One of my close friends will be 8 years sober in soon. She’s been at the end of many teary phone calls and has been there at the start of many of my day ones. She’s a real treasure and is wonderfully and unapologetically honest with me about alcoholism, her battles, and what I may battle as I continue my sober journey. She told me at the end of my first month sober to never forget ….
Honesty is the key to Sobriety. Without it you won’t survive. That’s a fact!
Being brutally honest with yourself is terrifying sometimes and sobriety was and still is such an unknown for me which has also caused a lot of fear. I’ve been getting through each fear as it pops its head up, alcohol-free. The more fears I get through in my very early sobriety, the more I’m setting up a foundation that is based on my strengths in a hope that my foundation won’t crumble when harder things come my way.
I read this recently on Facebook from the Love What Matters page.
“I was 13-years-old, trying to teach my 6-year-old sister how to dive into a swimming pool from the side of the pool. It was taking quite a while as my sister was really nervous about it. We were at a big, public pool, and nearby there was a woman, about 75-years old, slowly swimming laps. Occasionally she would stop and watch us. Finally she swam over to us just when I was really putting the pressure on, trying to get my sister to try the dive, and my sister was shouting, ‘but I’m afraid!! I’m so afraid!!’ The old woman looked at my sister, raised her fist defiantly in the air and said, ‘So be afraid! And then do it anyway!’
That was 35 years ago and I have never forgotten it. It was a revelation — it’s not about being unafraid. It’s about being afraid and doing it anyway.”
Experience is knowledge and knowledge is power so I am sharing today with you, this bouquet of everything I’ve learned in my first months sober! Come join us and see where it takes you!
I’m Grateful to have faced my fears with honesty and be one month sober because :
Slow wake ups beat anxiety ridden 3am wake ups every time.
The morning is wonderful when you’re not hungover.
There’s plenty of normal things that induce self-loathing- alcohol doesn’t need to add to it.
I can socialise without 10 drinks under my belt.
Going to work without a hangover is more pleasant than going to work with a hangover.
According to my body- it doesn’t need sleep anymore
My husband and daughter are much more endearing when I’m sober- I was genuinely concerned about that one.
I used to get constant UTI’S- haven’t had one in 4 weeks, I’m assuming because I’m well hydrated.
Apparently I never needed alcohol to remind myself of all my short-comings, however the way I do it now is far removed from the way drunk me did it.
Reading is more relaxing than wine.
I can sit in my own company and not ‘need’ a drink.
I can sit with scary emotions and remain sober.
Sober isn’t as scary as I thought it would be.
Apparently I’m still able to tell my entire life story to strangers without alcohol- please review my activity in BOOM if you’re skeptical about that one.
Last one- I like sober Me, 100x more than I like drunk Me.
Below are several more articles, free resources from our archive,
Books to Help you Stop Drinking and Fuel Your Sober Momentum
6 Documentaries to Help You Rethink Alcohol Use and Abuse
How I Stopped Drinking Without AA
Easing out of the Battle to Stay Sober
Early Sobriety Survival Skills
If you’re “sober curious” …If you are drinking too much too often and want to stop or take a break… 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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