Sober Skaters

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Greetings peeps! I am Roger "Doc" aka soberskater. The Sober Skaters Message board is my brain-child. Today is my 17th day of sobriety. I am a member or the SMART Recovery Program (Self Management And Recovery Training...) which utilizes REBT (Rational Behavioral Emotive Therapy) to battle addictions and other life struggles.

http://www.smartrecovery.org

I was a member of the classic 12 Step Programs out there in the past. I had over 10+ years of sobriety and recovery, but then went back out and started drinking and using again... My DOC was first and foremost alcohol, and then what ever else you had. I have been drug free for many years now, but still continued to drink. So, here I am checking in for my 17th day of sobriety and recovery, and our first day at Sober Skaters! I'm glad to be clean and sober one more day. Laughing

Roger "Doc". Cool

skt4life

I'm on my first day! Thought I was the only one. This came along at a good time. It's a big dicision, but a good one! Very Happy

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Right on Bro! I'm only on day 17, so you're right behind me... Hang in there, and keep coming back to check in and talk. I am always here to talk to, or you can PM or email me... Wink

Roger "Doc". Cool

UncleMike · Professional Advisor Forum Moderator

Congrats to the both of you and all in sobriety no matter how many days you have. Remember NEVER apologize for having only somany days, be freekin proud of any time you have. Remember the person with the most sober time is the guy who got up the earlest.
as a friend of mine says (Sam K)
Yours in SLOWBRIETY (cause it is a slow process)

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Well good afternoon peeps! For me it's day 18 here behind the "Zion Curtain". I am doing good... No skating though Crying or Very sad

I have to work today, and there is a foot on snow on the ground! Come on Spring, I'm jonesen here!!! But, this too shall pass. I'm just glad to be here and sober another day. I just finished reading my SMART Recovery Handbook. A great resource that I will be referring to often in my recovery journey. I ordered a new book on REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy) by it's inventor, Albert Ellis Ph.D. I am finding the science and techniques very helpful in my sobriety and recovery. Also, I find it very useful when counseling my students at work! So, I'll quit rambling, like I said, glad to be here peeps, and with that I'll take another day of sobriety... Wink

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Day 19 and all is well! Yesterday was an adventure... My co-worker was off the hook and pissed off! He got beligerant with me, but I used what I've learned in REBT, didn't let him push my buttons and shined him on... I think this pissed him off even more! In an hour or so, he mellowed out though. It was nice to have a choice on how I was going to react to his bullshit. I didn't let it set me off or really get to me. Plus, in the past this would have been a great excuse to pe pissed off all night and then go home and go on one hellacious binge. Today I don't have to do that... So with that, I'll take another day sober and choose to have a great day. Very Happy

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Well fellow sober skaters, it is day 20 for me! All is well... No urges or anything. It's awesome to see the MB taking off! We can share our strength, hopes, dreams, struggles and challenges here. This should be a great place for support, information and fellowship. I got my new book on REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) from Amazon.com today... I think this will be a great help to me personally, and useful at work for the students I counsel... Life is good! I'm glad to be here and sober one more day. Skate on Bro's and Betty's! Razz

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Well sober skaters, today makes three weeks of sobriety for me! Time fly's when you're having fun in recovery... Razz

It is so good to be clean and sober today! I wish I had just done it sooner, so much wasted time, money and life. But, that's in the past and the here and now is what really matters. I'm going in to work an over-time shift today, but I have tomorrow off and looking forward to it! Since I quit drinking, I've noticed the quality of my sleep has improved, and I don''t need to sleep as much either... I also have improved my eating, and don't eat as much. One of my other goals in sobriety is to lose weight and get in shape. I know, two seperate issues! But, I know that quitting drinking will help in the weight loss area. I was taking in mass calories with my beer binges! And beer, is all empty carbo laden calories... I've got the belly to prove it! I have lost some weight since quitting, and would lose more if I'd get off my ass and exercise... After replying to a post by Woof, my new motivational slogan is, "Just get off your ass and do it!" Now I have to follow up on it though. With that, I'll stop rambling and start my day of celebrating three weeks of sobriety and recovery. Skate on! Wink

Roger "Doc". Cool

noonecantellimadog

Hey congrats to all, and especially to Doc on three weeks. That's a big milestone.

I just want to remind everyone here that you need to be kind to yourselves, observe milestones both large and small, and to reward yourself from time to time. Little rewards, but rewards nonetheless.

Some people feel adverse to this. Why should I reward myself for not doing something I should not do? According to that theory, I should pat myself on the back for not taking a crap on my neighbor's lawn (my name IS woof after all).

Doc posted something interesting that I have read many times before, and that states that there is plenty of science that says that addiction changes or "rewires" your brain. I am here to tell you that you can rewire your brain AGAIN to a very large degree once you are in recovery.

It goes a little like this... we tend to view the drinking or the drugs, or the substance of choice to be a kind of reward. "It's Friday, I got through another week, let's go get drunk!" You can see how that's kind of a reward. There is often an element of self-medication for depression and such, but there is also this reward thing going on at times. I will admit it can be subtle and rather subverts the meaning of reward, but I think you will probably agree that it comes into play at times. You may have your own little reward scenarios. "I'll get some chores done and then go down to the pub for a pint and a game." Right?

