Posted on 12/16/2004 8:18:49 AM PST by SweetCaroline
Holiday Tips -Take Care of Yourself First-Join the Discussion
"After enjoying sobriety for a few years I realize how many holidays I wasted, drinking in bars, drinking in the kitchen and becoming too drunk to join the family for dinner!" Magic
I lived with the book "Living Sober" for seven years. It offered me very helpful suggestions in some very tricky situations. I learned that no one cares if I'm drinking or not and that "what" I carried in my glass was rarely noticed by anyone. At first I had the usual questions and fears about social activities like, what do I drink and what do I say, etc. I was one of those people that learned to say "Not right now, thank you".
The holiday hype is just another world situation that we have to deal with and with peace and serenity in our lives, it just happens. We must remember that in times of hype and high stress, it's okay to withdraw and quiet our insides until we feel strong again. It took me awhile; it is not an overnight accomplishment. It takes time and that's okay too.
We first have to learn to take care of ourselves and that's not selfish. It's self preservation and growth. We can't give to others what we do not have ourselves and I can't be carried on the whim of other people especially when I realize that at the other end, I will be left with whatever has been created by the situation and the other person probably won't be there nor will they care about my insides or about the level of my peace and serenity.
If I let myself go off the deep end because of people, places, and things, who is there to catch me? No one. Except, GOD. If my life is right with GOD then me and God can handle anything.
Don't let life be controlled by any person or thing or whatever. Be in balance with things as they happen and let you soul be with the Lord and nature and things will work for the good.
Later, An anonymous alcoholic
In my realm, it seems to have decreased. Of course, I am a woman and I don't believe we have as much peer pressure (at least for drinking) as men do.
What a GREAT come back!!!!!!!
Good for you! There is nothing to be embarrassed about and, by sharing your story, you may help out that person as well.
I'm merely hanging out with other sober people in the Program. I'm chairing two meetings on Christmas eve and on Christmas. Seems to work well! :o)
Every morning I pray to my H.P. that He might find a way for me to be of service to my fellow man.
We never are.
Thinking we are fooling people is part of the disease.
I just say, "I don't drink".
The thing that long term sobriety forgets is that this takes self-confidence.
When we were practicing alcoholics we didn't have that.
All of the outward show was a charade. We were scared to death to offend one of our friends. After all, misery has always loved company.
Nan, you hit the nail on the head.
In order to maintain the spiritual level necessary to stay sober, we have to help others. This is AA's Twelfth Step.
We must give away that which has been so freely given to us.
It was for me too. I couldn't count the times I tried and failed. I just knew it was going to kill me some day, but, I didn't know how to stop. That's was my problem, I was trying to do it myself, I couldn't LET GO & LET GOD!. Once I did put in GOD'S HANDS, it got easier. I've been sober almost 4 years, and I thank him every day.
Take it easy. Around AA, "The Holidays" generally mean: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Many refer to them as the Bermuda Triangle, into which people in recovery disappear.
Of course!
The old axiom applies: "A drunk does not like a sober."
They are too insecure within themselves to allow it gracefully.
I assume you do know that coffee will not sober up a drunk and are merely providing an alternative 'acceptable' liquid for their refreshment and an excuse to curtail their alcohol consumption.
It always amazes me how many people believe (falsely) that caffeine is an antidote to alcohol. If you give an inebriated person an entire pot of coffee, all you end up with is a wide awake drunk. The alcohol is still in their bloodstream until the kidneys filter it out. Coffee may make them urinate more frequesntly but it does not speed up the process of filtration.
Well here's a tip,
Always and I mean Always, get one good picture of everyone
where you tell them all to make a face. It's a riot and it really breaks
the tension. Especially if you do it before the dinner begins. Family is Love.
Great idea. God bless you.
In my fellowship, we say: "The newcomer is the most important person in any group, because in order to keep what we have we must give it away."
I try to hang out with those that don't drink also and I have just as great time as I did with my drinking friends. But I miss a really great friend who the others don't invite, because, she gets falling down drunk every time she goes with us. I try to do my time with her before 3 PM (when she starts her drinking) but, I know she wonders why she is not invited into the crowd. I have tried to tell her, but she doesn't get it. I don't know what else to do............
LOL!
My favorite is, I tell them I'm allergic to alcohol.
If pressed, I tell them, "Yeah, it always makes me break out in cocaine smoking."
The shocked looks I get are priceless.
She'll get it. We always get it. The bottoms force us to get it.
Correct. Never give a drunk coffee. You end up with a wide-awake drunk on your hands.
We always kept Syrup of Ipecac around the frat house for bad drunks. One shot and aim them out the door.
Pingarooski
Scary part is, 10 out of 12 times, they miss.
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