Whether you're on it, off it, or somewhere in between
When people first get sober, they often ask, “when will I feel better?” This is a very logical question because when people don’t feel good, they obviously want to feel better. And almost always, early recovery doesn’t feel good and people want to feel better right away. Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer to this frequently […]
Early sobriety is tough for so many reasons. Not only did I have to adjust to a new life without alcohol, I also had to heal from two decades of heavy drinking. However, after my withdrawal from alcohol subsided, I was faced with an unexpected contingency I was not prepared for: boredom. Amongst other symptoms […]
I’m staring out the window, and I can see the moon.What am I going to do now? I can’t sleep. It’s my second night in detox, and they’ve stopped giving me Ativan.I’m no longer a seizure risk, they say.That’s too bad — another night of benzodiazepine-laced sleep would’ve been nice.Especially in this hellhole.I have a […]
For anyone with alcohol use disorder, quitting drinking can feel like a daunting prospect. While early recovery can be uncomfortable and it may seem like progress is slow, the healing begins as soon as the drink is put down. Aside from heavy hitters like lower risk of cancer, heart, and liver disease (and for some, […]
I never thought I had much of a sweet tooth. So when I stopped drinking, I was surprised at the amount of cookies, candy, and ice cream I was plowing through each day, particularly at night. I couldn’t seem to get enough sugar, which was odd considering I typically passed on dessert. Many people who […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Many times throughout my drinking career, I tried to sober up, and each time I had the dilemma of when to tell people. It was really nobody’s business but my own, but for whatever reason, I felt the need to tell people right away. Maybe I wanted to hold myself accountable, or perhaps it was […]
So you got sober, and now you don’t know how to relax. I didn’t know how to either. If you are anything like me, my substance was involved in every facet of my life. Whatever my mood and whatever the occasion, I drank. So, once the alcohol was gone, I was completely lost. Not only […]
On account of my drinking, I have missed out on a lot. I had to be taken home early from my sister-in-law’s wedding because I was annihilated. I was too hungover to go to my niece’s dance recital. I missed countless days of work due to raging hangovers or because I was still drunk from […]