courage2

jnds or just noticeable differences are the tiniest differences in level of a stimulus detectable to outside perception. It's a term from psychophysics which is an ultra-cool backwater of psychology.

I'm thinking about jnds because someone, a person in a position of authority who's watched me for a decade, told me today that I'd been to "charm school" over the last 2 years! What he was noticing (maybe without knowing it) were the traces of my recovery, which started almost exactly 2 years ago.

I wonder what specific changes he sees. I know now I sometimes smile, I talk to people, I look them in the eye, of course I don't stink of gin.

What are your just noticeable differences in sobriety?

least

I smile more.

Fly N Buy

I have heard many people recognize changes in ourselves before we do. In my brief sobriety, I have heard a few comments from people that are not in recovery nor are aware of what I am going through - You seem different? Did you get haircut? Yea, something has changed - not sure what.

If I had to pick something out, I suppose it would be my eyes. Clear and bright, unred - and focused. I have become much more engaged and attentive as well.

I have been using snake oil lately though, perhaps it's that as well!

Good topic Courage!
fly

Lola23

I've had a couple of people who have no idea that I quit comment that I look 'fresh'. It was funny actually b/c I could tell they were searching for the right description. Fresh seems to fit how I feel

XIIIXXIXXVI

I'm more "present" and alert... More pleasant to be around I'm sure... More upbeat and outgoing... And definitely less forgetful.

B

Dee74

I'm a heck of a lot wiser

D

Tamerua

I keep my inner dialog to myself. Before, if I didn't like someone, people would know why and how and yada yada. Now, I may think that so and so is a such and such, but I don't say it. Still feel bad for thinking it though.

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courage2

Some more jnds for me in sobriety --

In talking, I don't lose my train of thought mid-sentence anymore.
If you run into me early in the morning, I don't have the shakes.
If you visit my office, you won't see any highball or shot glasses on my shelves.

Notimetoloose

Definitely less silly mistakes... in work and home life. Less little kitchen accidents as well.
My care factor has greatly improved over all, that is really nice...

ex D-Boy

The biggest one for me is that I realized I actually have the ability to love myself and others.

Oops...they're supposed to be the tiniest differences ....boy did I eff that one up lol :\

PaulinaPolitely

my official quit is July 21 too! I've been around since January, but had to go and get into trouble in order to start to make this stick...

courage2

Oh yes LOL! Me and can openers had bad problems.

And I forgot to mention that I'm a lot stronger physically and have visibly better muscle tone and posture.

Deckard

A colleague of mine used to comment, on a fairly regular basis, that I looked "tired." This used to really annoy me, as I was then trying to keep up a normal facade... Perhaps, in retrospect, she was trying to clue me in that something was noticeably wrong.

Know what? After my 2+ sober years, she doesn't ever say that about me anymore!

Meraviglioso

I am much more patient.

DickySix

Hair and skin feel clean and healthy (if that makes sense)
Im also feeling more emotion and not just numb all the time.
I have to ask myself why it took this long to get sober, I guess i just wasnt ready
Great thread!

Jack16

Posted this before, I think, but, after just a week of recovery I spent the evening with a group of friends. Sober, it was so much easier to engage with people, to be genuinely interested, and to be funny. Later when I got home, I got a text from one of the people there, and she just said how good it was to see me, and what great company I had been. That had NEVER happened before, and it put me on cloud nine, I can tell you.

A brilliant thread.

Fly N Buy

My daily routine of leaving the house has been truncated - improved memory! Typically ole fly would have walked in and out of the house at least 4 -5 times every morning before departing. Keys, rats - phone, damn - that letter I was gonna mail, son of a ..... pants? - Well, check!

Now I am able to have a mental check list and gather most everything at once. Cut my the morning in and out down to 1.5 times I would say on average. My wife threaten to get a pet door......

fly

Tamerua

I forgot about this and I don't know how I forgot about it... My legs used to swell like crazy after an eventful weekend (weekend binge drinker here). Haven't had that in a long time now.

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Gilmer

I work harder around the house and do more things outside my comfort level for other people's sake.

NewMe11109

I can process how I am feeling better. I don't swing between such high highs and low lows.