But when Oxford House life sucks, staying sober can be more than hard, it can feel like it’s next to impossible. This subreddit is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for support, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit. Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile.

Someday I’m going to… blah, blah, blah.

• These will include reflections from my eBook, Sobriety Doesn’t Have To Suck!
• First off, I had no idea how many sober women had antidepressants contribute to their worst and final drinking days.
• Set challenging, but obtainable, goals for yourself and stick to them.
• It dilates your blood vessels, making you look like a red-faced cartoon drunk.
• (Or so they say? Who knows if they’re telling the truth?) Sarah Hepola has a whole book on the subject, and when I was still drinking, I really fucking hated hearing what she had to say.
• Sitting with pain or unease seemed impossible.

It’s Neo taking the red pill and realizing, “Oh shit, I need to stop taking so many pills from strangers.” With your support network, mark milestones in your sobriety, whether they’re days, weeks, months, or years. Celebrating these achievements can boost your morale and reinforce the value of being sober sucks your efforts toward sobriety. While removing substances from your routine can seem challenging, taking it step by step may help you regain control and even feel empowered. Here’s how to stay sober, and sane, when life sucks. As with most problems, the solution is as difficult or as simple as we make it.

• Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile.
• Adults face consequences, Adults fix their mistakes instead of burying them deep, Adults grow and I grow better.
• These groups provide a platform to share experiences, gain insights, and receive unconditional support.
• So, view these rediscovered, clearheaded moments as opportunities to explore old hobbies, find new interests and improve your wellbeing.

Seek Support

• She later mentioned that she hadn’t had a drink in almost a decade.
• That includes not becoming a victim to life’s circumstances.
• These practices encourage focusing on the present moment, which helps alleviate worries about the future.
• I know it seems weird to admit that boredom is one of the main reasons I am an alcoholic.

Expand your mind, expand your body, learn to enjoy life as a sober person. Substances like alcohol and drugs may mask stress, emotional pain, or traumatic experiences so for those who experience those feelings deeply, being without that protective shield, if you will, can be scary. I know it seems weird to admit that boredom is one of the main reasons I am an alcoholic. My life didn’t have some aching tragedy that drove me to hide plastic bottles of vodka in my closet.

I don’t regret quitting alcohol, but sobriety isn’t always easy.

In that way, yeah, you have to hit a point where the pros no longer outweigh the cons. There’s no scientific evidence that addicts must hit a Hollywood rock bottom in order to start the recovery process. In fact, most people do better when they start a little earlier than total failure, since they still have some sort of network to support them through the process.

• Fill out the form below and one of our team members will reach out to help you get started.
• Sometimes they’re out-and-out creeps who target incoherent women, but a lot of the time, it’s in more of a gray area.
• Loving yourself isn’t just by saying affirmations verbally that you are great or that your life will get better.
• It just happens to us, like all the freaking time.

I was so afraid of being “single” that I stayed in a shitty “relationship.” And honestly, it could have gotten much worse for me. When you stop problem-drinking, you suddenly get a third-ish of your day back. That’s because your days don’t fizzle out at 6 p.m. Instead of floating through your weekends and evenings in a dreamy fog, you’re there for all of it. Good or bad, you’re present and participating and not hitting the eject button. There’s nothing altering your state of mind and experience of the situation.

Regularly remind yourself of the positive changes that sobriety has brought to your life. Whether it’s improved health, better relationships, or greater productivity, focusing on these benefits can motivate you to maintain your sober lifestyle. 💙 Start this simple 30-day program on Mindfulness for Beginners to build this supportive habit into your daily life. I have since learned I am not alone in experiencing this phenomenon. 65% of all those in recovery gain weight, and if you struggle with an alcohol problem, there’s a strong chance you may also be fighting anxiety, depression, mood swings or compulsive behavior. These unanticipated obstacles to wellbeing have the capacity to derail an otherwise smooth sailing recovery.

Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to manage stress

💙 Explore our Meaningful Practice for Meaningful Friendship series on the importance of close connections and building community. Whether it’s taking up a sport, diving into arts and crafts, or learning to play a musical instrument, new hobbies can provide a sense of achievement and distraction from cravings. 💙 Take your goal-setting one step further by getting clear on The ‘Why’ Behind Your Goals, which not only helps you gain clarity but also helps you stay committed to your aspirations. We all have to do it, but I try to give it less attention. Attaching emotions to it just complicates things. Once I stopped fearing it so much, life became a lot easier.