So I had a bender at work… Alcohol and coke. Any tips for minimizing a slip up?
Once I got honest with myself and admitted I needed help bc my way didn’t work I haven’t had to reset. Meetings, sponsor, step work, higher power and service work. I don’t even have urges. I live life knowing there is nothing that can make me use today.
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Uh. I didn’t even have cravings, but my stupid mind convinced myself that it was just a “normal drink”
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For an addict, “normal drink” doesn’t exist. You need to accept this if you are to be free.
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I’ve done the same. DOC Porn. Fortunately for me, the clinic I worked at was low tech and the owner had his own problems, and actually lost his license because of a sexual harassment lawsuit. The other clinic monitored everything. I used my phone.
I understand how things get so out of hand that you will literally use while on the job. For you, I would first ask where you got the booze at work?
I am a party host. Booze is my job 
booze is your job? Don’t be offended, but if you are a substance abuser and cannot kick it, maybe it’s time for a career change?
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Yeah I don’t have those thoughts either. I have a completely happy life with out drugs and alcohol. Thinking one drink won’t hurt you is the same as having an urge or a craving. I know what works for me. And it works great. Even if one drink wouldn’t hurt me I still wouldn’t pick it up.
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I have minimized every slip up I’ve ever had. Do you mean tips on minimizing the awful feelings that go along with a slip up? For me it’s understand I’m human, I make mistakes. Recognize the shame is trying to get me to binge again. I have to tell someone who won’t judge me or berate me because I don’t react well to floggings. Then jump back on the horse. Never give up. Fail and try and fail and try and fail and LEARN. It is taking me years to accept that I don’t have my best interests in mind. Me. How Funked up is that? It may for you as well. Never give up never give up nevaaaarrrrr!
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I know once I crossed a certain point, I was unable to say no myself. It was like this imaginary line. I crossed it and became an addict a mnd alcoholic… And I’d use and be sick, use, feen, be sick. And this cycle continues until I made drastic changes! I had to practice saying no. I dont know what your job title is, but are you past the point that you cant say no any longer? Is a career change possible for you? If not, can you speak with your work about having a problem so they can send you to a rehab or get you some sort of help? Tell them first because once they pop a drug test on you, you’ve lost your job anyways… once my problem was out in the open, I decided to stick with trying to get sober. When I kept it quiet, my disease fed on that and I just kept using and drinking. If nothing changes, then nothing changes. But it is possible for you to get sober and stay sober.
Me personally, I had to change my people, places, and things. That was big for me. I even changed jobs myself, but I was able to do that…
You can do this!
Please keep reaching out! Message me anytime!
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What are you going to do the next time your ‘stupid mind’ starts talking? I’m glad you reached out here. I doubt there is a person on here who has not heard that internal voice. My stupid mind says a lot of shit. The difference is that I now have a plan in place to deal with it. Feel a craving? Remove myself from the situation. Still hear the voice? Call my sponsor or another sober friend. Get myself to a meeting. Read over ridiculous, insane things I wrote while drunk. Remind myself why I can’t pick up - no matter what.
Don’t beat yourself up. Look at how the slip happened, why it happened, and figure out how to get better when you hear that voice again. You can do this.
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Slip ups happen for everyone. I’m not sure if being in a job where you’re paid to party and drink is the best thing if you’re going to be in recovery. You can’t be loyal to your job if you’re not drinking or partying. Yet, you can’t be loyal to yourself and your recovery if your in a job where people literally throw money at you to party. Recovery and having a job where you have to drink/party to get paid don’t seem like they mesh.
Have you thought about a career move?
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Absolutely is time for a career change! Working with my psychologist to get this happening
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Yeah, I think this has been a learning curve, so I am just going to recommit to sobriety, with a new sense of understanding and realisation of how much I need this.
Thanks so much for the words of wisdom! I really feel like I am learning so much from this. I hadn’t really dealt with that level of temptation up to that point, so I really wasn’t prepared for that. Next time I will be more aware.
So glad I have this platform.
Really wanted to just avoid admitting the slip up, so having this to come to was a saving grace, and is definitely keeping me accountable.
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Definitely looking at a career change!
I need to do a life overhaul for sure!
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Why do you need to work with a psychologist to change careers? In my working life I’ve been a paperboy, a meat cutter, US Marine Enlisted, US Marine Officer, and Corporate Sales Professional. Never once met with a psychologist.
Where do your passions lie? What is it that gives you the most satisfaction, opportunity for personal growth, and decent financial compensation? Until you figure this out, get a “Joe Job”. Work in retail. Be a coffee Barista. Work in a day care. Be a receptionist at an office. Heck, try sales. Corporate, business to business sales. Good money if you good, great money if you are great.
Short term sober objective: get a different job to get away from the party.
Long term sober objective: Find a career that can sustain you and sober life, forever.
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I got a job doing physical labor until I was able to get back into a career. I love every second of it. For me physical labor is good for recovery. I definitely wasn’t going back into the alcohol soaked field of lawyering. I gave up a lot of money and a career in order to get recovery. Totally worth it.
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Sorry to hear about your slip! Not fun.
I don’t have much to offer in terms of advice beyond what’s already been suggested, but I did just want to chime in and offer my support. If you ever need to message or anything, fire away.
Dust yourself off and get back on the horse, friend! 
You can do this.
I frequently go to a noon meeting downtown where I would estimate that 70% of the attendees are lawyers - either actively practicing or retired.
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