It's very important that we throw everything at getting sober in the early days, and that includes soaking up as much material as you can related to recovery. This Sober Toolbox is a space for telling others about the great books, blogs, podcasts, articles and other resources that have helped you on your way. If you're looking for more discussion, interactions and feedback, head inside our Members Feed. That's where the real-time conversations take place.
http://www.hipsobriety.com/home/sobrietyisfabulous – Huge positive reinforcement
how much does hip sobriety cost? is it really expensive?
1. ‘This naked Mind’ by Annie Grace – currently listening to the audiobook on audible.
2. hipsobriety.com – I am currently on week 2 of the 8 week Hip Sobriety School, I also received a scholarship for this course, this can be applied for once you join the waitlist and start receiving emails etc.
Here is Hip Sobrietys 15 essential books to build a holistic recovery: http://www.hipsobriety.com/home/2016/2/19/the-hip-sobriety-booklist-1-the-11-essential-books-on-n6syb
2. lauramckowen.com https://www.lauramckowen.com/
4. Laura and Holly also have a podcast called HOME, you can listen to free here https://soundcloud.com/thisishomepod
5. Join the sobersphere on Instagram and follow all the kickass sober warriors like Laura and Holly for daily inspo.
4. ‘Chasing the Scream’ by Johann Hari – this booked changed everything I thought I knew about alcohol and drugs.
6. Slowly reading my way through ‘A Course in Miracles’ http://acim.org/
5. Looking forward to reading ‘Nothing good can come from this’ by Kristi Coulter, Finding Joy by
Love “This Naked Mind”!!! thanks for all the great resources.
I listened to it as well just on audible. I hope it works. feeling like there is more to the little monster though than they make out. ie you feel tired etc when you stop drinking.
http://www.thisblewmymind.com/the-most-powerful-drunk-driving-ad-ever/ – Why we need to be 100% sober on the road.
Umm…..wow…this is so confronting. Thank you for sharing this. I fear that if I drink I will purposely drive in to a power pole….Everytime I have those thoughts I am going to watch this…
OMG i need to watch this every day
I reread Allen Carr’s book for alcoholic woman this past weekend. I feel empowered. This is not an easy time to be a woman and we need to stay strong.
How are you Amy?
OMG….just seen all my replies to my own ‘wrong post’ – didn’t think they had come up … gawd..admin, feel free to delete some…. awkward….!! (last post…promise..)
I posted the wrong link and it won’t let me change it – but you can find my Sober Doodles on my I.G account which is @soberdoodles
When I became sober, I doodled and shared them with my sober tribe at the time – sharing in case others are starting out and find them useful. I have been sober 6 months tomorrow…..
http://www.instagram/soberdoodles
forgot the .com but I think you know what I mean.
sorry, should have been http://www.instagram.com/soberdoodles (anyone would think I had been drinking…..)
Yes Allen Carr in my opinion is a genius and the one who started the whole approach to quitting not using willpower. His books on smoking and drinking truly changed me. I’ve read others since and The Naked Mind is great but a lot of it is based on Allen Carr’s ideas – which is fine and she refers to him etc. Plus I like how she (Annie grace) goes deeper and explains the science of what happens to the brain on alcohol. Very eye opening.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/drink-drug-choice-baby-boomers
Raw and honest video from Kevin O’Hara on How to Make the Final Decision to Stop Drinking Alcohol Stick?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTvJNxinXM
Have now watched a couple of his. Really useful commentary; talks straight in language I understand. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing I enjoyed it
Very helpful Thanks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/soberful/id1371013717
I read the Sober Diaries. I really enjoyed it.
Very excited that after a long wait, Kristi Coulter has released her book ‘Nothing Good Can Come from This.’ It features her essay ‘Want Not’ which was what started to challenge my ‘drinking thinking’ last year! She is a beautiful writer with wonderful insights…
To date Ive found Kevin O’Hara, Alcohol Mastery videos very useful. I’ve just listened to the utube content and not registered for the mastery course however. The free videos alone have been very helpful.
“Understanding and learning from relapse” by Stan West. It looks at relapse : why it happens and getting past it. It explains all about triggers and cravings. There’s a free download free on the “Lying Minds” website: https://bit.ly/2OObvs3
“Alcohol lied to me” by Craig Beck. He also has some good YouTube videos as “The stop drinking expert” Helped me reframe my thinking about alcohol and made me realise that it is actually a highly addictive poison that is attractivly packaged and marketed to get me hooked on buying it over and over again. Once I understood this I could rationally make a decision not to consume it anymore. It’s been over a year since i stopped drinking and now see alcohol and the alcohol industry in a whole new light and would never go back to it.
https://www.self.com/story/sober-personal-life-changes-hip-sobriety
I find that some books on alcoholism get too bogged down with the negative aspects. Alternately I really liked the positive messages in ‘ The Unexpected Joy of being Sober’ by Catherine Gray.
Yes I listened to the audio version, brilliant book.
Spiritual seeking, Addiction and the Search for Truth, Dr. Gabor Maté
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjuwOf1_63g
We know that a car can’t run on soy milk, or on vinegar. Likewise, if our hearts are meant to strive with love and honesty, why did we feed it with the ephemeral lies of the alcohol? Just some food for thought. x
DR GABOR MATÉ > WHY YOU ARE ADDICTED > LONDON REAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_1XR5DzEnk
This lady is a scientist that really understands addiction/alcoholism. It’s always worth listening to what she has to say.
