I’m having an emotional couple of days. I was a bit shaky yesterday, cried at Yoga last night – not sure why – was doing a downward dog and the tears were plopping down onto my mat. Slept like crap (cats fighting outside didn’t help) and found myself listening to Tara at 4am. God I love that woman…(!).
This isn’t for sympathy or to whine or even really open myself up too much, but just to reiterate that we all have our ups and downs all the time.. life’s like that.. moods come and go, hormones surge, shit happens, yadda yadda. Living sober means dealing with all of that stuff raw and that’s what I do now and that’s fine. I don’t crave alcohol any more.. I just grit and grind my way through.
And I do the things that make me feel good – listen to Tara (of course), listen to cheesy pop music (just bought Taylor Swift’s Red album and it’s playing loudly as I type – so fun!), burning oils (hippy me), eating a little bit of sugar (white chocolate – a small bar I promise!) and most important of all I talk to people who are trying to get sober. I talk to them on their blogs, and I talk to them here at Living Sober.
I do this for them and I do it for me. Because helping others helps me. It’s actually been researched and proven – helping others brings measurable physical and psychological benefits to the helper according to this addictions researcher in the US. Her studies have shown that addicts who help others, even in small ways—can significantly improve their chances of staying sober and avoiding relapse.
It’s called Service.
The wonderful podcast show for people in recovery The Bubble Hour has just done an entire episode on this concept. They say in their introduction “When we were drinking, we felt afraid and lonely. We craved isolation on the one hand, but on the other hand, we were terrified at how alone in the world we felt. Now, in sobriety, we have learned to let down our guard. Vulnerability and honesty make room for authentic connections with our family and friends, with other people in recovery, with our communities. Building a true network fills us with joy and a new sense of safety in the world. How do we make this good stuff last? How do we keep our fears and our egos from busting up our serenity, especially in a way that threatens our sobriety? The answer is simple: Service!”
That’s one of the main great things about Living Sober – it provides a forum where we can very easily help each other and provide ‘service’ (to use the technical term…!) The other great thing is that here in a safe, anonymous environment we can start to reveal our truths.
Writing truthful updates about where you’re at is helpful thing #1. Commenting on others updates and boosting them along is helpful thing #2. With those combined you will be well on your way to Peaceful Sobriety Island.
Living Sober Members are already getting this. Check out this interaction from last night:
Member 1 Update: “6.10pm. Hanging on to the wagon – just! All I can say is I’m pleased there is no booze in the house.
Member 2 Reply: “Stay focused mate, one more sleep and another day ticked off – you can beat it man.
Member 3 Reply: “Think about climbing into bed sober. Think about waking up hangover free.”
Member 4 Reply: “Hey that’s the advice he gives to everyone else! Come on, you can do it – go out and mentor someone else on the page and build your resolve – before you know it you will be on that wagon riding across the prairie leaving those demons in your dirt!”
Member 5 Reply: “Ride it out kid. I’m only one day behind you in the conga line so I guess that means I’ve got your back. Check you in the morning buddy. You’ve got this.
Member 6 Reply: “You have been so supportive of others on this site, you CAN do it. You will be so pleased with yourself tomorrow.
Member 1 Update: “7.30pm. Another sober day. So satisfying. Thank you Mrs D and friends. To those of you who made it through today, whether it’s Day 1 or 101 – congratulations. You rock! That booze shit is soooo addictive. To those of you who struggled and were beaten by the booze, remember, we are in this for the long haul, we are here for each other, and tomorrow is a new day. ‘Night all, and thankyou. From the bottom of my heart. xx
Now if that interaction doesn’t make your Tuesday better I don’t know what will.
Love, Mrs D xxx
I would love, one day, to be in a position where I feel I can make a difference to someone going through what I am right now. Thank you Mrs D and this community for being here, the arrival of this site was very timely for me in so many ways.
I had one of the worst nights I’ve had since I sobered up 157 days ago last night, just felt completely unravelled and frayed…. and it was for no apparent reason. Guess that’s life.
Hi Mrs D, I have been listening to Tara as well- thanks you have me hooked.:)
Its just nice to know we all have this place (blog) to come too when we feel the need. I too have been edgy at bit, but now know it will pass. Bloody full moon I think!!! 43 days for me- yay. Just had cuppa with friend and she as well as another have cut their drinking down, as well as my husband. Spreading the word- So cool.
Thank you Mrs. D again for being so wonderful and for expressing exactly how I was feeling this evening… RAW… instead of being numb with alcohol I felt raw and that is okay. Need to get my laptop so I can type more. Using my phone is difficult and tiring. Day 1 almost done and on to Day 2. I know with the support here I am bound to be successful.
Yup – its about service and community, and it’s really really working xx
I can’t get on the website, it just wont go thro. I dont know why. Have tried several times! Please help.
I think you’ve put in to words what my brains been scratching around. I’m getting immense satisfaction knowing that a comment or a cyber high-5 from me is helping someone else keep their resolve. Which in turn is spurring me on. Reading how others fight this god awful shit with their mind and physical being is more than enough convincing that I’m not missing out on anything by staying sober.
Thanks everbodeeee xxx
🙂 ’nuff said. xx