Keep Calm and Sober On! Weekender Jan 29
A simple guy making his way
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
Keep Calm and Sober On! Weekender Jan 29
Calm... Keep calm is the saying!
In the early days of sobriety I was anything but calm. How was I supposed to get through something that consumed my mind every minute. Both day and night.
One aspect to getting sober that always bothers me, and this day is no exception, is that I can never seem to rest from addiction. It takes no time off from me. Granted there are very quiet days, but for the most part I consciously wake a drunk and I go to sleep a drunk.
That doesn't mean I don't live a full sober life. That does not mean something is hanging over me. It just means I have now come to understand and actively recognize another part of me. An attribute. A single thing about me.
Addiction is not the whole of me. I accept it. I keep calm and I sober on.
*Ring Ring*
What does it mean? In the words of Mecanix...
“The first bell is the bell of mindfulness, calling to me and you.
It says stop what am i doing right now, take some breaths, feel my body, am I holding it tight and tense? Relax… calm down… life is a journey and not a destination, make the journey as glorious as possible.
The second bell is the freedom bell and I'm ringing it for you to let you know freedom from drink and drugs is available to you, come and hear us calling out to you.”
Welcome to your sober weekend!!!
In the early days of sobriety I was anything but calm. How was I supposed to get through something that consumed my mind every minute. Both day and night.
One aspect to getting sober that always bothers me, and this day is no exception, is that I can never seem to rest from addiction. It takes no time off from me. Granted there are very quiet days, but for the most part I consciously wake a drunk and I go to sleep a drunk.
That doesn't mean I don't live a full sober life. That does not mean something is hanging over me. It just means I have now come to understand and actively recognize another part of me. An attribute. A single thing about me.
Addiction is not the whole of me. I accept it. I keep calm and I sober on.
*Ring Ring*
What does it mean? In the words of Mecanix...
“The first bell is the bell of mindfulness, calling to me and you.
It says stop what am i doing right now, take some breaths, feel my body, am I holding it tight and tense? Relax… calm down… life is a journey and not a destination, make the journey as glorious as possible.
The second bell is the freedom bell and I'm ringing it for you to let you know freedom from drink and drugs is available to you, come and hear us calling out to you.”
Welcome to your sober weekend!!!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Domhan
Posts: 1,974
In my excitement of gaining shotgun, I forgot to comment on this weekends theme.
Thinking back, I have had difficulty with staying calm since my teenage years. I have always been plagued with worries and shyness in particular situations. I recall getting my first panic attack and thinking I was going to die. Where does this anxiety come from: I'm not sure. It seems to run in the family to a certain extent. Then I began to add alcohol and drugs into this mix. These substances gave me the illusion that I was coping in social situations, when in reality it was making my anxieties pathological. Problems with substances also run in my family.
Now that I am sober, I have returned to a normal, acceptable level of anxiety. It's probably a mixture of genetics and social learning, as is addiction.
Now the challenge I face in life is how can I live with these uncomfortable feelings and stay connected to others and the world, without returning to unhealthy inebriation and self destruction.
B
Thinking back, I have had difficulty with staying calm since my teenage years. I have always been plagued with worries and shyness in particular situations. I recall getting my first panic attack and thinking I was going to die. Where does this anxiety come from: I'm not sure. It seems to run in the family to a certain extent. Then I began to add alcohol and drugs into this mix. These substances gave me the illusion that I was coping in social situations, when in reality it was making my anxieties pathological. Problems with substances also run in my family.
Now that I am sober, I have returned to a normal, acceptable level of anxiety. It's probably a mixture of genetics and social learning, as is addiction.
Now the challenge I face in life is how can I live with these uncomfortable feelings and stay connected to others and the world, without returning to unhealthy inebriation and self destruction.
B
A simple guy making his way
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
Great self awareness Behan, Uncomfotable feelings is something we all face. Having a common goal one would think we should be able to see that or know that about everyone we meet. Make it easier for ourselves and others. But that's not what life seems to be about. For me anyway.
When I have a fit of those uncomfortable feelings I cannot seem to see past my own nose. Hopefully I can strik a balance in my sober life. Let in more good feelings that allow me to be sustained in the uncomfotable moments.
When I drank ever moment began to be scary. Even when I was supposedly sober in between drinks.
I did learn one thing. That when I was drinking and days seemed to blend into one another I never got refuge from the intense fear and hopelessness. I had no division between episodes. And so thing mounted and mounted.
Now I have better cycles. I can find a logical end to uncomfortable feelings. I can wake tomorrow remembering yesterday and can put them where they belong. No more dragging around the pains I stacked on top of one another until I could no longer pull them forward.
Thanks for helping me see that today. Reminding me.
Ok folks... I need to get busy at work.
K
When I have a fit of those uncomfortable feelings I cannot seem to see past my own nose. Hopefully I can strik a balance in my sober life. Let in more good feelings that allow me to be sustained in the uncomfotable moments.
When I drank ever moment began to be scary. Even when I was supposedly sober in between drinks.
I did learn one thing. That when I was drinking and days seemed to blend into one another I never got refuge from the intense fear and hopelessness. I had no division between episodes. And so thing mounted and mounted.
Now I have better cycles. I can find a logical end to uncomfortable feelings. I can wake tomorrow remembering yesterday and can put them where they belong. No more dragging around the pains I stacked on top of one another until I could no longer pull them forward.
Thanks for helping me see that today. Reminding me.
Ok folks... I need to get busy at work.
K
Giving up is NOT an option.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 7,808
Originally Posted by Weasel1966 
When I drank ever moment began to be scary. Even when I was supposedly sober in between drinks. I did learn one thing. That when I was drinking and days seemed to blend into one another I never got refuge from the intense fear and hopelessness. I had no division between episodes. And so thing mounted and mounted. Now I have better cycles. I can find a logical end to uncomfortable feelings. I can wake tomorrow remembering yesterday and can put them where they belong. No more dragging around the pains I stacked on top of one another until I could no longer pull them forward.
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
In I am! In I am!
There are people who claim they made it through early sobriety without a lot of anxiety, but I am not sure I believe them. I was a bucket of nerves the first few months.
Thank God, The Universe, Oprah, and Mark Zuckerberg it gets better!
Originally Posted by Weasel1966
In the early days of sobriety I was anything but calm.
Thank God, The Universe, Oprah, and Mark Zuckerberg it gets better!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 13,040
I made the first page! At least I think I did, we shall see when I post!! This Saturday I will hit 30 days, and I am very excited about that. I have been on SR for a few years, but this time I feel different and have no intention of returning to drinking.
Have a great weekend everyone!!!!
❤️Delilah
Have a great weekend everyone!!!!
❤️Delilah
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,443
It was just a drizzle when I left to,
Take the dog to go pee and poo,
A half a mile, all I could get,
Before I did become soaking wet.
Now I love it when it rains and pours,
I just much prefer it being indoors.
Feeling very limericky this morning.
Take the dog to go pee and poo,
A half a mile, all I could get,
Before I did become soaking wet.
Now I love it when it rains and pours,
I just much prefer it being indoors.
Feeling very limericky this morning.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
