Share Tips About Dealing with the Holidays

ANONYMOUS ALCOHOLIC ^ | 12/16/04

[SweetCaroline]

Do you really think so OldFriend?

In my realm, it seems to have decreased. Of course, I am a woman and I don't believe we have as much peer pressure (at least for drinking) as men do.

[SweetCaroline]

OH MY GOD, LOL

What a GREAT come back!!!!!!!

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Good for you! There is nothing to be embarrassed about and, by sharing your story, you may help out that person as well.

[Lazamataz]

"After enjoying sobriety for a few years I realize how many holidays I wasted, drinking in bars, drinking in the kitchen and becoming too drunk to join the family for dinner!" Magic. I lived with the book "Living Sober" for seven years. It offered me very helpful suggestions in some very tricky situations.

I'm merely hanging out with other sober people in the Program. I'm chairing two meetings on Christmas eve and on Christmas. Seems to work well! :o)

[Lazamataz]

It has provided me with more than a couple of opportunities to be of use to someone.

Every morning I pray to my H.P. that He might find a way for me to be of service to my fellow man.

[Lazamataz]

Of course I was fooling no one.

We never are.

Thinking we are fooling people is part of the disease.

[TexasCowboy]

Thanks for the ping, Caroline.

I just say, "I don't drink".

The thing that long term sobriety forgets is that this takes self-confidence.
When we were practicing alcoholics we didn't have that.
All of the outward show was a charade. We were scared to death to offend one of our friends. After all, misery has always loved company.

Nan, you hit the nail on the head.
In order to maintain the spiritual level necessary to stay sober, we have to help others. This is AA's Twelfth Step.
We must give away that which has been so freely given to us.

[SweetCaroline]

Quitting is the most difficult thing I have ever attempted

It was for me too. I couldn't count the times I tried and failed. I just knew it was going to kill me some day, but, I didn't know how to stop. That's was my problem, I was trying to do it myself, I couldn't LET GO & LET GOD!. Once I did put in GOD'S HANDS, it got easier. I've been sober almost 4 years, and I thank him every day.

[Jack of all Trades]

Take it easy. Around AA, "The Holidays" generally mean: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Many refer to them as the Bermuda Triangle, into which people in recovery disappear.

[TexasCowboy]

"People somehow are amazed (and pushy) if you do not indulge in alcohol."

Of course!

The old axiom applies: "A drunk does not like a sober."
They are too insecure within themselves to allow it gracefully.

[YankeeinOkieville]

After two hours, I claim tiredness and go make coffee...the alcohol drinkers frequently join me and seem grateful for the excuse to maintain some level of sobriety.

I assume you do know that coffee will not sober up a drunk and are merely providing an alternative 'acceptable' liquid for their refreshment and an excuse to curtail their alcohol consumption.

It always amazes me how many people believe (falsely) that caffeine is an antidote to alcohol. If you give an inebriated person an entire pot of coffee, all you end up with is a wide awake drunk. The alcohol is still in their bloodstream until the kidneys filter it out. Coffee may make them urinate more frequesntly but it does not speed up the process of filtration.

[MaxMax]

During Thanksgiving and Christmas family gatherings, there is always someone there for the dreaded "Everyone gather for a Picture" time.

Well here's a tip,
Always and I mean Always, get one good picture of everyone
where you tell them all to make a face. It's a riot and it really breaks
the tension. Especially if you do it before the dinner begins. Family is Love.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Great idea. God bless you.

[Lazamataz]

In order to maintain the spiritual level necessary to stay sober, we have to help others. This is AA's Twelfth Step. We must give away that which has been so freely given to us.

In my fellowship, we say: "The newcomer is the most important person in any group, because in order to keep what we have we must give it away."

[SweetCaroline]

I'm chairing two meetings on Christmas eve and on Christmas. Seems to work well! :o)GOOD FOR YOU Lazamataz!

I try to hang out with those that don't drink also and I have just as great time as I did with my drinking friends. But I miss a really great friend who the others don't invite, because, she gets falling down drunk every time she goes with us. I try to do my time with her before 3 PM (when she starts her drinking) but, I know she wonders why she is not invited into the crowd. I have tried to tell her, but she doesn't get it. I don't know what else to do............

[Lazamataz]

I simply say, "Thanks, I've had enough already."

LOL!

My favorite is, I tell them I'm allergic to alcohol.

If pressed, I tell them, "Yeah, it always makes me break out in cocaine smoking."

The shocked looks I get are priceless.

[Lazamataz]

I have tried to tell her, but she doesn't get it. I don't know what else to do............

She'll get it. We always get it. The bottoms force us to get it.

[AppyPappy]

Correct. Never give a drunk coffee. You end up with a wide-awake drunk on your hands.

We always kept Syrup of Ipecac around the frat house for bad drunks. One shot and aim them out the door.

[Lazamataz]

Pingarooski

[Lazamataz]

We always kept Syrup of Ipecac around the frat house for bad drunks. One shot and aim them out the door.

Scary part is, 10 out of 12 times, they miss.