Whether you're on it, off it, or somewhere in between
When I had my first drink at the age of 16, I didn’t know that I would become gravely addicted to the substance I was experimenting with. But I had received warnings, including the following advice from my mother to discourage my nail-biting habit: “People with oral fixations become alcoholics. Don’t drink.” But other than […]
If you were faced with a fatal and progressive disease, you’d likely do everything in your power to rid yourself of it. Humans are wired to go to great lengths to avoid death, and I imagine you would, too. You’d follow your doctor’s orders, take medications, try experimental treatments, explore holistic remedies, change your diet, […]
We did it! Winter is over and just like that, it’s the first day of Spring. The days are longer, the weather is warming up and soon enough, the tulips will be blooming. However, for many people in early recovery, the change of seasons can bring about some challenges. After being shut in by the […]
Parades, corned beef, shamrocks, and wearing green are just a few ways people celebrate Ireland’s foremost patron saint, St. Patrick every year on March 17th. But the 40 shades of green and Irish dinner aside, most people mark this holiday with drinking — a lot of drinking. And that’s probably because this holiday is associated […]
The first year of sobriety is tough—no joke. In the early days of my recovery, after my alcohol withdrawal symptoms subsided and my “pink cloud” completely evaporated, I felt emptier than ever. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, a huge part of my adult life had revolved around alcohol. And suddenly, I couldn’t […]
When I was still drinking, Super Bowl Sunday was always followed by a dreadful, hungover Monday. Even though I never watched sports, or cared about anything other than my pool numbers, I always drank like a monster. While some drinkers can turn any old day into a drinking occasion, certain calendar markers can become just […]
I hate winter. Especially once January hits, and we’ve got three long months ahead and nothing but freezing forecasts and deceptive wind chills. I get blue. Really blue. Like a lot of us do: Seasonal Affective Disorder is in the DSM and while I may suffer from a touch of it, I think most of […]
Every year on January 1st, I listen to “New Year’s Day” by U2. The line, “all is quiet, on New Year’s Day” always feels real to me. Something about the holiday has a kind of calm, silent, and weird feeling to it. The madness of the holidays is over (thank god), it still gets dark […]
The holidays. They say it’s a joyous time for family, feasts, and festive cheer. But, if you’re in recovery, it can be a time for navigating the treacherous waters of the “Holiday Bermuda Triangle.” The Bermuda Triangle, a term coined in the rooms of AA, consists of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Three back-to-back points […]
Fatigue in early recovery is real and I forgot how absolutely drained I felt all the time till my friend complained of exhaustion when she was counting days. For anyone beginning the journey of sobriety, physical and mental fatigue can feel overwhelming and unmanageable. You’ve taken an incredible first step by choosing recovery, but early […]
What’s worse than recalling an embarrassing thing you did while you were drinking? Not remembering anything at all. Coming to the realization that you were in a blackout can be a scary way to wake up. You may ask yourself a variety of horrifying questions, including, “What did I do? What happened? How did I […]