The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living

Good Morn I've been reading Gabor Mate's book on addiction and read an interesting point that I'd like to share here. It is in relation to dopamine's (the feel-good chemical in our brains) role in addiction, any addiction, food, sex, alcohol but in this section he highlights drug use. "Environmental cues associated with drug use ~ paraphernalia, people, places, and situations ~ are all powerful triggers for repeated use and for relapse, because they themselves trigger dopamine release. People trying to quit smoking, for example, are advised to avoid poker if they are used to having a cigarette while playing cards. Unless they move to a different area of town or to a recovery home, my Downtown Eastside patients find it virtually impossible to stop drug use, even when they form a strong intention to do so. Not only are drugs readily available, but everything and everyone in the environment reminds them of their habit."

Then further on in the chapter he writes, "Dopamine activity also accounts for a curious fact reported by many drug addicts: that obtaining and preparing the substance gives them a rush, quite apart from the pharmaceutical effects that follow drug injection. "When I drew up the syringe, wrap the tie, and clean my arm, it's like I'm already feeling a hit." Celia, the pregnant woman described in Chapter Six, once told me. Many addicts confess that they're as afraid of giving up the activities around drug use as they are of giving up the drugs themselves."

This applied to my use of alcohol...driving home from work and taking a detour to the wine shop made me feel almost giddy, (this was in spite of my post-morning resolve not to drink that day lol) going in & selecting my bottle (s), having a laugh with a familiar cashiers about it being my 2nd home, anticipating pouring my wine when I arrived home, impatient to get there...then picking out my glass, uncorking the wine and the first pour and first sip...Ahhhhhhh!!! My temporary relief was on it's way, BUT the entire lead-up to the drink gave me a rush of anticipation....like my relief is coming....phew!! I am certain that everyone in this space can relate to this.

For ME, avoiding people, places & situations that involve drinking is vital in my continued work on my sobriety. Although difficult initially to stop associating with my drinking buddies to drink and trying to carve out a different relationship with them while sipping fizzy water or tea, I soon learned who my true friends are and who my drinking buddies were...I cannot get complacent if I want to remain AF. Not that I am never around alcohol or I never am around the people I used to drink with, but I am rarely in those scenarios...My lifestyle is different now....not drinking is my lifestyle, so I am no longer attracted to that scene, but it has been hard won and will be a continual work in progress but the benefits of being AF are now my dopamine hit.

antiderivative wrote: »

Beka3695 wrote: »

Today I am celebrating!!

I am celebrating by feeling well, feeling like getting up and exercising, by feeling like being kind to my body.

The longer I go, the less I even think about it. However, I have zero patience for drunkenness. Others drinking does not bother me, but drunkenness really gets under my skin.

Maybe in the next six months I will learn more patience.

It's my sixth month, too!!! Yay, us! I was just tired of the headaches in the morning for only a few minutes of pleasure. It had diminishing returns all around. I am just done, and it feels great. I've only just started logging my food and exercising about 2 weeks ago, and I've lost 8 lbs so far. I give sobriety a bit of credit.

And congratulations to you too! Outstanding work ladies, everyone sounds really good,hope we all have a great AF day,6:37 am in Vegas another 24 💖

Congrats everyone on the milestones! Just came back from vaca and the thought crossed my mind more than once. Seems like it would go hand in hand palm trees sunny weather..I didn't.
I know my kids are proud of me. Even tho they dont say anything. Id be a real jerk to blow that. Thanks to you all for all your insight wont lie it keeps me going coming back here and reading it all.

JenT304 wrote: »

@aroze0928 Heineken NA. Some of the NA kinds have a trace of alcohol but this one has zero. It does make you feel fun but 5? That's too many calories. It just made me see how impulsively I was drinking. I couldn't have been that thirsty!

I went through the NA Beer phase for awhile after quitting and I found the Heineken the best of the bunch you can buy just about everywhere. To Jen's point though, just not worth the calories. I've been a MPF Member since 2013 and counting the calories in booze was kind of a revelation. Some days I would log 1500 calories of hooch. Since quitting, I really haven't replaced the empty calories but I'll go through 4 or 5 seltzers or Diet Ginger Ales most nights, and no, I'm not that thirsty. Just habit I suppose. Later this month, it'll be 18 months for me and 40 lbs lighter. Another gift of sobriety.

September 25th marks a year from me. Sobriety not only changed my life but it really has allowed me to change others lives too. I read a book by Craig Beck called alcohol lied to me and literally in the snap of my fingers never wanted to deal with it again.

It almost happed today... the stress was almost too much. I had a rocks glass and measured Kaluah for a White Russian. My husband said “you know you don’t want to do that” and I ran out of the room crying.

I’m still sober