10 Ways to Prepare for Cravings During the Holidays
For me, anything can be a trigger, yet the holidays can almost always guarantee thoughts intruding my mind.
Your Messy Guts Matter
I just need to allow people to love me where I’m at, help prevent me from going backwards, and stand by me as I get myself to where I need to be.
I Moderated My Alcohol Intake…Until I Couldn’t
The first time I guzzled alcohol, I was seven years old. My mom left me with her glass of sauvignon blanc when she went to use the restroom.
I Drank in Moderation Until Mental Illness Intruded
I drank in moderation until after a second pregnancy. The medication wasn’t working. Nothing was working. I drank because…I could.
My Transition to Not Drinking Was Not As Easy As Turning Off a Tap
For at least four months after I made the decision to quit drinking, I found myself in a strange purgatory. I didn’t want to be drinking. I didn’t want to not be drinking. I wanted all the “mores” of being booze-free—more money, more time, more energy, more self-respect—but those “mores”
I Neglected My Teeth and I Regret It
I neglected my oral health horribly during my years of active alcoholism. By the time I was able to see a dentist and begin addressing each issue, my mouth was in terrible shape.
Relationships
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5 Easy Ways to Practice Gratitude Every Day
An attitude of gratitude can change your life, positively affecting relationships, sleep, healthy habits (like exercising more), and mood.
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I Had To Divorce To Get Sober
I’ve stayed sober through tremendous loss but none more profound than my divorce.
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I Chose to Alienate my Daughter from her Father
It saddens me that many stories like mine don’t have a happy ending. Many parents who engage in parental alienation never see the error of their ways.
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Two Therapists Taught me How to Say Goodbye
I was 35 the first time I learned how to say goodbye.
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Unpacking our Past to Face the Future
While we walked the aisles and found the perfect Anna and Elsa backpack and matching lunchbox, I told her that in two years I was going to bring her back for a new backpack for the first day of kindergarten.
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He Said I Wasn’t Good Enough – He Was Right
He didn’t want to be with an alcoholic—with someone he couldn’t 100% trust to never drink again.
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Shattering Stigma: Talking to Spouses in Recovery
I’ve found myself offering support to spouses, especially women, who have been hurt by their partner’s substance misuse.
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Reconciling with My Possible Future
I had seen my possible future when my grandmother died of liver problems. At the time, I was resigned to the fact that this would be my fate.
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Love is an Addiction, And I Relapsed
I discovered the concept of love addiction at a recovery conference. As I listened, I shuddered as I realized how many of the boxes I ticked.
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Maybe Celibacy is My Best Option
After a hard break-up, making a choice to remain celibate for a while feels like the greatest act of self-love I could choose right now.
Ask a Sober Mom
Ask a Sober Mom: I Did Not Sober Up For This
I’m eighty days sober. When will my kids stop irritating the shit out of me? They are six and four, and I have a hard time dealing with them. I didn’t sober up for this!