Sober Queer Sass!

The adventures of a sober, trans, queer, Jewish, sassy guy. This is a blog of my experience, strength and hope. I have been sober in AA since 06/14/14 and in SLAA since 10/24/15.   I am not, in any way, a spokesperson for any 12 Step Fellowship.

[soberqueersass]

Sober Count

AA, from drugs and alcohol: 06/14/14 = 1,333 days = 3 years, 7 months, 22 days

SLAA, from lots of Bottom Line behaviors: 10/24/16 = 837 days = 2 years, 3 months, 14 days

[lemonss]

friendly reminder that “getting to stay in bed all day” is different from “having to stay in bed all day”

[recoveryandsobriety]

[soberqueersass]

This.

[soberqueersass]

Not A Self Help Program

“AA is not a self help program, it’s a fellowship.” 

[soberqueersass]

Sober Count

AA: 06/14/14 = 3 years, 1 month, 15 days = 1,141 days 

SLAA: 10/24/15 = 1 year, 9 months, 5 days = 644 days 

[soberqueersass]

Sponsee’s Step 1

Today I started guiding my sponsee in Step 1.  I’m very grateful for the opportunity and it was a very powerful experience to hear much of his story today.   I am not surprised at how much I could identify with his story.  And grateful to hear another version of addictions unmanageability from someone close to me.  

[soberqueersass]

Trap Door In Every Bottom

"There's a trap door to every bottom... You haven't truly hit your final bottom until your dead." Heard in a meeting in March. This hit me hard. It's true, it can always get worse in addiction. Always.

[sheisrecovering]

Your worst days in recovery will always be better than your best days in relapse.

[soberqueersass]

Yes! I've experienced some rough times in sobriety, but those days are always better than my best days mid-relapse!

[soberqueersass]

4th Step

Getting serious about finishing this 4th Step. I've been doing it for over a year now. Doing the work is both bringing overwhelming feelings about my resentments up and creating feelings of relief. Glad I'm doing this. It's hard work!

[steinbit]

I know we’re all pretty down rn so here, have some cute pics of svalbard reindeer

it’s the smallest subspecies of reindeer on the planet and it loves you

the svalbard reindeer is also the northernmost herbivore in the world, and during winter they survive an average of −16°C (3°F) weather

look at those small fluffy ears and kind eyes, the reindeer is cheering you all on to stay strong in these trying times 

just like the arctic winter, this too shall pass

the svaldbard reindeer proves that even under the most extreme of circumstances, life finds a way. so please, please keep on fighting

[positivity-in-recovery]

[cripple-fabulous]

hey buddies…here’s an idea…dont disparage disabled people for not giving money to organizations or physically going out to a protest or helping a charity. like buddy I’d love to but I had trouble with the stairs in my home today even just traveling to a protest would be nearly impossible. Not everyone’s activism looks like an abled persons. some of us are even too tired or overwhelmed with our physical and mental problems to do “the minimum” like make phone calls or read news article after article.

[smallgayartist]

[makingqueerhistory]

Today is a good day to remember that the black panther party always was a proponent for queer rights and queer activists today can repay that kindness by supporting groups such as black lives matter and by working to eliminate racism in our own communities.

[soberqueersass]

What Can I IMPLICATE?

When I’m having a rough time to begin with, extra factors that make me feel uncomfortable and/or unsafe (physically, emotionally, spiritually) create a ‘perfect storm’ situation which I would like to avoid.  

Example of current rough time: 

I’m mid med change with bipolar and anxiety related meds.  It affects the way I think, there’s plenty of side affects, and my mood is harder for me to cope with than usual.  

What are those extra factors? 

Being hungry.  Or needing to pee.  Or reading something triggering.  Or wearing constricting clothing.  

What can I do to try to reduce or prevent (or ideally stop) being uncomfortable or unsafe from getting more intense and therefore harder to deal with? 

CHECK IN WITH MYSELF.  

Here’s an nifty question and anagram I came up with that’s helping me!  :-) 

I ask myself: 

What can I ‘IMPLICATE’ in how I’m feeling? 

Intake - Food, hydration, caffeine, blood sugar 

Meds - Daily, as needed, OTC too!  

Pain - Where?  Why?  

Lonely - Do I need more people around?  Do I need less people around? 

Illuminate - Is it too bright for me?  

Constriction - What feels too tight?  

Angry - Why?  Can I address it?  Can I vent about it? 

Tired - Emotionally?  Physically?  Spoon check!  

Temp - Too hot?  Too Cold?  

Toilet - Pee?  Poo?  Upset tummy? 

Triggered - What?  Why?  How?  Address or vacate?  

Express - Do I need to say something?  Journal?  

I am finding this very helpful.  This doesn’t always work, but it’s been useful so far!   I put it in the notebook I keep in my pocket in case I forgot what everything stands for but knew I needed to check in.   

 And I think it can be tailored to your specific needs.  I listed things that affected me easily, often and intensely and that I could use a check in regularly with.  

[ormeart]

a small thing I did today

[closet-keys]

Credit to @findchaos