Family gatherin g s

Life in Recovery
1

Day 1 NA

I’m learning that I don’t do well with large family gatherings. Just too many issues and too many pressures. Everyone drinks. No one is ‘okay.’

I love my family and want to be there for each of them, but I cannot be there for them all at once.

When I drink with them I’m caught up in euphoria and become the life of the party.

When I’m not drinking with them I resort to playing games with the kids who are not drinking while listening to the adults party…

Neither one is good for me.

So here I am, noting to self: no more big family gatherings! No longer my thang. No matter what the occasion.

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Congratulations on day 1 of sobriety! I think ur making a wise decision about the family gatherings. I too had to step away from social gatherings bcuz I was no longer interested in being around that kind of enviornment. It wasnt enjoyable to be around others drinking or using drugs. We must protect our sobrieties first and foremost :slight_smile:

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Quit drinking made me think about who I am and why I made certain choiches.
Now I’m sober I try to make choiches wich suits me more instead of only pleasing others.
Sobriaty first, then me, then others.
Not that I become completely selfish now, but I am important too :hugs:
So I understand your decision.

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If family affairs can trigger us into using, so it’s best to avoid them in our early days of Sobriety, esp. day ! !! So congrats !!

There may be a time when we change enough or develop coping skills sufficient to deal soberly with family.

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Good for you An jee! Setting boundaries that protect our sobriety is key to success.
I avoided all family gatherings the first few months including Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then I started going to birthdays but I would leave early. After a year of sobriety, it became easy peasy. I’ll still leave early, especially before any drama starts.

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Congratulations on day 1. Staying mindful and in the moment will help you greatly!