sleepie

Attaining long term sobriety is more difficult as one moves along down the road of alcoholism. Managing to avoid relapse is crucial in that as with most behaviors, the more you engage, the more your brain and body will adapt and then embrace that inclination. This has been my experience, I suspect it is common. Each time one drinks, that desire and need is strengthened- your brain will default to "drink" at the slightest hint or suggestion- or none at all. The cravings, desire and emotional need are heavily present early in sobriety, and it seems that with time, as one adjusts to a non drinking lifestyle, the inclination towards sobriety returns, the need for inebriation declining and fading out quite a bit. It may spike with stressful events- but isn't the daily stone in your shoe, incessant annoyance that it once was. Time strengthens sobriety and I suppose this is what people mean when a "sober muscle" is spoken of.

My sober muscle is fear and and curiosity. Fear of dying from alcoholism, curiosity to see what happens if I don't.

What is your sober muscle, people?

least

My dogs and cats. Staying sober means I take excellent care of them, the good care they need and deserve. And they reward me for staying sober with their love and devotion.

sleepie

Knew that I could expect to hear from you least, those are some very fortunate fur babies!

360startstoday

God... number one muscle.

amazingjoy

Agree with 360...God is my number one muscle. Also I think of my daughter...and my horse...and my dog...and well...there is a whole life outside of the bottle really...so probably another very important muscle is my mind...I'm working on building up my mind and the way I look at things...

Fabela

My kids.

tomsteve

here,too.

and action. i couldnt get sober, be at peace, and have a nice life expecting the world to change to suit me.

and i must continue the action.

zlhzlh

My children, my husband. My respect.

oldsoul1122

Staying spiritually, mentally and emotionally fit.

JoFanelli

Dogs, leopardine geek, old parents to care for,

firstymer

Insight. The ever-elusive, but now starkly obvious recognition that I am not like a "normal" drinker. And I never will be. And for that reason, I can't drink. At all. Ever again.

I hope I never lose that insight. It is my strongest sober muscle.

2ndhandrose

My relationship with God, my (new found) self respect, my relief that I escaped my alcoholic prison alive.

freshstart57

My self respect, my faith in myself. I can do it if I say so.

Just like the Canadian Icon and Life Coach Guru Red Green says:
I'm an man, I can change
If I have to.

I guess.

nova84

My sober muscle is the 3 runs I now do every week...I find it a very physical reminder of what I have been able to accomplish as a result of my sobriety x

ICanDoBetter

Proving to myself each and every day that this is within my control... And I am in charge of my own destiny.

sleepie

That's all pretty great everyone. Let's do well and remember these dearly next a drink seems appealing. Not worth it right?

Alcoholism is so pedestrian... compared to the unique and individual gifts that we can all find for ourselves in life and maybe even use to bring a little more happiness to the world.

Alcohol is bore.

So let's not be boring, how about it people?

FormerWineGirl

Add me to the list of those with 360 on this one!

amazingjoy

Well said sleepie! Well said! Thank you!

Venecia

Developing sober muscles takes work. Sometimes, the best thing you can hold on to is the knowledge that the only thing alcohol does reliably well is make everything worse. Then you find a life increasingly characterized by new attributes.

Time. I found that alcohol's hold on me diminished the longer I gave sobriety my full commitment.

Self-respect. I used to be a person I couldn't respect. That changes when alcohol no longer governs our lives.

Perspective. The further away I get from my old life, the more I see what I have now is -- by miles and miles -- a better life.

Zufrieden

New found respect for the life I have been given to live....