Xmas New Years strategies
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 5,678
Merry Xmas Dee 
@SoberFallon, I'll be on my own this Christmas too, and it's my first sober one. I was worried enough to chuck out the half a bottle of whiskey which was still lingering under my sink, but there are a lot of positives to being alone too. You can do exactly as you want to do, and it can be a really sober Xmas. Even though my family wouldn't try and coerce me into drinking they would still be drinking champagne and stuff and I'd rather just not be around that right now. I plan on having the kind of Xmas I would have had as a kid, just without anyone else around (Do PM me here if you get lonely x).
@SoberFallon, I'll be on my own this Christmas too, and it's my first sober one. I was worried enough to chuck out the half a bottle of whiskey which was still lingering under my sink, but there are a lot of positives to being alone too. You can do exactly as you want to do, and it can be a really sober Xmas. Even though my family wouldn't try and coerce me into drinking they would still be drinking champagne and stuff and I'd rather just not be around that right now. I plan on having the kind of Xmas I would have had as a kid, just without anyone else around
(Do PM me here if you get lonely x).
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: East Coast, The States
Posts: 12,162
Hi All, reading this thread helped me remember that at Thanksgiving I was having a tough time, and so I ducked out as the first to leave to get away from people drinking alcohol. It wasn't so much that I wanted to drink as I found it very irritating to be around people who were drinking because I allowed it to make me feel like an outcast.
In the ensuing month it began to dawn on me that feeling an outcast was a theme for me in my life especially with family and that being a non drinker had nothing to do with me feeling an outcast! I'd felt that way long before I became addicted. This was a huge insight for me!!
And then I also realized that the person I felt similar to and who did not make me feel like an outcast had died (my mother) and so I was especially vulnerable to these old feelings both without her and without alcohol!
So for Christmas Eve with family I told my sister (who was hosting and who knows my story with alcohol) that I may duck out early and might even fib and say I needed to leave because I had other plans.
Well guess what? I was the last to leave! So I really felt surprised and also felt that it showed I had grown in the month since Thanksgiving. I am just offering this story for people to give them hope. I am only sober ten 1/2 months so I see changes and progress
pretty constantly still. So will you if you look. Good luck to everyone and a Happy Sober New Year to us all!! Xxoo
In the ensuing month it began to dawn on me that feeling an outcast was a theme for me in my life especially with family and that being a non drinker had nothing to do with me feeling an outcast! I'd felt that way long before I became addicted. This was a huge insight for me!!
And then I also realized that the person I felt similar to and who did not make me feel like an outcast had died (my mother) and so I was especially vulnerable to these old feelings both without her and without alcohol!
So for Christmas Eve with family I told my sister (who was hosting and who knows my story with alcohol) that I may duck out early and might even fib and say I needed to leave because I had other plans.
Well guess what? I was the last to leave! So I really felt surprised and also felt that it showed I had grown in the month since Thanksgiving. I am just offering this story for people to give them hope. I am only sober ten 1/2 months so I see changes and progress
pretty constantly still. So will you if you look. Good luck to everyone and a Happy Sober New Year to us all!! Xxoo
Sober since October
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In the world in my eyes...Somewhere I've never been before...
Posts: 7,355
Thanks for the thread, Dee)
I'll be alone at home, no big deal for me now.
In addition to all mentioned above, what I found useful for my sobriety, is that a couple of months ago I plugged antenna out of my TV set, and don't watch TV at all. So my mind is not stuffed with continous NY advertisements and media cliches how New Year Eve should look like. Helps me a lot)
My best wishes to all.
Have great holidays)
I'll be alone at home, no big deal for me now.
In addition to all mentioned above, what I found useful for my sobriety, is that a couple of months ago I plugged antenna out of my TV set, and don't watch TV at all. So my mind is not stuffed with continous NY advertisements and media cliches how New Year Eve should look like. Helps me a lot)
My best wishes to all.
Have great holidays)
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 124
I am thinking of marking the new year as a non drinker. I have been drinking on and off so admittedly I am not 'continuing' sobriety yet, although I am planning it. None the less, it would be nice to wake up on New Year's Day feeling fresh and great. What a positive start that would be to the new year as opposed to feeling tired and awful!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,385
Just bumping this to add some articles...if you haven't checked out the new SR front pages yet, I recommend it.
Just click on the SR logo at the top left of the page
A Survival Guide for Holiday Gatherings
5 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays
D
Just click on the SR logo at the top left of the page
A Survival Guide for Holiday Gatherings
5 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays
D
Administrator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,385
Just bumping this to add some articles...if you haven't checked out the new SR front pages yet, I recommend it.
Just click on the SR logo at the top left of the page
A Survival Guide for Holiday Gatherings
5 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays
D
Just click on the SR logo at the top left of the page
A Survival Guide for Holiday Gatherings
5 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays
D
Administrator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,385
p***enger
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 19,027
My suggestion is to try to focus on the best things in any present moment. If you're religious, focus on the spirit of the holiday. If you have a sweet tooth, bake or buy something delectable. If you love music, surround yourself with something particularly festive.
And when you can't find anything good in the moment, try to be patient and kind -- to make not-good things a little better.
I'm hoping to see my son. If that happens, it will be my present, in all senses of the word.
And when you can't find anything good in the moment, try to be patient and kind -- to make not-good things a little better.
I'm hoping to see my son. If that happens, it will be my present, in all senses of the word.
Bump
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,385
Loneliness during the Holidays: How to Cope
The article mentions AA meetings but there are actually many meeting based recovery groups around
Here's some links to the major players
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...formation.html
D
The article mentions AA meetings but there are actually many meeting based recovery groups around
Here's some links to the major players
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...formation.html
D
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