I quit drinking before my problem had become insurmountable, and this brought it’s own set of difficulties. Sometimes, I found myself wishing for a more dramatic rock bottom, as at least then, I would know I had to stop. How was it for you? Did you still love drinking when you quit? Or had you seen through the illusion.
This piece is all about how I managed to stop without a dreadful rock bottom, and (somehow) without relapsing either. I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for reading,
Chelsey x
The unique difficulties of quitting alcohol without a dramatic rock bottom, and how to overcome them.
It’s easy enough to let go of headaches, nausea and shame, but what about that first pint in a sunny beer garden? What about those daft nights in with friends? What about that heavy drinking boyfriend? When you’re contemplating life without alcohol, the potential losses can seem to outweigh the gains.
This is one of the things that makes it so hard to even consider quitting for good. (This and the fact that it’s one of the most addictive substances on the planet.)
It’s especially hard to consider when everyone you know loves to drink. Wednesday night catch up, dinner with friends, wedding or funeral, your pals will be on the sauce. …
I mean it — what are you afraid of? I still remember my own long list of fears, and honestly, some of them weren’t unfounded. What I couldn’t know until I made the leap, was about the payoffs. And there were so many!
This week I’ve written about the main fear I hear about: Three Common Fears About Getting Sober and How to Overcome Them. I hope it helps. And let me know what I’ve missed.
We also have some fantastic new posts from our glorious editor Gillian May and one of our talented contributors, Marie Tierney, too. Staying sober requires more than abstinence and What is wrong with Mommy drinking culture, respectively.
If you enjoy Beautiful Hangover, please clap heartily. It’s how we writers get paid (and so can keep writing.) <3
Thanks for reading, and let us know if there’s anything you want us to cover.
Chelsey xx