That is truly a wonderful video!! Thank You 4 days sober.
https://www.tarabrach.com/from-human-doing-human-being/ – Tara Brach talk about letting go for a bit. Excellent encouragement if feeling like a failure, a problem.
My favourite book on alcoholism at the moment is ‘The Naked Mind’ unlike many others books on this subject, it’s very positive and full of lots of interesting research.
I recently read “The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath” by Leslie Jameson. It is part memoir and part biography of famous writers/singers who struggled with addiction. I found Ms. Jameson’s story riveting but I skipped through some of the biographies when they felt tedious to me.. The author also gives an exhaustive account of Bill W. and the founding of AA. Overall a good read.
Book by John Alaric MY PRISON BECAME A PALACE
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12074238 – Fantastic article with great quotes from Doug Sellman
That was a good article Mrs D ….very encouraging when you hear someone who drank 2-3dozen a day stop….those urrrrrrgessss though ….sigh 🙁
I recently read “Integral Recovery – A Revolutionary Approach to the Treatment of Alcoholism and Addiction” by John Dupuy. It takes a holistic approach to addiction and looks at deeper effects of addiction on the brain and the biological, emotional, cognitive and spiritual factors that may need to be addressed. It’s pretty interesting as it’s an evolving practice, and I was able to pick out what I could manage to do. It just gave me another way to understand what’s been happening to me and how my reptilian brain can kick when I least expect it, talking me into old ways!
This article by Amelia Hill in The Guardian really got me thinking about the drinking culture and motherhood. Like the author, I don’t remember anyone in my mother’s generation bragging about drinking, and I never once heard the other mothers in her circle referring to wine as “mommy juice.” Regardless of the current culture, there is no shame in being sober, but there is so much joy!
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/jun/10/the-secret-shame-of-being-a-sober-mother
BLOG: Tired of Thinking about Drinking
BOOK: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
PODCAST: The Bubble Hour
Pdxallie, thanks. So glad I found Mrs D courtesy of The Bubble Hour. I consumed the first 2 months of her blog yesterday and really relate to Mrs D’s experience and approach. Thanks Mrs D! I’m also on The Alcohol Experiment with Annie Grace. I treasure the support these communities offer.
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
Tired of Thinking About Drinking by Belle Robertson
Unwasted by sasha Z Scoblic
28 Day Alcohol free challenge by Andy Ramage and Ruari Fairbairns
https://www.drlibby.com/hormones/i-dont-drink-that-much-the-true-impact-of-alcohol-on-your-hormones/#newzealand – impact of alcohol on your hormones
I always find myself back here. Alcohol destroys. I go for very long times ‘normal’ meaning, I can have a few drinks and not overdo it- and then…..BOOM!
I have to much, and act totally 100% stupid.
This just happened Friday night. With my wonderful boyfriend of 3 months.
There has been a lot of stress in my life lately, moving …buying an apartment… dealing with the fact my new BF suffers from ED. Being scared entering a new relationship and etc.
Simply put, i drank to much and said a bunch of terrible things that sober SeaWee never would- including pushing the relationship and all that stupid stuff.
We talked it through and he wants to leave the evening in the past, but I am having trouble believing that, and not thinking the worst…. as in…. he’ll dump me over it. He has reassured me everything is ok and he just wants to move on- saying ‘It’s okay, it’s the past’ and etc.
This is fresh though, and I know if it ends it’s all on me.
Alcohol sneaks up and hurts you. It just does.
And I will have to live with the consequences of my actions if this wonderful man leaves me.
How are y U going now?
https://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/features/effects-of-stopping-drinking-alcohol – The positive effects of giving up alcohol…
The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure
(A holistic approach to total recovery)
By Chris Prentiss
https://medium.com/@annabdavid/interview-20-years-of-sobriety-with-john-taylor-of-duran-duran-38dd4175cef8
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/04/did-drinking-give-me-breast-cancer/?mc_cid=000fe8f018&mc_eid=83340a777c
Personal Reflections: On Quitting Alcohol and Quitting “Alcoholic”
(a blog post on the Inner Compass Initiative website)
https://www.theinnercompass.org/blog/personal-reflections-quitting-alcohol-and-quitting-alcoholic
https://www.amazon.com/Codependent-Now-What-Your-Programming/dp/1478772034/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
https://amp-smh-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.smh.com.au/national/how-much-booze-can-you-drink-before-it-starts-killing-you-not-much-20180412-p4z9a9.html – How Much Booze Can You Drink Before It Starts Killing You – Not Much! – Sidney Herald article 12/4/2018
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/apr/12/one-extra-glass-of-wine-will-shorten-your-life-by-30-minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqtZjpI1oVQ – Fabulous recovery story. Specifically focused on women.
https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong
Calm your mind. Not sure where to post this but this music video is incredibly calming for the mind. Since going alcohol free my anxiety is raw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCMXO9sBIcU&frags=wn
This link was shared by one of our lovely members and I got so much out of reading it I thought it should be here. Thanks so much for sharing it @begoodtomyself ! http://www.hipsobriety.com/home/2018/3/24/not-an-alcoholic
my favorite drinking a love story by caroline knapp and diary of an alcoholic wife by Brenda wilhelmson
Also the good house
!
Great book and it’s a MUST read !!!
Two other books I highly recommend are
A Happier Hour by Rebecca Weller
Blackout remembering the things I drank to forget by Sarah hepola
Funny moving and so well written. All three gave me a voice to my feelings . Day 18 !
I have read 3 of those books ; very good; will plan on reading the others–every little bit helps; congratulations on reaching day 24! I hope u have made it to day 25… Best wishes