves to be vulnerable is.

I realized that one of the reasons I was able to put up the walls that I needed to protect my addiction, the disconnection from my family and friends that allowed me to sink much deeper into drinking than anyone knew, was that I have learned how to shut down my vulnerability in my job.

The courage to change begins with allowing yourself to admit to your vulnerability. Don’t try to drown your vulnerability or bury your vulnerability or erect a wall to protect you from yourself. Raise your hand and ask for help. Life is not a performance. Talk to Us –

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”

― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

More Reading :

Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable  – Learning New in Sobriety

You Can’t Skip the Beginning but That’s Ok

Breathe and Keep Moving – Gaining Momentum in Early Sobriety

How Does it FEEL to Go Sober?

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If you’re “sober curious” … If you are drinking too much too often and want to stop or take a break…or if you have stopped drinking and are trying to stick to sober! Talk to Us. 

We are an independent, anonymous and private community who share resources, support and talk it through every day. It helps to have a community behind you in a world where alcohol is the only addictive drug that people will question you for NOT using

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Don’t let the shame of the stigma keep you from saying

“I think I have a problem with drinking”

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“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

― Brene Brown