The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living

I recently saw on TV that the increase in deaths that are alcohol related since 1997 has doubled and that the highest incidence of death occurs in women. I think nearly every nite n in our city there is a car accident involving DWI's........scarry , a DWI costs the person about 17 , 000 dollars , and that doesn't include jail time or probation...not worth it...........and its devastating when some one is killed.........Ive lost 2 cousins to being killed in car accidents because the other driver was drunk..............it totally destroyed his pregnant wife and their 2 boys.............not worth it.............

@lloydrt SO sad about your family members deaths due to someone else's poor choices & the loved ones left to suffer at the hands of another's selfish act.

At one point shortly after I stopped drinking, I had shared that a former drinking buddy got her 2nd DUI & had her grandkids in the car with her. She had just got her license back 3 months before that. That was 17 months ago & she is still drinking & denying & lying about her problem while she has lost friends, family members, her health & yet she chooses to poison herself over what we all hold dear!

There all kinds of excuses...they have a disease, they are sick, they had a rough childhood BUT it is also a CHOICE. 😥 And sadly the people who die at their hands have no choices left.

❣

mscanadianbakin wrote: »

New to the 'group'. I abstained from alcohol for three years until Nov of 2018.
I have once again given up booze as of Dec 27, 2019

@mscanadianbakin Welcome! It's great that you're here!

@MCinChicago Thank you. Yes feeling much better. On the mend.

Hi everyone! I haven't checked in since the beginning of the holidays, but I do stop by and read this thread every so often. I've been AF since Jan 1, 2019 and feeling good about having an entire AF year behind me now.

I'm popping in today to give a book recommendation. I just finished reading a new book, Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker. There is some really good information in this book if you can get past language and politics if those things bother you. I personally have not had as wild of a life as Holly or used recreational drugs, but many of the things she mentioned just about drinking I could relate to. I also have read posts on this board which correlate to some of the things she talks about, so I thought some of you might like this book. She talks a lot about the marketing of alcohol and how we've all been programmed to believe it's part of life - a rite of passage. How Big Alcohol is like Big Tobacco. All very good points. She offers some reasons why AA doesn't work for everyone and discusses why other avenues are still good options for leaving alcohol behind. We're not all supposed to be lumped into a category of an alcoholic or a "normal drinker." There is a lot of gray area she covers.

There's a lot more to say about this book and I did skim the end of the book because I've been AF over a year now and didn't feel she was giving me any new info about how to live without alcohol. There's been some criticism for the way she sounds like an entitled white girl who can afford the luxury of therapy, massages, yoga, etc. I think you have to look at it as suggestions for filling up the time that alcohol used to rob from you and not focus on what she spends on her new rituals. It's pretty easy to find low cost ways to entertain and nurture yourself, so I feel like that's a non issue.

Anyway, if any of you read this book and would like to discuss, please let me know! Oh and don't let the title discourage you gentlemen, you can skip the feminism parts of the book and still glean some good information.

NewMeTomG wrote: »

The Daybreak app evolved from the Hello Sunday Morning forum in Australia. One of the downsides is that it isn't free, though many people have found it quite helpful. Those of us who were using the HelloSundayMorning.org free site created a community site for those looking to change their relationship with alcohol by joining other like-minded people at www.newdayforme.org. It is free, safe, no advertising and open to anyone looking to cut down, moderate or quit drinking altogether. It is worth checking out if you are interested.

Thanks for the information! I will check It out!

MCinChicago wrote: »

lorrainequiche59 wrote: »

RubyRed427 wrote: »

Hi Friends, I'm still here reading your messages. I am stuck in bed with the flu so I don't have anything to add to the conversation. But still reading your posts.

I'm a sicko too. I'm on the mend & hoping you are too. 💗

@RubyRed427 @lorrainequiche59 Hope both of you are feeling better today!

Thanks! I am better

Lately, I also have seen several lead articles in NYT and CNN and other sites where it concerns alcohol and the devastating effects. Not sure if it's because it's January (Dry) or maybe more awareness is spreading about the dangers.

Hi glad everyone is better from their sick. Was just going to add if anyone that was struggling noticed how much easier it got know that the holidays are over. It was a constant thought on my mind for a while there. Plus all the party/alcohol commercials are done.
Happy for that because I was considering rewarding myself for good behavior.
Enjoy your weekend.