First Work Trip
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Posts: 153
First Work Trip
I am 4 weeks sober today and away with my work for the first time since getting sober. I thought I would post for the next few days as it was on a work trip that I threw away nearly a year's sobriety the last time.
Anyhow, I arrived yesterday and the socialising began. It was ok. I had 4 pints of lime and soda (and wondered why I felt bloated at the end of the evening). I thought about whether I would like a glass of wine, but actually I didn't - I tried to keep focused on how there is not "a" glass of wine - singular - in my world.
I was also lucky in that at the restaurant in the evening I ended up sitting opposite the only other person who wasn't drinking. I only know that he does not drink alcohol, I don't know why, but that didn't matter - it felt like I had back up.
Anyhow, I arrived yesterday and the socialising began. It was ok. I had 4 pints of lime and soda (and wondered why I felt bloated at the end of the evening). I thought about whether I would like a glass of wine, but actually I didn't - I tried to keep focused on how there is not "a" glass of wine - singular - in my world.
I was also lucky in that at the restaurant in the evening I ended up sitting opposite the only other person who wasn't drinking. I only know that he does not drink alcohol, I don't know why, but that didn't matter - it felt like I had back up.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,373
Glad you got through ok Bimbott - not sure I could manage 4 pints of lime and soda tho 
Keep working on a plan -likely scenarios and how to manage them - plus an emergency break glass escape plan and you'll be fine
D
Keep working on a plan -likely scenarios and how to manage them - plus an emergency break glass escape plan and you'll be fine
D
Blue Belt
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Soberville, USA
Posts: 4,174
Bim,
Nobody at work really cares that I don't drink anymore. I really didn't have any work problems until I was quitting.
Even those were minor altercations brought on generally by some over assertive folks that pushed my buttons during the early days.
These days I am plodding along doing the best my proudly non drinking self can muster. It works out. Noboday at work really shines too bright anyway...except the boss. As it should be in his world.
I always enjoy the company of non drinkers more these days. When I am around drinkers I try not to judge, I was the worst of them. I understand they are addicted. Even the guy that only has 2. He is a bit addicted. If he didn't have those 2 beers, he would be craving.
Sr and the internet made me aware. Initially I had horrid mental anguish and physical ailments that took a couple of years to settle down. These issues had been getting progressively worse for years prior to quitting. The addiction kept me ignorant.
Booze is poison.
Thanks.
Nobody at work really cares that I don't drink anymore. I really didn't have any work problems until I was quitting.
Even those were minor altercations brought on generally by some over assertive folks that pushed my buttons during the early days.
These days I am plodding along doing the best my proudly non drinking self can muster. It works out. Noboday at work really shines too bright anyway...except the boss. As it should be in his world.
I always enjoy the company of non drinkers more these days. When I am around drinkers I try not to judge, I was the worst of them. I understand they are addicted. Even the guy that only has 2. He is a bit addicted. If he didn't have those 2 beers, he would be craving.
Sr and the internet made me aware. Initially I had horrid mental anguish and physical ailments that took a couple of years to settle down. These issues had been getting progressively worse for years prior to quitting. The addiction kept me ignorant.
Booze is poison.
Thanks.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
Good job!!
My first work trip sober was a TEN DAY TRIP TO VEGAS.
I managed through it, and like you I took note of others not drinking and took strength in their presence - reminding myself "NOT EVERYONE" has to drink.
Also, I noted that many of those who weren't drinking were senior, leaders, execs.... that gave me further strength.
I retreated to my room early and took excuses to depart from the socialization by mentioning critical work I needed to catch up on.
When I got up in the morning I started the day with checking in on the forum and reading a few newcomer stories to remind me of why I'd chosen sobriety.
At night I read chapters of the Big Book.
I held my sobriety coin in my pocket as a touchstone.
I even snuck off to a couple meetings.
10 days of free-flowing booze and after-hours parties and debauchery all around me - and I stayed sober the entire time and went home feeling like a million bucks.
