Almost reduced to tears of emotion/ happiness/ loving the world in a psychedelic moment when I received this message from someone who read MY book and subsequently changed their life around. Powerful stuff and grateful to play a part:
Proud to say I am nearly 20 months sober and living a life beyond any dreams I ever had. I credit you because I wasn't someone who could do AA and I never even knew there were online sober support groups until reading Sober is the New Black. With that one book you changed not only my life but the lives of those I love. I was sober for my first grandchild's birth and every special milestone in his little life. I am here and I am being real for the first time since about age 12. Making all sorts of mistakes and often overwhelmed and never sure of anything except: I will never ever touch that stupid poison again. Thank YOU.
Monday 17 October 2016
Amazing Feedback
Almost reduced to tears of emotion/ happiness/ loving the world in a psychedelic moment when I received this message from someone who read MY book and subsequently changed their life around. Powerful stuff and grateful to play a part:
Proud to say I am nearly 20 months sober and living a life beyond any dreams I ever had. I credit you because I wasn't someone who could do AA and I never even knew there were online sober support groups until reading Sober is the New Black. With that one book you changed not only my life but the lives of those I love. I was sober for my first grandchild's birth and every special milestone in his little life. I am here and I am being real for the first time since about age 12. Making all sorts of mistakes and often overwhelmed and never sure of anything except: I will never ever touch that stupid poison again. Thank YOU.
Proud to say I am nearly 20 months sober and living a life beyond any dreams I ever had. I credit you because I wasn't someone who could do AA and I never even knew there were online sober support groups until reading Sober is the New Black. With that one book you changed not only my life but the lives of those I love. I was sober for my first grandchild's birth and every special milestone in his little life. I am here and I am being real for the first time since about age 12. Making all sorts of mistakes and often overwhelmed and never sure of anything except: I will never ever touch that stupid poison again. Thank YOU.
Sunday 16 October 2016
The Lone Drinker
On holiday at present and this evening we were taken out to an Italian Restaurant by another couple. I don't drink, neither does the other woman, my OH was driving and there were 2 kids. There was only one person drinking.
First 2 beers while we chatted, then wine with dinner. But not in a civilised way. It was a buffet restaurant with serve yourself drinks too. A coke machine, water, fruit juice dispenser and a wine tap. The other man in the group poured and drank 3 full very large wine glasses full of wine, pretty swiftly after remarking that the first sip wasn't that nice. More than a bottle in less than an hour.
I watched his face become first red, then blotchy as he relaxed. He became more animated and talkative. Not that the stories weren't interesting, and not that they were repeats or anything, but no-one else got a word in once his tipping point was reached. No one else told a story, no others conversed, I couldn't politely excuse myself to the loo, we couldn't leave when we were finished without appearing rude and interrupting another tale.
It made me bored. I felt embarrassed for the children whose boredom I could sense. And most of all I felt sad. Because that man is my father.
Always knew it was like that with him, but don't often see it. Don't really want to see it again. Might now limit seeing him to when he comes to ours (and he drives) or at outings which don't involve booze. Tonight was their invitation on their terms. From now on it'll be my way. I feel harsh and hypocritical as I was once exactly the same, but now Im not, and quite frankly its ugly and I don't want to see it.
First 2 beers while we chatted, then wine with dinner. But not in a civilised way. It was a buffet restaurant with serve yourself drinks too. A coke machine, water, fruit juice dispenser and a wine tap. The other man in the group poured and drank 3 full very large wine glasses full of wine, pretty swiftly after remarking that the first sip wasn't that nice. More than a bottle in less than an hour.
I watched his face become first red, then blotchy as he relaxed. He became more animated and talkative. Not that the stories weren't interesting, and not that they were repeats or anything, but no-one else got a word in once his tipping point was reached. No one else told a story, no others conversed, I couldn't politely excuse myself to the loo, we couldn't leave when we were finished without appearing rude and interrupting another tale.
It made me bored. I felt embarrassed for the children whose boredom I could sense. And most of all I felt sad. Because that man is my father.
Always knew it was like that with him, but don't often see it. Don't really want to see it again. Might now limit seeing him to when he comes to ours (and he drives) or at outings which don't involve booze. Tonight was their invitation on their terms. From now on it'll be my way. I feel harsh and hypocritical as I was once exactly the same, but now Im not, and quite frankly its ugly and I don't want to see it.
Friday 14 October 2016
10 Signs which mean you really DO need to stop. Completely.
I guess we have all made some attempt(s) to give up alcohol in the past. Whether it's a day or two off, a severe hangover leading to great announcements that we will never drink again to several weeks or more, something always sends us back to the bottle.
The truth is, you will only stop drinking when you, really want to stop. And want to stop so badly you can make the leap of faith and believe that it is possible there is life beyond booze.
Here are some of the signs I, and perhaps you, will recognise as signifying the time to stop has finally arrived.
Here are some of the signs I, and perhaps you, will recognise as signifying the time to stop has finally arrived.
- You open the wine with dismay thinking 'Here we go again'.
- You notice the repeating pattern of: Plan to restrict, get drunk, regret it, plan to restrict... yet you cannot stop it recurring.
- You no longer have enough time to spend a whole day incapacitated by a hangover.
- Your hangovers last two days (or more...)
- You avoid socialising so you can drink more at home, alone.
- You hate the feeling of helplessness you have as alcohol dictates your life.
- You have no idea how to stop. (This was me. Sometime told me to 'Just stop.' Sounds simple eh?)
- You think stopping drinking would be preferable to your life at present. In fact, anything would be better than your life at present.
- Those around you stop giving you a hard time about your drinking and allow you to drink. They know you need a certain amount to function and do not wish to stand in the way of that.
- You begin to ask others how they stopped drinking, you read sober blogs, you buy sober books and you question your belief that you could not cope without it. You begin to wonder if maybe you could? Surely not all sober people are making it up or telling lies about how it is actually ok, or even better than ok?
Personally I was completely sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.
Best wishes if you are starting to stop.
Welcome back if you have not given up on giving up.
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