As you work through recovery, you will find these things are often triggers. Friday night was a big trigger for me.

Find new ways to reward yourself. Be creative. Learn to think of reward in a slightly different way. Your reward for a hard week? A great meal a movie, and going to bed early... sleeping in? Little things like that... things that promote clarity of mind and health of body. Learn to think of taking care of yourself as a reward. Seriously. It won't take long to show benefits.

Learn to pat yourself on the back, every day, in every way. Sounds a little strange and it takes some practice. I recall faking it until making it for a period of time. I'd kind of mouth the "words." But a funny thing about the human mind is that it craves positive things and pretty soon, it starts liking and listening to the praise you give yourself, and all of a sudden it is real and that is awesome.

I'll praise you guys all day. You are ** awesome ** for doing this thing. Please believe that I have unbounded respect for all of you. But what you are all going for, in the end, is not my respect but self-respect.

In the end, working this reward angle will tend to rewire your "reward" pathways. You will tend to think of reward in a different way and reward will not be as associated with using. Then one day, you will feel happy, which will trigger a reward response and you'll think... "maybe I'll go out to a movie tonight" instead of... well, you get it. And if and when the little voice pops up that says "go have a drink," you'll be ready because you'll have something better to do.

Doc, you gotta take yourself OUT this weekend and do something fun for yourself. Sounds like you are planning on doing that. Make sure you consciously connect it with the progress you have made, and make it a reward for doing so well. Pat yourself on the back bud, you truly deserve it. You ALL do.

I hope you guys don't mind all the long posts I have been making lately. I have a tendency to get up on a stump from time to time... Best to all of you,

woof
gettin' down of the stump now...

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Woof, I don't mind a bit! That's what this place is here for... It's a place where we can get together and share about recovery, sobriety and skating! What you had to say was awesome and right on. I am going to reward myself this weekend. I am going to a Superbowl Party. The host (Biker Bob) who was my #1 drinking bud knows about my decision to stop drinking and is very supportive and positive! He said he will have soda and other non-alcoholic stuff there to drink... It should be a great time, good food, friends and Football! Go Seattle Seahawks! I'm committed to my sobriety, and have supportive friends, so this won't be a slippery place for me. Thanks for the post, I'm glad you are here. You and your soap-box are welcome anytime... Razz

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Day 22 and I have a day off from work!!! Razz

I have worked two weeks straight... I can definitely use a day off. I think I'll drink some Java and get my butt up and go Carveboarding today. We are having a heat wave, it has warmed up to a scorching 41 Degrees! If I can get someone to go with me, I'll take some pics and post them later in the Pics or Shesh's section. It's good to be sober and somewhat sand today. Exclamation

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

Today is day 23. I am at work, I've got my cup-o-java and all is well with the universe... It was nice to have a day off, not very productive but nice all the same! I didn't go Carveboarding like I had planned, I couldn't get my mojo going to get motivated enough... Too tired and burnt out from working two weeks straight. Nothing spectacular today, one of my students had a siezure, that's enough drama and excitement for one day, hopefully. Rolling Eyes

Tomorrow, I am going to a Superbowl Party. Go Seahawks!!! Razz

I have told the host, (Biker Bob) about quitting drinking, he was very positive and supportive of my decision and said there will be non-alcoholic drinks available. I took a vacation day so I could go to the party. I've worked a lot lately and deserve a day off to go have some fun with my Son "Trash" and my buds... Laughing

I'll close for now, and take another day sober! Exclamation

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

My Seattle Seahawks lost... That sucks, but I'm sober, that's the imprtant thing. I'm glad I made a bouble batch of my pasta slad, everyone ate that stuff up! It was fun, and the food was great, but I'm glad I didn't drink. A couple of people got FUBAR, but nobody got out of hand. I have to admit, I did have an urge when I saw there was tequila, but I rode the wave out and was fine... So, today closes on day 24. Time to go do some laundry. Wink

Roger "Doc" Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

I survived the crushing defeat of my Seahawks, and am still sober! Day 25, I begin another marathon OT work session today... After this one is over, no more for a while! Stick a fork in me, I'm done! Shocked

It's a clear and sunny day here, but it is still only 35 Degrees Crying or Very sad

... I really need to skate! I'm jonesen for Spring to get here! All work and no skating makes "Doc" fucking insane!!! Surprised

Oh well, I'll survive, and as long as I'm sober, that's the important thing... So, I'm off to make some Java and then get ready for work. It's good to know there are other skaters out there like me, and that I'm not alone... Twisted Evil

Roger "Doc". Cool

soberskater · Head Ex-Lush In Charge

I had a major meltdown today, and was off the hook for a while. Embarassed

I'm over my ranting vent and feel much better now... I wasn't going to let the situation ruin my entire day, nor jeapordize my sobriety and recovery. I vented about this in the recovery discussions area... Wink

Roger "Doc". Cool