Not picking up a drink when I was triggered was sooo so hard and seemingly impossible a year ago. I am eternally grateful to those who helped me pick myself up after slips and slides again and again.

Thank you.

The best way that I know to say Thank You to the community that has helped me get to this point is to reach back with what has worked for m. Let’s start with TRIGGERS!

How do you Avoid Reaching for a Dose of Self Sabotage ?

Know Your Triggers!

Triggers come in all shapes and sizes. Some are obvious and some are surprising. Bad days, good days, sneaky average day cravings.

How can average days come with cravings? Because enough good days in a row then become average. Consistent good days raise the bar so they don’t come with such a high after a while. Lacking a high? Booze became a default response.

Enough good days mean peace and balance are setting in. Which makes me itchy for a dose of self sabotage. Living in a constant state of chaos caused by alcohol became the status quo. Constants are comforting, even if they’re bad.

Having had many slips and wobbles keeps me grounded. I’m not invincible. I’ve spent years creating solid drink because thought habits and go to alcohol responses. It’s not surprising that they sometimes still pop up.

There are always going to be potential triggers in my life. The biggest most important things which have stopped me from acting on triggers recently are:

1. Accept the thoughts of alcohol but don’t act on them immediately. Don’t obsess over the thought either. Think a little bit, do something else, come back to it, and so on. I am really prone to obsessive thoughts and it gives the object of my thoughts power. I don’t freak out that I’m thinking about alcohol in the moment, I just let it play out.

2. Allow myself to imagine the experience from first sip to the whole of the next day. Basically, if I play it forward, alcohol can never win this game.

3. Always stay well stocked with treats, fizzy water, Alcohol Free drinks. And have one as soon as possible when cravings come.

Meditation has really helped me with number 1. Number 1 makes number 2 possible. How to Stop Drinking Away the Pain that post has some great tips on meditation that helped me a lot.

Number 3 is one of those tips I was given in the early days and I didn’t take that one seriously enough for a long time. I would obsess and pace around until I cracked, which never took very long. I wouldn’t try an alternative drink because I’d be too busy arguing with myself to try downing an Alcohol Free drink as a solution. But it DOES help.

Sometimes it doesn’t take much more than a couple of pieces of chocolate or a cup of tea to bring me back from a craving. Sometimes it just takes the edge off enough for me to stay in the safe zone. Sometimes it wipes a craving out completely in a matter of minutes.

Ride the Wave!

And I’ll be there to chat in the community and help you reach 100 days too! Never Give Up

The Only Way to Fail is to Stop Trying

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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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How do you go Sober?

B Be accountable Talk to Us We Understand
A Avoid alcohol like the plague  Ideas Here
L Let yourself enjoy regular sober treats  Ideas Here
A Allow yourself to cry when needed  Ideas Here
N Nourish your body with good food  Ideas Here
C Create happy & fun memories  Ideas Here
E Enjoy the precious moments in your day Ideas Here

W Work hard to get what you want Ideas Here
O Organise things for less stress  Ideas Here
R Realise you can’t control it all Ideas Here
K Keep going & prepare for success Ideas Here
S Sleep enough for body & mind rest Sleep Solutions

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