Every celebration was an excuse to drink for me. Because, of course, it was 5pm somewhere wasn’t it?
Then it was 4pm, then 2pm, then all day long. Then, I wasn’t sure if I ever had minutes in a day where I wasn’t intoxicated. The end. That’s my story. Well, the drinking part of my story.
So, how did I stop?
Frankly, there can be only one way. Surrender to God. Period. I was flat on the floor one minute, and relieved of my obsession and sober the next.
Huh?
That’s just crazy. Or—
Maybe evidence that God can take away the obsession when asked. I drank for 30 years straight never being able to stop on my own. Why now?
True submission and surrender to God.
I say true, because I had asked God many times to help me stop—I really didn’t mean it. I wanted Him to help me manage my drinking—which, of course, was unmanageable. I wanted God to help me, but just don’t take the alcohol away completely!
If you are new in sobriety, here are a few suggestions for how to get through the parties:
1) Have a plan—come to the party early and leave early.
2) Go with a sober relative or friend.
3) Come prepared with a water, your own drink or juice in hand.
4) When alcohol is offered, you don’t have to have a reason why you’re refusing. “No Thank You” works.
5) Have your own car
6) When the drinking feels like it is escalating, politely excuse yourself and leave.
7) This worked for me early in sobriety, and now, too. When you leave the party, don’t forget to thank God for your sobriety and for getting you through another day and another party sober.
Good plan. Repeat.
Alcohol is everywhere. You can’t avoid being with people because it is there. The challenge is to figure out how to be in the mix but not mixed up in the mess, right? When you have a few successes knowing you can go to parties without having to drink, suddenly, you realize that you don’t need alcohol to have fun, love life, and celebrate with others.
You are retraining your brain.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1
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