Confession
30/06/11 • 2 Comments

I confess, I fell off the wagon.  But there are two very important things I learned.  Firstly, alcohol can provide a damned fine excuse to hide behind reality. Second, if you give your body time to actually feel itself, it will reveal things to you.   After a month without alcohol I fell sick and it lasted weeks – I just wasn’t getting better.  I’d had the same symptoms before but never gotten to the bottom of its cause.  This time it was worse than ever so I persisted and, after seeing specialists and doing my own research and asking the right questions, I was finally diagnosed with a hormone problem that I’ve been living with for many years and can now finally treat.   I had told doctors before but they couldn’t pinpoint the problem so I ultimately shrugged the symptoms off as being hangover or lifestyle-related. Then I’d got [...]

3 Week Buzz
02/05/11 • 3 Comments

I never realised how much alcohol was stressing me out!     At work lately I have been focussed and productive yet relaxed and friendly. Plus!  I feel good.  A win-win.    I’ve been eating well too.  And for once I’m happy to look myself in the eye because I can see my dark circles clearing up.       Lovin’ this healthy Alison shit. 

My Best Friend’s Sober Wedding
20/04/11 • 4 Comments

… went brilliantly.  It took people awhile to catch onto the fact that I wasn’t drinking and when they did no one made a fuss – apart from one idiot towards the end who asked me to explain it because it was ‘strange’.  When I made it clear it was none of her business she backed off. I’ve had better times at weddings but that’s not necessarily because I was drunk.  At least this time my makeup didn’t run down my face and I didn’t have to wait an hour for a taxi.  I drove some friends’ home and sat up chatting with them until 3am, which was nice. I’m pleased I got such a big social event out of the way early into my HSM (6 days) because if i can pull that off it gives me confidence about other big social events.  Having said that, I’m sure challenges [...]

Substitutes and Strategies
13/04/11 • 4 Comments

  Hey there HSMers.   Day 3 and I’m feeling positive and determined.  I’m excited about having a clear head, excited about feeling healthier, excited about doing a better job at work, excited about saving money … I’m going to have to think smartly about getting through times when I’d usually have a drink and substitute it with something else.  Last night I substituted a walk for when I’d usually have a wine and it was great!  It helped me wind down after work – just like a wine would – but it cleared my head. My good friend’s wedding is this weekend and I still haven’t told any of my friends that I’m HSMing.  I expect it will be a challenge.  So I’ve started to strategise and think creatively about how to play it.  My groom friend emailed a few of us asking if someone would take his Camcorder [...]

Someone tell me I’m doing the right thing
11/04/11 • 10 Comments

There have been countless occasions during my adult life where I’ve spent the weekend getting smashed, hated myself for it, sworn I’d lay off the booze afterwards, only to find I’m loving the taste of beer again two days later. But what I’m finding as I get older is scaring me.  What was a bit of harmless, social fun in my twenties, is turning into a sad, pathetic dependency in my thirties that affects my work, my relationships and my health.  I didn’t feel dependent on alcohol 15 years ago, it was just a social thing and I never drank alone.  But the longer I’ve been at it the more I feel it is gradually taking hold of me. I’ve been wanting to have a break for years now.  Years.  About a week is as long as I’ve managed.  So I am more than ready for this commitment.  I am also scared [...]