One of our fabulous members @PJNT has made it to over 160 days sober (whoop!), although she says she’s done it “like a reluctant and vocal cat being dragged backwards”. Ha! What a brilliant line.
The truth is some do have an easier time of it in sobriety than others. But really, it doesn’t matter what your recovery looks like, so long as you are trying your best and being honest throughout. @PJNT is doing both.. and I just loved it when she announced her 3 tips for sobriety in the Members Feed the other day. They were so blunt and brilliant. She then followed up by sharing her own personal 9-point care plan – again it was brilliant.
With her permission I am sharing them here. They follows on so well from my last post where I wrote of the elements I focus on in sobriety. Again – please do chip in with your tips and the care elements that you focus on.
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@PJNT’S THREE TIPS FOR SOBRIETY
1. Some days you just have to get to the end of. They are crap, there is nothing that is going to make them not crap, just get to bed sober.
2. Start doing the ‘inner work’ when you feel ready. It is about as much fun as a colonoscopy but, seemingly, necessary to long term sobriety.
3. Keep in touch with your sober support network/s. LS is mine. When I felt myself withdrawing from here, I came very close to the edge. Google emotional/mental relapse – it’s what happens before physical relapse and very interesting.
@PJNT’S 9 POINT CARE PLAN:
1. A green smoothie with a probiotic for breakfast;
2. Exercise;
3. Make a note of the day’s joy;
4. Make a note of the day’s achievements;
5. Meditate;
6. Pray;
7. Do something to nurture my recovery, log on here, listen to a Bubble Hour or similar;
8. Laugh;
9. Eat healthily;
You see, even reluctant and vocal cats are full of sober brilliance.
Love, Mrs D (and @PJNT) xxx
Yeaa, way to go, @PJNT. I’m going to copy these into my sober notes file.
What a fantastic post, I didn’t come to sober easily and @pjnt has been a rock throughout! What a great post above. Thanks for sharing!
Me a rock? Thanks, that is a hugely humbling and motivating comment!!! Wouldn’t have been the same without your humour, grit and grace 🙂
Thanks for this. The subject you said to google is really interesting and the web site is really good. I just found a piece about anxiety depression and addiction. Bam. This explains a lot ‘….Approximately 15 to 30 percent of addicts suffer from both addiction and underlying depression. This is sometimes called a dual diagnosis. People who have both depression and addiction often have a repeating pattern of staying sober for a while and then relapsing because they feel awful.’
http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org
Thanks for that. I watched the short video, at that link and it was very valuable. I am so glad I came back to LS today! I have been away for a few months and trying to “go it on my own”, but I really find the 3 bullets above incredibly honest and excellant. timely advice, which I really needed to hear.
Care plan. Hmmm. Are you by chance a nurse?!
I actually started the green smoothie long before I quit drinking. I guess I thought it blocked some of the damage I was inflicting on my poor body…
Exercise is def helping. Must be more mindful of acknowledging joy and achievements. Thanks for this., it’s great!
I have become obsessed with the Danish political drama “Borgen”. At 5pm I start playing my evening forward so once my kids are in bed I can reward myself with green tea and chocolate. Subtitles require complete sobriety and a date with the couch! In my boozy life I rarely sat down and if I did I’d have been “asleep” in minutes. Season Two here I come.
Love it…and some days if all you can do is curl up and watch tv or read a book or sleep…do it. The goal is making it through the day sober…one day at a time. And remember that this too will pass…
Terrific advice from a very wise woman! Thank you so much for all the research, the wit, and the common sense, so glad to know you PJNT, you are a treasure.
Great post….wish I’d read it yesterday. Never mind. I’m going to take your great advice today.
Love love it!!! Thank you for the great post!!
Great post. Thanks. Coming up to day 30
I think quite a lot of people start developing a spiritual life and it leads from there (did in my case). Others seem to find counseling helpful. If you are open to it happening, maybe keep your eyes open for something that appeals to you and follow from there.
Using my phone. . Not a reliable way to post. Seems to have missed part where I said I am ready to look to inner self. . Need tips on how to go about doing this.
I love this post. You are funny and brilliant!
Fabulous! Inner work as much fun as a colonoscopy!! It can’t be that bad can it? Beautifully succinct 7 memorable which I think is so important for someone like me who has so much rushing round in brain I forget the basics (forgot to eat today – seriously stupid for me as it takes a while to come right. And what was I busy doing? Posting recipes & advice to those trying not to go under … go figure… ) THANKS
Awesomeness! and it’s true some days you just have to get to bed sober and have faith that it gets better.Thanks for the great advice.:D