I was so obsessed with picking up wrapping paper and mess a couple of years back that I picked up a Christmas card of my son’s…which contained his €100 Christmas ‘gift’ from his grandparents…and binned it with all the rest.
You’re not alone in this.
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Day 96 checking in odaat
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Day 502
Back to normal, tidied up tree and did homework with kids. Got a bit annoyed at husband for either being out or on phone instead of spending time with us. He is free to do what he likes, tho.
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Mike you sober that enough for today. I get the wrapping paper 
, even yesterday, my son at 21, as soon as he was up and opening presents I had the bin liner ready, and don’t know how many times I said “put the paper in the bag”. You doing good l, I have lots of things I need to address; self-esteem, anxiety, lots of resentment, negative thinking, the list goes on. Its hard, but I do know I can only fix if sober, don’t know how, don’t know when, but I know this is the only way. I do read up on alot of my symptoms, buy books for self-help, they does help you understand better, have you tried anything like that. Keep strong I know you can do this…
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932
Coffee. Last day of my little vacation. Checking in with my sis in the afternoon. This upcoming Christmas dinner doesn’t hold a big challenge relating to my sobriety. The danger lies in being on my own, trying (and failing) to figure out stuff by myself, thinking social stuff is too anxiety inducing, that I’m better off alone.
That’s the sort of thoughts that will lead me back to drinking and drugging, because all on my own I can’t figure it out. I can’t deal with life alone. I’ll take flight in hiding in my own head and I’ll do that by drugging myself.
We all need people around us. We need interaction. We need friends. We need love. That goes for all people, but it holds especially true for us addicts. Also us addicts need at least some other addicts to share our experiences with. We need to share with people in the know. Alone it’s too much. Together we can do this. One day at a time.
So I’m happy to be going over to my sis and share a meal with her sons and assorted other loved ones. Sober and clean. Just as I am happy to be here with you all. Keep sharing. You’re all brave strong amazing people and I could never do it without you. Have a good day all. Much love from a cold Amsterdam.
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#Day 1195 
Goodmorning everyone!
Merry Christmas!!
I was awake at 5 and decided to start my day.
So…coffee and went for a walk!
I wanna thank you all for being here. I know you are all here for yourself, so am I. But as a nice side effect we are all helping eachother as well!
That’s a win/win situation isn’t it!!
Let’s do this “special” day as normal as possible: sober! Enjoy!!
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364 days
Relieved yesterday is done it was good, all worked out well, but emotions tend to be unsettling, but proud I done the day sober, my first one .
Today, sort out the leftover food, clean my campervan and get packed for tomorrow as still going on our Brighton trip, need to get away from home, lots of beach walking, maybe a sea swim, and exploring. Clear the head
Wishing you all another strong 24 hours 
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Merry Christmas to you Claudia, you so right about this community, we all help each others. What a perfect way to start the day, great sky colours , enjoy the rest of your day 
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Thank you Marie I will. Making the house ready for a Christmas high tea with family and my mother in law. Hope you have a great day yourself!
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Happy Christmas @Mno have a lovely day around your sisters. You so right we cannot do this on our own this community has been a lifeline for me and I am sure others.
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I will thank you, enjoy your high tea with your family…
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Sorry to hear that, friend. Time to come up with a game plan, eh? The gym is great, absolutely. The anxiety and learning to manage it when it’s triggered will take some more tools. Sitting with discomfort is hard but you can get through it.
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The only way out is through. I totally recognize the anxiety. Still learning, and will for the rest of my life, how to deal with it. And how not to. Taking flight in booze is never the solution. In fact it will make our anxiety worse each time we do it. Because it doesn’t solve anything. It just reinforces itself.
I am learning to deal with my anxiety head on by being sober and by learning. The anxiety is within myself. No outside thing makes me anxious. No person makes me anxious. No situation makes me anxious. It is me that makes me anxious. 100%. That realization makes it possible to tackle my anxiousness. I can’t change what’s outside of me anyway. Myself I can change a bit. One day of sobriety at a time.
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Checking in day 22. Yesterday was easier than I thought. I had been given lots of wine and an electric wine bottle opener as presents. Guess it takes a while longer until I get a coffee machine😅
Wishing everyone a great day and a sober end to the festive season 
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Hi Matt sorry to read this, I done the same thing countless times, anxiety used to beat me everytime. I have only recently learnt you have to go with it, get tools to cope, I found wim hoff breathing techniques useful. Its is white knuckle but worth it. Have a better day today and we’ll done for getting back on here.
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It does I must have regifted 5 bottles of my favourite tipple! Well done
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Hi wonderful family,
Haven’t been here in a while. Grateful for everyone on here, for all the good and not good things life brings today, the AA Programme and most of all for my HP and all HP is doing for me that I couldn’t possibly be doing for myself or others.
Yesterday, on Christmas Day, I got to 3 months sober. So happy to have been able to be of service to my fellows, friends and family on a day I would usually be a burden in the past.
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Hi Stella. Thank you for sharing your story. Ours are very similar. It’s nice to not feel alone. I appreciate you.,You seem like you are now in a place where you take responsibility…for your choices moving forward. As I am praying I can. Asking for forgiveness for self and him. Mostly for self as you said I’m only hurting myself and my kids when I self medicate over something an ideal that’s not meant to be.
I am in therapy…we are working on co dependency…tramua etc. I also attend meetings daily and now have a sponsor. Freedom is so close I can feel it. I have faith in it. ,
Well done on your journey. See you around. Have a wonderful day. Again Thank you .,
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Hi Eric. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. It means a lot. I’m trying to do the opposite of what I did before. So that means feeling my feelings…sharing…and checking in on here. This forum was my first tool into my recovery. Love you too. One day at a time. It is very hard…all I ever wanted was a “family” as I grew up in a dysfunctional one. Yet…I am realizing what I tried to avoid I caused. So now I stop. Thanks again Eric. It does feel freeing to share. Wonderful day to you my friend ,
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Good Morning Mno. Well said. Very helpful. Thank you.,
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