Bad days, arguments, breakups, job losses, illness, death. These things happen. I remember after a particularly bad day, that could have been career changing, a friend of mine said ‘drinking won’t help’. I took no notice and dealt with the fallout with the world’s worst hangover. I now see that she was right. Shit happens. Alcohol causes stress, depression and anxiety. The easiest way to deal with shit is with a clear head and an open mind and a willing heart.

Gradually all that “new sober joy” faded into a norm, the Pink Cloud dopamine state dissolved (this is how our brain works) and I (without warning) sunk into a state that I could only describe to my sober soulmates as spiritual roadkill. That’s how it felt, like a feeling of soul-deep total DEADNESS”

Take your brain out of it. Remember when you learned to ride a bike? When you were thinking about it, you wobbled all over the place, but then the time came when you just did it. Don’t dwell on sobriety; Just make it an integral non-optional part of your life. Then move on to other things.

Every time you go back on your decision to quit alcohol, you’re selling at least part of your own future. You’re shortchanging yourself. The reason I know this is because I did it. As they say, it takes what it takes….you can only stay sober today. You can’t stay sober yesterday, or tomorrow, just today. That’s what I intend to do.

My sobriety is my no 1 priority. Basically because without that it doesn’t matter what wonderful things I do. Alcohol free is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!! Everything else stems from that.