Sober for the holidays

[Charlize]

This is a difficult time for anyone who has a problem with drugs or alcohol. This article may provide some hope for a sober holiday season.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-gillette/holidays-sober-new-years-2012_b_1172499.html

I got sober in February 8 + years ago so i know it can be done. Even so each year i'm again confronted by what seems to be a national obsession with getting wasted.

we're here for you if you need to reach out.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Robin Silk]

thanks Charlize

i am new to the forum and am going through my 3rd sober holiday season. it is always a tougher time for me as exposure to occasions where alcohol will be available happen much more often. AA has been a great help and think a forum that ties my transgender and alcohol issues together seems like a miracle!! merry xmas all Robin

[Charlize]

At this time of year many of us are under additional stresses.  Many have lost family and friends due to normal life or because of transition.  The days are short and we miss the sun and the comfort it can bring.  I know i can drop into a deep sadness and depression at this time of year.  When i was a child i was joyful but today that joy can quickly slip into dark places.  I am fortunate to have found support for others like myself, both alcoholics and trans* folks.  We can help each other as no-one else can.  Please if you are having problems with alcohol or substance abuse contact me or someone else here.  PM or post.  I will certainly be happy to help as i can.  There is also a wonderful group of trans* AA folks who maintain an open Zoom room where you can talk in real time and see others who share both addiction issues and those that arise from being Trans*.  Just contact me or see the topic that discusses that group.

 

Big hugs and hopefully only Joy for this holiday season,

 

Charlize

[Timber Wolf]

Hi Everyone,

The holiday's have never really been a trigger for me as when I was an active druggie (alcoholic too) every day of the year was "Happy Newyear". I have had a little over 10 years drug and alcohol free now, so like Charlize, my life is another testimony that it can be done! It's hard at first, but does get easier with time. The temptation never completely goes away, but we learn methods of coping with it when it does come around. One of the most powerful methods I have found is talking with other recovering addicts and/or alcoholics. I always keep an eye on the alcohol and drug abuse forums here at Laura's, so if you ever want to post when you're having a tough period staying clean or sober, you won't have to wait terribly long for a reply. You can PM me if you want more privacy. What's said between us stays between us always. Many of us here have had our problems with substance abuse, and most any of us who have recovered I'm sure would be happy to listen and share our hope, strength, and experience. Have a great, safe, and clean and sober holiday season everyone!

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf?

[VickySGV]

Congratulations LIsa and welcome to a new wonderful and wonderfilled part of life.

Just because I have not been posting here much recently, I am still a recovering Alcoholic without any doubt.  Facing my Gender issues 8 years ago at this time with a clear mind was indeed a gift that keeps on giving.  Just facing my reality as both Addict and Trans* with honesty and surrender was enough to get the ball rolling.  Four years ago I was a little distracted from the holidays with an approaching interaction with a surgeon, but the ability to face that excitement and stress without frankly having time to think about booze or wanting to numb my life was fantastic.  Between 30 and 37 percent of Trans* folk have reached for chemicals of choice during the process of dealing with GD.  These substances are the Medicine that we try to take when we do not know what an "illness" that we feel we have is not properly being treated by more helpful and life sustaining means.  It is not an illness, it life on life's terms for 0.6% of our population, but it can be lived, and celebrated if we accept it and share with others who will help us live that life.

Happy Sober Holidays!!

[tracy_j]

I must admit that I have a bit of a different approach to special occasions like Christmas. As one who has drunk to excess at Christams in the past I do know the problems but tend to approach in moderation now.

One thing I like to do though is to use special occasions to do something different. Such as for Christmas to abstain totally to celebrate and remember. This also serves to realise that even these sort of events can be navigated without major issue. To me such things have meaning which I don't forget (like I remember I stopped smoking when my partner was in a bad way after surgery for an anurism  -  I won't forget even though the two are not really connected. She recovered well but I did not start smoking again. I thought things were bad so another bad thing just made little difference so I just dropped it).

It may or may not be a recommended way but if it works it works!

Merry Christmas Lisa xxx

 

[Timber Wolf]

Congratulations Lisa, that's wonderful! Enjoy your first sober holiday!

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf?

[Charlize]

Congratulations Lisa.  I am also amazed at how much  sobriety can do for feeling part of the world again. 

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Briana]

17 hours ago, Lisa said:

You don't realize that stuff makes you a zombie till you finally stop.

Well said Lisa!  I've heard that expressed so many times in many different ways over the years.  And Timber Wolf, if there can be any humor in this, your comment that "every day was happy New Year" made me chuckle.  ...And reflect.

Everyone here knows already that the holidays can be a difficult time of the year regardless of one's circumstance.  Besides everything else in our lives, there's the holiday office parties, home holiday parties, friends going out for a "holiday drink" etc.  And it seems that in every holiday commercial there's a bottle of bubbly popping open.

One of the things my wife & I do is go and enjoy these events, but we don't stay long.  We go, talk, share holiday wishes, eat, and then excuse ourselves to "go to the other event we have going."  We still get the social interaction but we avoid the social pressures of "hey everyone let's get holiday wasted!"

For those above that have offered their help to others who might be having a difficult time during this time of the year - bless you!  It's that spirit, that willingness to help that makes such a difference in this world for others that are just looking for a small hand up.

[Guest]

I went from drinking massive amounts of alcohol every day to not needing it at all once I started dealing with all this. Now I just drink a couple beers here and there socially, I'm pretty happy about that! ........

[Charlize]

Congratulations Lisa.  I am also amazed at how much  sobriety can do for feeling part of the world again.

 We will be having a chat meeting this Christmas night.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize