Support for staying clean and sober the LifeRing way

All Blog Posts (387)

An Election Day surprise

Just got back from voting in today's special election in our congressional district. Went in, gave name and address, got ballot, marked same, deposited same in ballot box, collected my "I Voted" sticker. Fellow minding the ballot box said that showing my sticker at the Roundup Saloon, a local watering hole, would get me a free beer. I grinned, remarked that it was an interesting concept... Continue

Added by Rick F. on November 3, 2009 at 3:43pm — 2 Comments

Eat healthy, fight depression

Some pretty convincing evidence: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8334353.stm Steve Continue

Added by SocraticGadfly on November 3, 2009 at 3:43pm — No Comments

"Leaps of faith" in life

This topic is sparked by a discussion with someone in the chat room last night. Yes, I would love to leap out of the box(es) and into something new. The primary box I am thinking of is my current job in particular and career path in general. Part of what holds me back is fear and anxiety, I'm sure. Part is the flip side of that same coin, valuing security. Part is, I don't know how. I say that not just on a "technical" side but a larger psychological side. I don't think I'm alone, there. Peopl… Continue

Added by SocraticGadfly on November 2, 2009 at 11:34am — 13 Comments

Getting face to face meetings

James in Dublin here-I am just back from an AA meeting, i found it good as i have a new approach in that i take from the meeting what i feel is appropriate for me and i leave behind stuff that i just can not get my head around. I do this in a quiet and none judgemental way and do not try to bring any of the LifeRing approuch to the meeting. In a way you could say i am moulding the AA meeting to suit my needs just as we would do with a PRP (personal recovery programme). I love the collective vibe… Continue

Added by James Jameson on October 30, 2009 at 2:59pm — 2 Comments

Emerald Isle LifeRing Online Yahoo Group

I have established a yahoo group for Ireland. It is called LSR-IRL. Hope to get it posted on UNHOOKED.COM soon. We seem to have lots of interested people in Ireland but they are spread out. Although the meetings in Dublin are doing great, not everyone can travel to them for f2f support. Thinking of doing a midweek check in on this list. It would be an "Over the Hump" check in. In America, Wednesdays are known as the over the hump day. All are welcome! Consider joining. the more the merrier. D… Continue

Added by Dennis S on October 30, 2009 at 4:56am — 6 Comments

How I look at IT

Depends on how I look at IT It depends on how I look at it Whether it looks right or whether it looks wrong It depends on how I look at it Whether I am weak or I am strong I have a chance to choose again I have the chance to start over I can see ahead of me my future on the horizon I know that I can pick whatever I want to be again, this time around And know that I have learned and grown, and gained understanding I know that I have the power to decide where I am going And the choices I ma… Continue

Added by DebGoinnuts on October 29, 2009 at 12:31pm — 2 Comments

Fall hiking in West Texas

Most of the colors in the pictures in the link are from big-tooth maples, which are "relict" trees in West Texas. I'll upload a couple here too. Steve http://stevesnyderspictures.shutterfly.com/640 Continue

Added by SocraticGadfly on October 26, 2009 at 3:28pm — No Comments

Trying something different

As of Monday I'm going to be out of the seven-day-a-week, mostly-all-day phase of an outpatient treatment program -- fortunately in a LifeRing-friendly facility. The next phase places far fewer demands on my time, and so I've been thinking in terms of what I could do to avoid what has to be a significant risk of relapse. I've talked about the depression/isolation/alcohol vicious circle I'm vulnerable to when I'm not working in the field I enjoy, and how I'm planning on getting acquainted with th… Continue

Added by Rick F. on October 24, 2009 at 1:01pm — 11 Comments

Hiatus and the importance of having fun

The Internet was down this morning. I felt as if I had been exiled to some lonely dune in the Sahara without an oasis in sight. Sat drinking coffee and staring at an empty screen, feeling thwarted and sad and incapable. But then I talked to a friend on the phone and made a new vinaigrette for my salad this evening. The garden was wet with dew and full of emerald-green and black tree frogs. There are always solutions. There are always other things we can do when something turns into an insuperab… Continue

Added by MaryA on October 20, 2009 at 2:13am — 1 Comment

Monday with muesli

Another brisk windy morning, piles of work waiting on my desk. It was an enjoyable weekend, community workshops and supper with friends, some planting out in the garden. Small boys setting off illegal and dangerous fireworks and crackers for the Diwali celebrations. Until I come to make an entry in this blog or post on a forum, I usually haven't thought about drinking at all for the entire weekend. One thing about sobriety that I really enjoy is the consciousness of an undivided self, no warrin… Continue

