Being drunk is stressful
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 172
Being drunk is stressful
We are on vacation and I’m making it!! I was on a 8 hour flight with free drinks and a husband who doesn’t care if I drink and I made it! I went to dinner and could have drinks and I made it! I went to the beach where there were fun tropical drinks and I made it! I went to lunch and was offered beer and I made it!
Want to know what all this means??
-I didn’t have to pee 100 times on the flight
-talking to those around me I didn’t have to feel self consioncious if I was slurring or too loud.
- I could focus through a foreign airport to help my husband figure out where we were going.
-I was coordinated enough to carry three bags, and push a stroller.
- I could put in the car seat when my husband got frustrated with it.
-I could feel rested enough even though I only slept four hours because my daughter has jet leg and is waking way way too early.
-I was at the beach and sitting and enjoying it instead of calculating where and when I could run back to get another drink or hide mixing one on the beach
-I don’t have to worry about the when and where at any point during the day (or hiding drinks around other people because if you’re having to do that, then what you’re doing would probably be looked down on)
-I haven’t had to spend a zillion dollars
-I can think clearly and confidently
-I can remember everything
-I can feel my happiness for real
I’m feeling such freedom!! My husband has even cut back substantially. He made a comment yesterday saying how normally our mini fridge would be stacked with beer and we’d have a bottle or so of wine and rum on the counter, now we have a gallon of milk and an array of soda. He has had a few drinks (which I think the plane was the hardest moment of battling the AV for me) but so far I try to just ignore what he’s doing.
I’m feeling so happy to be reaching 52 days and be in this kind of a situation to find relief of not drinking than feeling the stress of the AV. I’m also not naive enough to think I can sit back to it too-I’ll try to keep posting here about how it’s going or if I hit a struggle. So far focusing on how much I get to enjoy this and not obsess or stress is making not drinking well worth it!!
Want to know what all this means??
-I didn’t have to pee 100 times on the flight
-talking to those around me I didn’t have to feel self consioncious if I was slurring or too loud.
- I could focus through a foreign airport to help my husband figure out where we were going.
-I was coordinated enough to carry three bags, and push a stroller.
- I could put in the car seat when my husband got frustrated with it.
-I could feel rested enough even though I only slept four hours because my daughter has jet leg and is waking way way too early.
-I was at the beach and sitting and enjoying it instead of calculating where and when I could run back to get another drink or hide mixing one on the beach
-I don’t have to worry about the when and where at any point during the day (or hiding drinks around other people because if you’re having to do that, then what you’re doing would probably be looked down on)
-I haven’t had to spend a zillion dollars
-I can think clearly and confidently
-I can remember everything
-I can feel my happiness for real
I’m feeling such freedom!! My husband has even cut back substantially. He made a comment yesterday saying how normally our mini fridge would be stacked with beer and we’d have a bottle or so of wine and rum on the counter, now we have a gallon of milk and an array of soda. He has had a few drinks (which I think the plane was the hardest moment of battling the AV for me) but so far I try to just ignore what he’s doing.
I’m feeling so happy to be reaching 52 days and be in this kind of a situation to find relief of not drinking than feeling the stress of the AV. I’m also not naive enough to think I can sit back to it too-I’ll try to keep posting here about how it’s going or if I hit a struggle. So far focusing on how much I get to enjoy this and not obsess or stress is making not drinking well worth it!!
This post gave me chills. Man do I know about the stress of "needing" to get a drink while everyone else is imbibing responsibly. Planning how and when to pretend to need to use the bathroom, or get a work call - and then slip out to crush a few (never enough) before heading back to the group or my wife.
It's exciting to think of not having to think of that and instead enjoying the life, vacation etc that we have in front of us.
Thank you for this awesome post. Keep us updated on the trip please! I have a long weekend planned next month and I can't wait to do it sober.
It's exciting to think of not having to think of that and instead enjoying the life, vacation etc that we have in front of us.
Thank you for this awesome post. Keep us updated on the trip please! I have a long weekend planned next month and I can't wait to do it sober.
Great post! You should be proud to be so strong and smart! Love that the hubby is cutting down! Here's to a great new life for you both! Your children deserve to have such great parents!
This was a very enjoyable read. Always good to hear things going well. I have off and on kept a journal over the years and I try and document when I see things as you have seen here and feel so happy to be sober. Seems lots of times we journal and document the bad things thinking it helping us to acknowledge, but documenting the good and even great is helpful too. Thanks for sharing your sober observations.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 23
I loved this post!
I'm so happy for you!
You're making so many memories, none of which will be marred by embarassment or shame. And you're giving yourself the opportunity to truly relax and unwind with good, healthy sleep, even if it's short.
I can relate, I spent a month in another country a few months ago and was sober the whole time. My family and peers jeered and tried to get me to drink with them, but I remained strong.
One older guy on the trip started jokingly calling me "underage" because of my refusal. I liked being called younger than I am, so it didn't phase me in the least.
You're making so many memories, none of which will be marred by embarassment or shame. And you're giving yourself the opportunity to truly relax and unwind with good, healthy sleep, even if it's short.
I can relate, I spent a month in another country a few months ago and was sober the whole time. My family and peers jeered and tried to get me to drink with them, but I remained strong.
One older guy on the trip started jokingly calling me "underage" because of my refusal. I liked being called younger than I am, so it didn't phase me in the least.
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 1,068
As someone who has now experienced several alcohol free vacations I notice that I am actually well rested when I return from vacation. What a nice difference. When I was drinking vacations meant more alcohol units per day. So I was just beating the crap out of myself.
Thanks for this post ReadyGo! I am leaving for a work trip next week and my travel companion is a drinker and I was having a little anxiety on not having a drink with her because we drank a lot together in the past. You have given me strength!
Awesome post. Great observations. So true!!
When first quitting we think we'll be "deprived" by not drinking, but it's actually the opposite. We were willingly depriving ourselves of the true joys available on a vacation with family and friends .. by using up time thinking about drinking, hiding it, planning it, recovering from it, instead of on legitimate pleasures and real connections.
I went on a beach vacation with family only about 6 weeks in to sobriety and it was a revelation.. to be able to wake up on time with everyone and enjoy breakfasts out, instead of having to sleep off a hangover... to not be faking reasons to go to the store to buy a bottle of wine and hide it in the car... to pour red Solo cups of wine and hide them behind boxes of cereal or even a clothes closet so no one knew how much I was drinking. It was exhausting. What a relief to live instead in the free and clear, with no shame and truly PRESENT.
So happy you are reaping the rewards! Enjoy every minute of your vacation!
When first quitting we think we'll be "deprived" by not drinking, but it's actually the opposite. We were willingly depriving ourselves of the true joys available on a vacation with family and friends .. by using up time thinking about drinking, hiding it, planning it, recovering from it, instead of on legitimate pleasures and real connections.
I went on a beach vacation with family only about 6 weeks in to sobriety and it was a revelation.. to be able to wake up on time with everyone and enjoy breakfasts out, instead of having to sleep off a hangover... to not be faking reasons to go to the store to buy a bottle of wine and hide it in the car... to pour red Solo cups of wine and hide them behind boxes of cereal or even a clothes closet so no one knew how much I was drinking. It was exhausting. What a relief to live instead in the free and clear, with no shame and truly PRESENT.
So happy you are reaping the rewards! Enjoy every minute of your vacation!
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