Here here! This is exactly my thoughts on it.
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Thank you so much for the kind words; they made me feel a lot better. Yep, open bars are absolutely my trigger, and therefore I think I’ll need to remove myself from these situations in the future.
82 days is amazing!
Trigger? Do you mean they trigger cravings? What good alcoholic wouldn’t salivate at the prospect of free booze, surrounded by other drunks.
Anyone inside of their first 6 months should absolutely avoid any and all holiday parties. Why even test yourself. If you gotta make plans to be able to handle the event, if you’re anxious at all about the event then you’re heading into a danger zone. At some point you gotta put your sobriety above everything else, this totally includes other peoples feelings and thoughts about you.
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I honestly doubt that I would go to an open bar party even now… Could I get through a night? Maybe, but how’s that going to make me feel
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Same here. I don’t give 2 shits about what they think. Then again, I don’t mind telling them I’m sober.
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Now if they had an open taco bar then I’m in
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Trigger my desire to drink. You’re absolutely right – why even put myself in that situation. It’s like setting myself up for a fail.
I’ve been with this company for 3 weeks and I wanted to network and meet as many new colleagues as I can. But you’re right, my sobriety and mental health is way more important at this moment in my life. Thank you.
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Hmm. Interesting…
D, you know early in my sobriety I tested myself by being around people using my d.o.c… my logic was for me to build calluses on my mind and strengthen my mental toughness I had to put myself in uncomfortable situations and thrive.
That being said, I am very aware that not everyone thinks as I do or feels the need to test onesself the way I do.
I lived in a trap house. I can safely say that was pretty much the dumbest thing I’ve ever done… But I also had a program. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m just saying it’s dumb. 99 out of 100 is still a terrible average for an addict bc it’s that 1 out of 100 that will kill me.
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I feel you.
I just have the opposing views because 6months into my sobriety I let a friend of mine who was still using meth to get high in my room while I watched TV. Didn’t bother me a bit. I saw it as an excerise in restraint and a test of my will when it comes to sobriety and my life as a whole. Like I mentioned before. Not everyone thinks as I do or tests themselves in the extreme way I have.
Then again most people aren’t mentally tough enough to live sober. So there is that.
6 months is a lot different than 7 days. Hell I sat at a bar and had dinner alone the other night. They also had Mello yellow which was awesome. But I’m at that point where I can lead a normal life. However, I still wouldn’t do something to"test" my sobriety any more than I would test thin ice 2 miles from land
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I believe testing onesself is the only real way to find out what one is really made of. #sufferforgrowth
If there was an open taco bar you’d likely be on here all night updating the sober poops thread 
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I suffered enough. I can’t lose a fight that I never start. Addiction will always win in a stand up fight, so why bother? Telling people in early sobriety to go test themselves is like giving them a loaded gun with a hair trigger. Someone is going to get hurt.
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Idk about you, but addiction wont win any fight in my world because I’m not afraid of it and can handle the urge to use and NOT use. For me, it’s simple. I don’t need to use so I don’t. I refuse to live in fear of the big bad addiction monster. It’s all about the individual and their journey which is why i gave examples from my case and stated that not everyone subscribes to the same mentality as I. At no point did I direct any person early in addiction to go test themselves. Especially if they aren’t ready. However I do believe that no fear should be had in terms of addiction. You get to the root of the problem. Work towards a solution and live a life worth living. Simple.
Ok. So, I’m 44 days sober.
This is my personal experience!
I haven’t yet gone to the village pub, my main drinking venue outside of my own house and work, because I don’t think it’s time yet!
I can drive past the same shops, and even go into them on the way to work without buying.
And I go weekly shopping without buying! I do look at the alcohol in said shops, you can’t help it its bloody everywhere!!
But I say to myself No!
Simple.
Even when I’m having a bad day and all I would love to do is sink into that haze of alcohol fuelled oblivion!!
I don’t give in!!
Last weekend my wife went out with friends and drank for the first time in a month. (She is not drinking at home because she feels it’s not fair on me.)
My mental reaction to that told me I’m not ready. I was envious, nervous ( because I could have gone to the shop whilst she was out), basically on edge. If you know what I mean?
That tells me I’m not ready!
We went to a gig the other night and I was stood at the bar and wondered if I could put a vodka in my redbull. It wasn’t a strong thought, just a passing thought, you know, not a compulsion!
That tells me I’m not ready!
Basically this is my journey, I don’t care what friends are doing, I’m staying sober, and when I’m ready I will know.
Sorry if this has rambled, but I felt I had to say something.
I agree with some views that we are all different and handle situation differently.
The basic thing is, is staying true to yourself. Your goal!!
Why would you test your sobriety?
I even looked at a pile of change yesterday and thought " ooh look you have enough to get a 4 pack!!!
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For me it would be like hey I am gonna try dodging knives , and like boom the first one right to my forehead. Like 1 out of 100. I see different people and opinions , it would be really cool to know you wouldn’t fail but … I am definitely against testing yourself as everyday is a test and every day sober is a pass. Wouldn’t test it intentionally cuz I failed too many times … And picking up the pieces is harder every time .
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Hey stranger! We’ve been hollering for you for a while! Nice to see you!
How are you doing these days?
I tested myself early because one of my hobbies is dancing and I didn’t want to give it up. Alcohol is not served at dancing lessons but is served at most social dances.
Once I gave it up I realized that at least 30% of the other dancers were also not drinking. I found out non drinkers are also normies and I am happy to join them.
OTOH my sober BF actively avoids bars unless there is a very good band playing. It makes sense. Neither of us is good with small talk anyway so sitting around a bar table isn’t much fun.
I do think this is different for all of us. However early on people should certainly stay on the safe side.
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Yo M.s !
Nice to be back and thanks !
Ahhhhhhh 
everything was going well and then kablamo down the drain I go… Went with the flow , to the sewers and with nowhere else to go but up , I tried digging dug pretty far. Was looking up from time to time and one day I grabbed a lifeline my (current job) that took me far from everything. Soo I was unable to do anything except work. Several times I relapsed hard in these I think four months but almost two of them I am d-free but got wasted on booze once…
Now happily isolated and counting 44th day…
Feeling real good , excercising , reading , only I miss star trek therapy !
Soooooo… How are you M.s ? Just got back so my mind is still mush , pretty mush.
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