Essential Strategies for Successful Sobriety: My Journey
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Chapter 1: Embracing Change
Throughout my twenties, I struggled with heavy drinking and attempted to quit numerous times. It wasn't until just before I turned thirty that I finally managed to maintain my sobriety. Now, over five years later, I've learned that one of the most significant factors in my success has been my willingness to explore new sobriety strategies.
Initially, I held a rather skeptical view of the sobriety advice that came my way. Many suggestions felt overly simplistic or even unrealistic. For instance, when I heard someone suggest taking a long run to deal with cravings, I questioned how that could possibly assist in overcoming an addiction.
However, driven by desperation, I decided to experiment with the advice I was given—even the suggestions I thought were impractical. To my surprise, some of the methods I was most doubtful about turned out to be incredibly beneficial.
Water: A Simple Yet Effective Tool
One of the first recommendations I received was to drink a glass of water when cravings struck. At first, this seemed absurd. How could something as basic as water alleviate my urge for alcohol?
Still, I gave it a shot and found that sipping water did indeed help. While it didn't eliminate my cravings entirely, it reduced them significantly. Additionally, the act of holding a glass and drinking felt psychologically comforting; it reminded me of the habitual motions I had developed over years of drinking.
In the show Trailer Park Boys, there's a character named Julian who is almost always seen with a drink. When he doesn't have one, he still holds his hand as if a drink were present. Although it's a comedic portrayal, it resonates with the genuine discomfort that many alcoholics experience when they first stop drinking. Keeping a water bottle close by didn’t solve all my issues, but it definitely aided my journey.
Running: A Surprising Ally
Exercise is another sobriety tool I initially dismissed. Like many others, I had heard countless times that physical activity could help overcome addiction or mental health struggles, and I found that advice laughable.
Comedian Artie Lange, who overcame heroin addiction, once joked about how a personal trainer claimed that a runner's high could rival the high from heroin. Lange, having experienced both, was quick to point out that the comparison was absurd.
Despite my reservations, I started running regularly during my sobriety journey, and it turned out to be transformative. Not only did my cravings diminish, but I also felt an overall uplift in my mood and optimism about the future.
Visualizations: A Mental Strategy
Another piece of advice I initially disregarded was the idea of using visualization techniques. Although I had dabbled in meditation in the past, I didn't find it impactful enough to aid my sobriety.
After I quit drinking, I discovered a specific visualization method called "playing the tape forward." This technique helped me navigate cravings by vividly imagining the consequences of giving in to them. When a craving hit, I would picture myself buying a six-pack and the inevitable spiral into relapse that would follow.
This mental strategy became a daily tool for managing my cravings. Without the practice of "playing the tape forward," I doubt I would have sustained my sobriety for the past five years. It even aided me in quitting smoking later on.
Maintaining an Open Mind
For those who are newly sober, I hope this discussion has equipped you with useful strategies to support your recovery. More importantly, I encourage you to remain open to new sobriety methods. After years of battling addiction, it’s easy to become cynical and dismissive of advice. However, many of the suggestions that initially seemed ineffective turned out to be life-changing. I am immensely grateful for the willingness to explore these options.
About Benya Clark: I transitioned from being an assistant public defender to a writer and have been blogging about addiction, mental health, and more since 2018. If you appreciate my work, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi to help keep this blog thriving.
The first video reflects on the experience of achieving 100 days of sobriety, sharing personal insights and challenges faced along the way.
The second video discusses unexpected aspects of quitting alcohol, providing valuable perspectives for those on a similar journey.