And so it begins AGAIN.. 21 April 2025 (Easter Monday)
This time for six months. I will follow my previous blog post to kick start into sobriety.
Keep an eye on my progress and any new hurdles I come across along the way.
Feel free to join me on the journey and post any comments & tips you find along the way.
I've never been more ready for this!
The Before & After
Having just passed the 75 day mark, I began to explore ME... the before & after.
The Before
(30 words to describe my mind then)
Guilty - Tired - Groggy - Unmotivated - Unhealthy - Anxious - Bored - Scared - Consumed - Tired - Old - Pessimistic - Negative - Sad - Paranoid - Ashamed - Restless - Doubtful - Inadequate - Unworthy - Inferior - Broken - Overwhelmed - Powerless - Invisible - Insecure - Disconnected - Small - Depressed - Fake
The After
(30 words to describe my mind now)
Happy - Free - Healthy - Confident - Assured - Clear - Motivated - Positive - Empathetic - Creative - Capable - Deserving - Human - Wealthier - In Control - Smarter - Grounded - Grateful - Responsible - Dependable - Present - Energised - Alive - Proud - Restored - Balanced - Steady - Empowered - Calm - Peaceful
I won't lie, kicking any habit of a lifetime is difficult. But this one is definitely worth trying if you are experiencing too many of the 'BEFORE' feelings like I was.
Best Things About Being Sober
With another Summer month almost at an end, I continue to stay dry. I am so grateful that I no longer have that FOMO feeling, like my life would be better or less boring with a glass of wine in my hand. Thankfully the cravings have subsided and I am now happy if I have enough alcohol-free drinks in the fridge for the weekend. I truly believe that the toughest part of my journey might be over.
Here are just few things I LOVE about being sober -
- No hangovers - this is a big one!
- No more guilt about over indulging
- Feel more confident in groups on a night out (would have always thought I needed alcohol for that)
- Hair, skin & nails look healthier
- Improved memory & ability to see things clearly
- More money in my pocket
- In general, I'm mentally stronger & able to take on whatever comes my way
To sum it up, I would have always considered alcohol to be a crutch, when in fact it was disabling me from making the most of my life.
Am I Cheating When I Drink 0.5% Alcohol-Free Drinks?
I have passed the 50 day mark, this is a huge deal for me. Still not wanting to get excited as it is very early days, but I really didn’t think I would make it this far. For me, being sober is like looking at life through a focus lens… everything has become clearer. I feel brighter, things don’t seem like as much of an effort and I like myself a bit more.
I’m not saying that every day over the last 7 weeks has been plain sailing. There are still moments when I have cravings. Surprisingly not for a glass of wine but for the something that I used to look forward to, the something that helped me to relax & unwind. Thankfully the selection of non-alcohol drink selections now available in shops have scratched that itch becoming that other something to look forward to whenever the need arises.
It did start to bother me that I started to look at the ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage on the de-alcoholised drinks and began choosing those that had 0.5% ABV just to get a micro hit of alcohol. Does this mean that I’m not fully committed to sobriety? Am I on a slippery slope back to frequent drinking?
I decided to do some online research to find out more.
In most countries, the legal limit for beverages to be labelled ‘Alcohol-free' drinks is a maximum of 0.05% alcohol. 'De-alcoholised' can be used to describe drinks from which almost all the alcohol has been removed leaving only 0.5% - this is usually associated with wines. Studies have shown that drinking alcohol-free beverages can reduce anxiety and be responsible for a dopamine rush, leading to feelings of pleasure and reward. For me, it’s like putting on a nicotine patch when trying to quit smoking.
If you are avoiding drinking alcohol for health or religious reasons, it will be in your best interest to look for 0.0% alcohol free drinks. But for many, drinks with 0.5% are acceptable.
Did you know the following foods contain a percentage of alcohol?
- Ripe bananas - between 0.2-0.4% ABV
- Some breads (burger rolls, rye bread) - between 1.18-1.28% ABV
- Fruit & Fruit juices (grape, orange, apple) - between 0.04-0.5% ABV
- Yogurt & Kefir - between 0.05-2% ABV
- Kombucha - between 0.5-5% ABV
- Vinegars (balsamic, champagne, sherry, wine vinegar) - between 0.1-0.4% ABV
- Condiments like mustard and soy sauce - between 1.5-2% ABV
It’s important to remember, if you have a chronic alcohol addiction problem, it may be best to avoid drinking alcohol-free drinks regardless of ABV%. The taste, smell, and feel of the beverage can trigger cravings and potentially lead to relapse. It might not be worth the risk. Here are some good alternative options.
- Sparkling water with lemon or lime juice
- Tonic water - there are many flavoured options now
- Herbal teas or just a regular nice cup of tea
- Good quality dark chocolate
- Organic apple juice
- Homemade or artisan lemonade
If you need support with alcohol or drug addiction, visit https://www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie/
This Calls For A Celebration... A Sober Celebration?
Being honest, I found myself having wobbly moments the last few days. Almost afraid to acknowledge the length of time that I’ve stopped drinking alcohol (almost 40 days), I had to remind myself to not look back or turn around to spend too much time admiring my achievement so far - it's important to keep looking forward. Saying that, it is the longest stint that I have abstained in about the last 15 years.
The real challenge last week was a celebratory occasion that came up in my life that would usually call for bubbles, and then some! How do people mark special occasions without popping open a bottle of something? After all, isn't it in our DNA dating back to the ancient days of Greece & Rome when celebratory drunkenness was considered an obligation?
So I did some online research for sober ideas to celebrate but really, what was I thinking? I came across suggestions like hiking, organising a movie night or themed party (without alcohol). As I read these options, my alcohol pangs were welling up inside me even more.
So I figured out that the bottom line is, there is really no substitute for the ritual of drinking alcohol when celebrating, and that is just a fact of life.
So, what did I do? I ended up overpaying for a bottle of 0% sparkling wine in Supervalu (€14) and surprisingly, it did the job. I think the fact I paid dearly for a bottle of something felt like I was getting some kind of reward to mark the occasion.
Suffice to say, I have no good recommendations for anyone finding themselves in this same situation.
But if it helps, these tips might ease the pain:
- Cook a special dinner - choose a complicated recipe that requires going to the supermarket to buy alternative ingredients and really make a meal out of it.
- Pay a bit more for a quality non-alcoholic drink, this worked for me.
- Buy yourself some new makeup or perfume (I did this too!). A new lipstick, eye shadow or that serum you have been contemplating buying for a while now. And these treats will complement your new found fresh & glowing complexion.
- Remind yourself that there is always a reason to drink. Tomorrow you might feel like drinking because it’s raining, you’re having a bad day at work, a bad hair day or a tiff with a colleague or friend. There is always a reason to drink alcohol, and a celebration is just one of them.
One Month & Counting
Happy Monthiversary to me... I made it to 31 days and counting!
I am happy to report I have made it 5 days past my most recent attempt at sobriety (see blog Part 1). And it was not that difficult despite the sunny weather! Admittedly spraining my ankle and being heavily medicated on painkillers along the way helped me with temptations!
Here are five tips that I've learned so far...
- Not having an end date for your sobriety helps. You are not forever counting the days to that next drink.
- Keep nice non-alcoholic options stocked in the fridge.
- Explore non-alcoholic cocktails that you can make at home, especially to enjoy on a sunny Friday evening after work. There are many recipes online.
- Buy lots of lemons & limes. This may be my own personal obsession but adding them to sparkling water to accompany your main meal feels like a treat.
- Be kind to yourself & don't put pressure on yourself. If it feels right, it will work for you.
The bottom line is, you really have to want to give up your regular drinking habit.
If you are lucky enough to enjoy a glass or two at the weekends, good for you.
But if your drinking is starting to get you down and consuming you with guilty thoughts,
just give sobriety a go...
Now is as good a time as ever...
Add comment
Comments