Deschain

I never noticed how pervasive alcohol is until I tried to not drink.

• Every client event at work - wine and beer served
• Every work-related event/dinner - wine and beer served
• Board meeting over? lets go to happy hour
• Go to the ball game - "ICE cold beer here!"
• Every get together to watch sports on TV - booze is part of it. (Thank God its not football season)
• Go out on the town on a Friday or Saturday night? Drinking is what everyone is doing.
• Radio on the way home - song comes on... "Blame it on the alcohol." How appropriate.

Its not even summer yet -- "who wants margaritas?"
or the holidays
etc.

Disassociating alcohol is going to be hard. Maybe after a few events without drinking it'll get easier, but right now it seems like temptation gets in my face at every corner.

Horselover

In the beginning of sobriety it is everywhere because its on the forefront of your mind. Once you start living a sober life and alcohol isn't as important it will fade into the background again.

I do remember in the beginning the tv was full of alcohol references, turn it off and put on the radio and same thing, turn it off and pick up a book and same thing. It does fade. Believe me on this one because I felt EXACTLY as you in this arena. Very frustrating, but knowing it goes away helped me. Hope it helps you.

least

When you've been sober for a while you won't notice it so much. But I agree, it is pervasive.

Deschain

sort of like getting dumped by your girlfriend, eh? Every tv show and song on the radio reminds you of her... I'm NOT TAKING HER BACK!

Mattcake

During early recovery, I either tried to avoid these situations or felt very deprived. Since then, I've found that changing my attitude has helped a lot - whenever I encounter these "temptations", I remind myself of the many reasons why I *actively* dislike alcohol, and how good it feels to be free from it.

Alcohol is rat poison, as far as I'm concerned.

Dee74

Hi Deschain

I remember feeling the same way - it seemed maddening...but as others have said, it does fade. I'm no longer of aware of alcohol around me, not in an obsessional way - and for someone like me who drank 24/7 that's pretty amazing

hang in there
D

Anna

I avoided those kinds of situations for a long time. I had to, no question about that.

It will get easier.

kyb5

I agree. I'm watching baseball on tv, seeing people kicking back, relaxing and drinking a beer. I think "man that looks like so much fun".

I've started turning the channel when a beer commercial comes on.

Rev

For a culture that's so vehemently anti-drug, we sure do put alot of effort out to include alcohol in everything. In fact, I can't think of a single non-children's film that has no alcohol referenced in it. The other night, I was watching the vampire movie, "From Dusk Till Dawn" and they drank more booze than blood (and that was just the vampires!).

Rev