Day 3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 59
So many good wishes! thanks 
I have been a drinker most of my adult life and for some years was a heavy, daily, drinker and a binge drinker, sometimes social sometimes nonsocial. Over the years, my perspective about drinking shifted from arrogant, fatalistic, carefree abandon to being more critical about its effects on my life, and I have shifted towards being a moderate drinker, which I feel has led to a fuller life. I now want to try a year of sobriety.
Partly I am thinking of this now because I have had health challenges. Partly it is because I have witnessed some very scary descent into self-destruction in people close to me. But principally the desire to try sobriety arose because I am increasingly aware of my social anxiety and related challenges, and the ways that they disrupt my life. My social anxiety is probably connected to my upbringing, being an adult child of an alcoholic, but it is also connected to current lifestyle choices that are largely under my own control now and that I want to address. For example I am concerned with pleasing other people, but am often impulsive and disorganized, and this combination makes it difficult to have a clear vision and values and have effective interactions—- I think all of these issues are partly under my own control and contribute to anxiety. Also I have a lot of stress in my home and professional life, which is also partly under my own control. But, currently I’m focused mostly on how the anxiety is exacerbated by drinking, and am interested in trying to lower my anxiety through a year of sobriety.
Many times in my adult life I have been dry for weeks, but this is the first time I have named a concrete sobriety goal. I’m just starting, day 4. I’m attending meetings, learning to meditate, and working on a “moral inventory” where I find plenty to try to think about...
I have been a drinker most of my adult life and for some years was a heavy, daily, drinker and a binge drinker, sometimes social sometimes nonsocial. Over the years, my perspective about drinking shifted from arrogant, fatalistic, carefree abandon to being more critical about its effects on my life, and I have shifted towards being a moderate drinker, which I feel has led to a fuller life. I now want to try a year of sobriety.
Partly I am thinking of this now because I have had health challenges. Partly it is because I have witnessed some very scary descent into self-destruction in people close to me. But principally the desire to try sobriety arose because I am increasingly aware of my social anxiety and related challenges, and the ways that they disrupt my life. My social anxiety is probably connected to my upbringing, being an adult child of an alcoholic, but it is also connected to current lifestyle choices that are largely under my own control now and that I want to address. For example I am concerned with pleasing other people, but am often impulsive and disorganized, and this combination makes it difficult to have a clear vision and values and have effective interactions—- I think all of these issues are partly under my own control and contribute to anxiety. Also I have a lot of stress in my home and professional life, which is also partly under my own control. But, currently I’m focused mostly on how the anxiety is exacerbated by drinking, and am interested in trying to lower my anxiety through a year of sobriety.
Many times in my adult life I have been dry for weeks, but this is the first time I have named a concrete sobriety goal. I’m just starting, day 4. I’m attending meetings, learning to meditate, and working on a “moral inventory” where I find plenty to try to think about...
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,439
Sounds like you have many of the problems and issues that a lot of us have faced, Andy.
Making changes, and finding the support to make those changes permanent is what recovery is all about.
Good for you
D
Making changes, and finding the support to make those changes permanent is what recovery is all about.
Good for you
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 59
What do you think the best 'tools' are for trying to go completely sober, or the tools that s newcomer should be aware of? Do you think there are threads or notes or something for new people here on the SR site about resources? I'm not in any risk in terms of detox , but I guess I will be at risk of changing my mind in an off moment.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 268
Andysob, welcome! I just rejoined today and on day number 1 and what I have noticed is that even though it was 3 years since I've been on here, I come back and get the same encouragement as if I never left! You will too. I teared up when I saw names like Soberwolf, Hevyn, Dee74, names I remember 3 years ago when I was trying to pull my life in the right direction. People that cheered me on when I felt weak. I feel like this is a family, and the best way to stay sober is to stay connected to the SR family!
Do your best
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
1 week is amazing Andy the best the most ultimate tools for early sobriety for me were & still are
Having a recovery plan
Reaching out the second the AV starts whispering
Seeing a Dr regularly telling him/her exactly what the deal is
Reading up on recovery SR is amazing for that & a great resource of reccomended books
Plenty of water
Having a recovery plan
Reaching out the second the AV starts whispering
Seeing a Dr regularly telling him/her exactly what the deal is
Reading up on recovery SR is amazing for that & a great resource of reccomended books
Plenty of water
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