Added by MaryA on October 18, 2009 at 11:46pm — 1 Comment

Interesting sighting

On my way back from the hardware store a couple of hours ago -- I needed to replace a leaking pressure relief valve on the water heater -- I found myself behind a nice forest-green Cadillac with the 32-valve Northstar engine. Its rear license plate frame read "DETOX IS A SOBERING EXPERIENCE." Continue

Added by Rick F. on October 18, 2009 at 6:19pm — 3 Comments

Feeling "Drinky"

Have been feeling like a drink this evening-but i am going to fight to stay clean using all the skills i have learned so far from LifeRing! At least now i feel that i have a choice (volition- I did not even know what that word meant until today and hears me thinking that i know every thing!) Continue

Added by James Jameson on October 18, 2009 at 11:30am — 5 Comments

new apartment :)

so it has happened, or is happening... i'm finally movin out of my folks house, and into my own place after being here for two years. This is a big change... now being sober, and living on my own. I'm more accountable to my SELF more than I ever have been in the past. It's a big change as I just stated, and i'm really excited to move on with my life, as a sober person not dependent on anything to keep me goin... well except maybe coffee! :) thanks for all the support i continue to receive, y'all… Continue

Added by Heather on October 17, 2009 at 2:26pm — 7 Comments

Third Day

James here- so glad to be here reading all your posts. Just got tp the point in Martin Nic's new book were he talks about the use of A (addicted self) and S (sober self) when dealing with our thoughts. I am finding this very help full when dealing with the cycle running in my head. i can see clearly now when my mind is vearing toward addicted ideas. This is the problem i have had in the past where my mind would slowly be building up to my next binge by planting little addicted tags in my head. T… Continue

Added by James Jameson on October 17, 2009 at 4:59am — No Comments

An unsettling experience

Thursday I shared my personal history at a meeting -- not, incidentally, LifeRing. I began by saying, up front, that because I spent about eight years, owing to childhood illness, not being able to do anything particularly well but read, that is what I did -- and that, in consequence, my "natve language" is closer to written English than the spoken vernacular. I explained that this was just the way it is, and nobody should infer that I was trying to high-hat anybody. That story covered a lot of… Continue

Added by Rick F. on October 16, 2009 at 7:23pm — 17 Comments

Spouses....

I'm wondering where we can find support for the people we care about most. My wife is really having a hard time understanding the mechanics and psychology of addiction. There aren't that many places for her to go for support. ALANON is always out there, let's face it, ALANON sucks. The local Lifering meetings are always inviting her to attend, but she doesn't feel really comfortable there. As I sober up, it's only now that she's noticing the level of my previous absenteeism. Instead of being ha… Continue

Added by Donkey H on October 16, 2009 at 1:32pm — 4 Comments

Pausing to reflect

There is a cold wet wind blowing. Blowing away cobwebs. Melancholy weather but I am not feeling sad or even pensive, just thoughtful. My neighbour has given me a bowl of new strawberries and they taste delicious. As always I am happy to be sober. To be centred and grounded and free of the old compuslions, rid of that dreadful dreary pattern of wasting time, discarding relationships, lulling myself into unhappy oblivion. A life without substance or care, numbed out and dying within. That constan… Continue

Added by MaryA on October 15, 2009 at 3:02am — 1 Comment

Mid-week bluesy day

Kept waking up through the small hours before dawn, feeling ratty and worrying about things I can do nothing about. Finally got up and sat journaling with a notebook until dawn broke and I could have some coffee. It is lovely weather and I wish I could just go out for a brisk walk and shake off the blues. Too much work on my desk. Nothing troubling me in particular, but a mood that keeps dipping rather than lifting. In the old days it would have been too subtle and insignificant because back th… Continue

Added by MaryA on October 14, 2009 at 3:12am — No Comments

Things to do with idle time (silly):

Check out these websites: awkwardfamilyphotos.com thereifixedit.com howcast.com Continue

Added by Beth B on October 13, 2009 at 10:07am — No Comments

still hanging in there

I just had to count the days sober on my fingers cos i was not sure. Its 10. Today I got up with my son to get him to schoolbut have been in bed since, Im really not sure what to do with my time. Im scared to do too much as in the past this has led me back to drinking, but so has staying in bed all day. I tell myself at least im sober for when my son gets home from school so everything else should be a plus, but I know I need more than that I just dont know what that is. I feel knda lost. I have… Continue

Added by trish I on October 13, 2009 at 5:57am — 5 Comments