I hope so. I tied myself in knots trying to think of a way that could have got to the 99% sober stage, without going through three to six months of 100% sobriety first. It would have been a much more popular message to put out. It would have saved you a lot of the initial hard yards. But whichever way I cut it, I couldn’t make it work. I would have been selling you a lie. The first three to six months of sobriety are essential. I can’t give you a shortcut for this, but what I can do is help guide you through them and hold your hand each step of way. I have a lot to share with you. To help bring some order to proceedings, I will try and categorize my blogs as I post them.
Getting Sober blogs
These blogs will provide the practical tools that got me through the first six months. I will walk you through them, and the science behind why they work.
As an early heads up, I have zero first-hand experience of Alcoholics Anonymous or any other group based, sharing your story style methods of recovery. I don’t know what they are like and so none of the tools in my tool box offer this style of help.
In the first six months the idea of “sharing” in a group setting, or any other in setting filled me with dread. I was still struggling to admit to myself I had a problem. I was still secretly googling “am I an alcoholic” and repeating online questionnaires in the hope of getting a nicer answer. I certainly didn’t want to talk out loud about it.
My toolbox is filled with things you can do either by yourself, or from the safety of behind your computer screen. Knowing what I know now, I’m sure I would have been welcomed with open arms and encouraged to join in a group based recovery at my own pace. Pre my “sober enlightenment”, I worked on the assumption that attending one of these would involve me being forced to stand up in front of the group and say “my name is Patrick, and I am an alcoholic”. I wasn’t sure if I was an alcoholic. What if I went along and they challenged me on it? “This guy still has a job, he doesn’t even put vodka on his cornflakes, get him out of here”.
I didn’t have the confidence and was too ashamed to speak to someone about what I was going through, but I felt like by reading about others who had been through it, and trying what worked for them, I wasn’t doing it alone. I want this blog to be that for you. From reading books on sobriety through to using addictive voice recognition, these blogs will have you covered.
Being and Staying Sober Blogs
These blogs will cover the amazing new life that awaits you on the other side, and the ways to help you remain sober or pivot the 99% sober approach.
Sound like a plan? Great welcome on board!
Patrick@99percentsober.com
Instagram @99percentsober
