6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

[coalfire]

I enjoy spending time in the archives reading about how previous members of MWO managed their battle. Anyway I thought that this one was good enough to resurrect

6 Things that a Recovering Alcoholic Needs to Learn in Order to Stay Sober.

[one2many]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

Some REALLY good points here, I think this should do into the toolbox thread. Thanks for posting.

[coalfire]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

I was thinking the same thing but I dont like to fill up our precious toolbox with things that people might think are no good. I was waiting to see if anyone else thought the same. Ok then if people have no objections I will put it in.

[greeneyes]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

Spiritual River is a superb site, IMHO.

[kitty72]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

Brilliant link and just what I needed to read today Thanks! x

[coalfire]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

What does IMHO mean? I keep reading it but I never know what it means.

[kitty72]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

coalfire;1077170 wrote: What does IMHO mean? I keep reading it but I never know what it means.

In my humble opinion

[coalfire]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

Well accept my humble thanks:H

[jennyneric]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

This is the one I have trouble with, bad trouble!


5. How to have fun while sober.

When you are trapped in the cycle of alcoholism, the idea of having fun without drinking is not realistic. The active alcoholic has to have booze in order to enjoy themselves.

At first, just getting drunk is a blast. Later on, when we become dependent on drinking, we have to have it in order to enjoy normal activities. For example, going to a movie or watching a sporting event. Alcoholics can enjoy these sorts of things, but only if they are self medicating while they do them. Without the buzz, it is no longer fun. This is one way that dependence affects us.

When an alcoholic sobers up, their “fun” sort of evaporates for a while. They are miserable without the ability to self medicate. And they believe they will never have any fun in their life, ever again.

Why does this need to be learned?

Obviously, in order to avoid relapse in the long term, the alcoholic must learn how to have fun again while sober. If we stay miserable in recovery, we will eventually say “screw it” and go back to what we know: self medicating with alcohol so that we can have a good time.

No matter how serious a person you may be, deep down, everyone knows that they are entitled to have some fun in their life. And just about any alcoholic in early recovery can use this as an excuse to drink, if they want to. They may be feeling down for a while, and going back to the bottle would be “instant fun” for them. Of course, the fun only lasts for a short time, and then we are stuck in the misery of daily addiction again in no time at all. But of course our mind will cling to the good times we had while drinking, and remember those as if they were more plentiful than the bad times.

So learning how to have fun again in sobriety is a key part of preventing relapse. When you can have fun again in sobriety, it takes away an excuse to drink.

What is the best way to go about learning this?

The best way to learn this is to take a leap of faith, and realize that you actually will have fun again if you stick it out in early recovery. Most alcoholics will admit that they have found a way to enjoy themselves, sober, within the first few weeks of sobriety. So it is crazy to believe that you will never have fun again if you get sober.

As we remain sober in early recovery, we start to learn what is fun for us again in the real world. Our idea of what “fun” consists of slowly starts to change. Life becomes interesting and exciting again based on personal growth and various challenges we might face.

[coalfire]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

Hi Jennny. I would love to say I spent weeks dealing with this issue. I wouldnt even mind if I spent months stalled on this issue. I however have spent about a decade stalled on this issue. Well done coalfire!:applaud: Ouch that hurts to write that. Im only starting to get all this now that I am 50 days sober.

[Mohun]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

It took me a few tries as well Coalfire (6 months and still working on it). I read the 6 points and agree with most of it. Good find.

[Kimberley]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

Nice article CF - I have actually seen this posted on the forum somewhere before I think. I would only say that by no means are the 6 points exhaustive - there is SOOOO much to learn!

The fun thing, I remember whenever I did mini detoxes I was the most miserable sod in the world - bar none. I remember sitting in parties or company feeling like everyone was getting on my last nerve for having fun - I wanted to kill them all!

When I finally went long-term sober with a view to doing it for life, I adapted much more easily to my new life and new types of fun. If you have to be drunk to enjoy something, is it really that fun anyway? I love things now like getting active, going to comedy shows, theatre, museums, funfairs, cooking, being creative.

Now I can also happliy go down the pub and not drink when everyone else is. I don't go out with people who are just getting wasted, as that is no longer fun for me, but popping down the pub to watch the footie or to play a bit of pool or chat are good fun if it doesn't tempt you. And I am just as loud sober as I was drunk these days, but at least I talk more sense (I think).

That said, Mohun - I want to eat your avatar. Gosh it looks seriously yummy! I'm making a fruit salad tomorrow...

K x

[damo180]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

Thanks Coalfire.

I never read that, great tips and enjoyed the read.

Congratulationson 50 days AF
Well Done

Damo

[spacebebe01]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

What a brilliant post, it has definately given me something to think about and look at the many, many times I have stopped drinking only to start again and jmp straight back into hell.

Can anyone tell me what the toolbox thread is Im still learning my way round here.

[coalfire]

6 things a recovering alcoholic needs to learn to stay sober.

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...box-27556.html

It has got me through many a dark evening.