That trip gave me such strength..... you can do this.
My first work trip sober was a TEN DAY TRIP TO VEGAS.
I managed through it, and like you I took note of others not drinking and took strength in their presence - reminding myself "NOT EVERYONE" has to drink.
Also, I noted that many of those who weren't drinking were senior, leaders, execs.... that gave me further strength.
I retreated to my room early and took excuses to depart from the socialization by mentioning critical work I needed to catch up on.
When I got up in the morning I started the day with checking in on the forum and reading a few newcomer stories to remind me of why I'd chosen sobriety.
At night I read chapters of the Big Book.
I held my sobriety coin in my pocket as a touchstone.
I even snuck off to a couple meetings.
10 days of free-flowing booze and after-hours parties and debauchery all around me - and I stayed sober the entire time and went home feeling like a million bucks.
That trip gave me such strength..... you can do this.
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Good job and thanks for sharing! And- I don't know how it would stack up against pints but I do thru about 8-10 cans of lime soda water (w extra lime!) a day - plus coffee in the morning and a diet coke and diet lemonade to last the day. Some people laugh bc it IS excessive but it's totally worth the $ 
Keep going!
Keep going!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Posts: 153
Thank you all 😀
I've survived evening number 2. There was no compulsion to drink, which was brilliant. I ate, had a couple of sodas and walked home with a couple of others who didn't want to 'go out on the lash' as it is called in some parts of the UK.
I've survived evening number 2. There was no compulsion to drink, which was brilliant. I ate, had a couple of sodas and walked home with a couple of others who didn't want to 'go out on the lash' as it is called in some parts of the UK.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Posts: 153
Originally Posted by D122y 
I always enjoy the company of non drinkers more these days. When I am around drinkers I try not to judge, I was the worst of them. I understand they are addicted. Even the guy that only has 2. He is a bit addicted. If he didn't have those 2 beers, he would be craving.
However, I have never shifted this thinking to alcohol. I don't look at people who drink as addicts - it has never seemed as black and white - it would certainly make sobriety easier if I could view it this way.
Anyhow, thank you.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Posts: 153
Originally Posted by Bathbomb
Hi Bimbott, just checking in. How's the work trip going or perhaps you're home now. Hope it all went well.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Great going thru this so far and I echo what Dee said! Plan for this last day and the trip home. Like what you'll have on hand to drink, the activity of wrapping things up, checking out, the trip home, whatever it is that's concrete. Remember to breathe and look forward to being home.
Let us know when you get back safely!!
Let us know when you get back safely!!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Posts: 153
Well, I got back yesterday in one piece, aka Sober!! I feel really positive after that - it's given me confidence that I can do it and it doesn't suck - which is good, as I'm away again in a week's time.
Hope you other Aprilers are all ok?
Hope you other Aprilers are all ok?
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
So great, bimbott! Proud of you. These 'firsts' are important for our confidence, comfort in our new recovery (and later, too!)...
I'm going to throw in what the wise Dee said early on in my journey that stuck w me. AFTER a successful sober event of some kind (a wedding, a holiday, even just a family dinner!) is an important time to boost our sober practices. Feeling good about what we did -but not taking where we are for granted. You are newly sober so I'd especially recommend sticking here, monitoring your emotional state, not isolating or whatever the 'old habits' you had were, and so on. This can be a risky time so I'd highly suggest planning your days and thinking thru things starting with today, and this wkd!
you're 'safely' back to your regular life - odaat and keep it up!
I'm going to throw in what the wise Dee said early on in my journey that stuck w me. AFTER a successful sober event of some kind (a wedding, a holiday, even just a family dinner!) is an important time to boost our sober practices. Feeling good about what we did -but not taking where we are for granted. You are newly sober so I'd especially recommend sticking here, monitoring your emotional state, not isolating or whatever the 'old habits' you had were, and so on. This can be a risky time so I'd highly suggest planning your days and thinking thru things starting with today, and this wkd!
you're 'safely' back to your regular life - odaat and keep it up!
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