Digest

This episode of The Sober Powered Podcast focuses on the topic of triggers and how they can impact sobriety. The host, Jill, shares her personal experience with triggers and emphasizes the importance of tolerating discomfort to avoid giving in to cravings. She highlights the concept of lack of perseverance as a form of impulsivity, often seen in problem drinkers, and uses her own weightlifting journey as an example. Jill then delves into six common triggers: boredom, fatigue, anger and stress, being around drinkers, isolation, and overthinking. She explains how each trigger can lead to cravings and provides practical advice for managing them. For boredom, she suggests finding new hobbies and engaging in activities that provide natural highs. For fatigue, she recommends prioritizing rest and self-care, especially during the initial months of sobriety. For anger and stress, she emphasizes the importance of therapy and learning coping skills. For being around drinkers, she advises limiting exposure and engaging in other activities. For isolation, she encourages joining sober communities and actively participating. Finally, for overthinking, she emphasizes the need for productive reflection and avoiding excessive planning that can lead to anxiety. The episode concludes with a reminder to slow down and focus on sobriety before adding other changes to one's life.

Outlines

00:00:00

Triggers and Sobriety

This Chapter introduces the concept of triggers and their impact on sobriety. It emphasizes the importance of tolerating discomfort to avoid giving in to cravings. The host shares a personal story about lack of perseverance and how it relates to impulsivity in problem drinkers.

00:06:44

Six Common Triggers

This Chapter delves into six common triggers for drinking: boredom, fatigue, anger and stress, being around drinkers, isolation, and overthinking. The host provides insights into why these triggers can lead to cravings and offers practical advice for managing them.

00:21:00

Takeaway and Conclusion

This Chapter summarizes the key takeaways from the episode, emphasizing the importance of understanding triggers and developing strategies for dealing with them. It also cautions against overplanning and overanalyzing, which can lead to anxiety and hinder self-care.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some common triggers for drinking?

  Six common triggers for drinking include boredom, fatigue, anger and stress, being around drinkers, isolation, and overthinking.

• How can I manage boredom as a trigger for drinking?

  To manage boredom, try finding new hobbies, engaging in activities that provide natural highs, and avoiding situations that make you feel uninterested or unengaged.

• What are some tips for dealing with fatigue as a trigger for drinking?

  Prioritize rest and self-care, especially during the initial months of sobriety. Get enough sleep, take naps, and minimize your workload.

• How can I cope with anger and stress as triggers for drinking?

  Consider therapy to learn coping skills and how to reduce sources of stress. Practice assertive communication and recognize patterns that trigger anger.

• What strategies can I use to manage being around drinkers as a trigger?

  Limit your exposure to drinkers, engage in other activities, and avoid situations where you might be offered alcohol.

• How can I overcome isolation as a trigger for drinking?

  Join sober communities, actively participate in meetings, and connect with others who understand your experience.

• What can I do to prevent overthinking from triggering cravings?

  Engage in productive reflection, avoid excessive planning that leads to anxiety, and focus on developing real coping skills and tools.

• Why is it important to tolerate discomfort when dealing with triggers?

  Tolerating discomfort is crucial for staying sober because it helps you resist cravings and avoid giving in to impulsive behaviors.

• How does lack of perseverance contribute to drinking?

  Lack of perseverance is a form of impulsivity that can lead to giving up easily when things get uncomfortable, making it harder to resist cravings and stay sober.

• What is the takeaway from this episode?

  The takeaway is that understanding triggers and developing strategies for managing them is essential for maintaining sobriety. It's also important to avoid overplanning and overanalyzing, which can lead to anxiety and hinder self-care.

Show Notes