Everyone is going to have struggles throughout the journey of sobriety, there’s no doubt about it.
Even after 3 years of being sober from alcohol, I still have my temptations of grabbing a cold one.
Struggles throughout the journey of sobriety
Just a few weeks ago, I had my little struggle with alcohol. It was not something I wanted to chat about with anyone and am happy to say that, I did not go towards the bad way.
But, I struggled! It was constantly on my mind.
Even when going to a family get together, I had to say “please, no alcohol around me”.
I mean, I didn’t want to be around it but did not want to put everyone else out…
I am happy to say, everyone around me that night did not consume any alcohol which gave me a sigh of relief.
I had been struggling with the fact of everyone around me at work was either smelling like beer from the night before (or on the way to work) or talking and laughing about the time they had out the night before.
Yeah, I remember those days for myself and would probably have out partied most of them but I keep that to myself and those who have sat and partied with me would know… I did not stop till I was out or the alcohol was gone!
Other than all that, I love hearing their stories knowing that some was bs and some not, either way was fun for a few minutes but it started to make me think.
When I start thinking that way, bad things can happen from what I hear. Yes, you guessed it: RELAPSE!
This is just one time… I have to struggle with those thoughts throughout the journey of my sobriety, everyday.
How do I get past those struggles
Well, to be honest… It’s not easy!!
The things I have to put myself through is torment in itself just to keep from heading towards a relapse.
There are only a few things that I have to physically do as well as mentally do to keep this from happening.
One would be the physical part, that’s easy when I am working. I work very fast and keep on task and sometimes not even take breaks even though that is frowned upon by my Union Brothers yet, that is the way I am keeping from a relapse. (Don’t hate, Brothers).
The other is my eating habits…
I get on this high protein diet of red meat and cheeses. It used to be milk and cookies but that has changed up a bit with me lately.
Yeah, I still hit the milk and cookies when it gets to the breaking point though. I had to towards the end of last week just to level my head out and take myself back to a time long ago.
I have to take myself back to what and how I stopped drinking just to hit that reset button in my head and body to get myself right again.
Once this happens and other things in my life get better, things just seem to fall back into how I don’t struggle from day to day.
I do flip flop a bit on this… I know I say everyday is a struggle and it is but, each day is a different kind and some may be a good struggle, not all has to be bad.
Things I like to do get myself back on track:
- Work
- Blog
- Play games
- Go for a drive along the river
- Eat milk, cookies, steak and cheese
- OH!!! I can’t forget the ice cream as well 😉
- Sometimes just sit on the back porch and think
- Remember why I am where I am today
You just have to find your go to spot for happiness and do what makes you feel better about yourself!
One thing I wish I would have kept with me throughout the journey of my sobriety was to keep a daily journal of everyday up to now.
There you go, a great tip! Keep an everyday journal with you in case you make it like I have and want something to reference back to, to help you remember better of how you were feeling when you took your first sober step!
Well, I did not go into exactly what was on my mind a few weeks back in this post but I feel better for talking about it.
Thanks for taking the time to read about some struggles throughout the journey of sobriety. They are getting easier to see coming and ever better to handle them. None the less, still a struggle.
I wrote a piece about alcohol triggers. If you don’t know what can lead to a possible relapse, you should read “How to avoid alcohol triggers that may lead to relapse“.
Be safe and stay sober,
One Day At A Time