Author: Contributor to The Sober Curator

Americans’ alcohol consumption rates today look a lot like they did in 1939. Men’s Journal reported on a Gallup poll of adults across all fifty states, and it found that more than six in ten, or 65%, drink alcohol. Meanwhile, the number of nearsighted Americans has ballooned to 41.6% of the population, and nearly 20 million suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Given these numbers, it’s safe to say that there is an overlap between alcohol drinkers and those with ocular conditions. However, in terms of drinking and eyesight, does correlation equal causation? And can leaving alcohol behind create room…

The American Society of Pharmacovigilance bookmarks March 24 as the National Adverse Drug Event Awareness Day. The reason why this day holds much significance is because it’s shining a spotlight on the often dangerous side effects drugs can have. For someone dancing the sobriety tango, this day holds extra weight because (as you may know) navigating medication while keeping one’s sobriety intact is pretty much like walking a tightrope. Drugs, even the ones doctors prescribe, can have reactions that are not just about the physical side of things but can tug at the emotional and mental stability that is so…

Ahhh, St. Patrick’s Day. It’s every active alcoholic’s wet dream. It’s the one day a year when getting drunk is celebrated rather than scolded, where everyone around you is guaranteed to be as much of a sloppy mess as you are, and shots are handed out like lollipops at the doctor’s office. For an alcoholic in recovery, however, it can be the day that most fill you with dread, with the first one most certainly being the hardest. The brain busts and the heartaches at what to do to grapple with this Kelly-green 800-pound gorilla of a sobriety nightmare. While…

When I walked into rehab, I had no idea that a simple task that THEY MADE ME DO would change the trajectory of my life.  For the first couple of days at the facility where I was, they let me decompress and not have a daily unit chore, BUT I had to make my bed every day, and yes, it was checked by staff.  I have no memory of my parents telling me to make my bed or even if I did before getting into recovery. I remember thinking, “What a stupid thing these people are making me do! Why…

March 2nd marks World Teen Mental Wellness Day, a day dedicated to transforming the way society approaches teen mental health conversations and breaking down the barriers of stigma that often shroud these discussions. This pivotal day shines a spotlight on the importance of acknowledging and addressing the mental health challenges faced by teens, which are more rampant than ever. With pressures coming from all sides–be it social media, academic expectations, or personal relationships–it’s no wonder the American Psychological Association labels Gen Z’s mental well-being as being in a precarious state. Yet, amidst these challenges, there’s a glimmer of hope. Teens…

Starting on the journey to kick an addiction is tough for anybody. But imagine doing that while you’re also dealing with ongoing health issues. It’s like trying to climb a huge hill, and halfway up, a storm hits. You’re not just battling the urge to slip back into old habits, but you’re also wrestling with whatever health curveballs life’s thrown at you. It’s a two-front war that needs a battle plan tailored just for you, heaps of patience, and a truckload of determination. The Complexity of Managing Two Fronts Tackling sobriety when you’ve also got chronic illnesses or mental health…

Taking the leap into sobriety is a monumental step. It’s not just about giving up a substance; it’s about reclaiming your life, one day at a time. Amidst this journey, seemingly mundane tasks like commuting can either become stumbling blocks or stepping stones. But believe it or not, your daily drive can play a pivotal role in your sobriety journey. Mindful Commuting for the Win On the sobriety path, every second counts. That daily drive? It’s not just dead time. It’s untapped gold for grounding and growth. Turning your commute into a mindful moment means hitting pause on autopilot and…

As The Sober Curator’s UK correspondent, it’s a joy to share some influencers from across the pond to add to your regular dose of sobriety content. As a sober gal in her first year of abstinence, social media has been a massive lifeline for seeking inspiration and support and adjusting the balance of hedonistic vs. holistic posts in my feeds. Here are my five favorite influencers to add some British accents to your collection of sober friends in your pocket. Abi Feltham Powerlifting, TikTok vlogging badass Abi Feltham takes the top of this list for her raw, honest accounts of…

Can you imagine walking into a house where every little thing is in its right spot—no stacks of papers on the counter, no clothes draped over chairs? It feels like a deep breath for the eyes. For someone working on staying sober, this kind of calm isn’t just nice to have; it’s like a secret weapon in a way. It’s all about making a space that feels good, where someone can be their best self, keep their head clear, and stay focused on what matters most. Tidying Up as Good for the Soul Now, think about the actual job of…

When you embark on a journey of sobriety, it’s like starting a brand-new chapter in your life. As you transform yourself, it makes sense that your living space reflects your new direction. This isn’t just about redecoration–it’s about crafting an environment that echoes the new commitments you’ve made to yourself. By refreshing your surroundings, you’re setting the stage for the new, sober you. At the end of the day, however, it boils down to one simple thing: removing the triggers and temptations that former habits might have left behind and surrounding yourself with a space that’s brimming with positivity and…

Its 2024 and so many of us are scrambling to get our resolutions, our yearly words, our ins and outs, and just general life goals in line. As a fashion queen (yes, I just called myself a queen), I have spent the past few weeks reflecting on the forms of fashion I am putting out into the world. A very tough part of being a fashion content creator is trying to stay up with all the trends. Not only is it mentally exhausting, bad for the planet, but it can also really take a toll on one’s finances. And while…

Reaching a sobriety milestone is a monumental achievement because it’s a testament to someone’s strength, resilience, and commitment to a healthier way of life. But amid life’s hustle, sticking to this transformative path demands continuous dedication and support; this is where the beauty of short getaways lies as a means to commemorate these personal victories. Here’s what it comes down to a brief escape from the daily grind doesn’t just provide a well-deserved pat on the back–it’s a rejuvenating pause that can reinforce one’s commitment to sobriety. The Refreshing Break: A Reset for Mind and Body Just like any significant journey, the…

Sharing personal stories on alcoholism and drug addiction recovery brings to light the human aspect of addiction, as reported by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The stories people with addiction share demystify the truths about why people become addicted to certain substances and what it takes to recover. With that said personal stories can be effective in promoting recovery from addiction. How? Reading someone else’s uplifting journey towards sobriety can empower the reader to seek treatment, break the stigma surrounding alcohol and substance use disorder, and encourage the author to continue on their path to sobriety. That’s because stories…

Are you a parent in recovery struggling with your emotional sobriety & feeling anxious about whether or not you’re doing this parenting thing right? Are you a self-proclaimed perfectionist constantly worried about what others think of you? Do you feel childhood and family patterns repeating themselves in your marriage or relationships? Did the pink cloud fade a long time ago only to be replaced with the restlessness, irritability, and discontent of those familiar drunken days? Sobriety has given you the ability to be a high achiever, it’s given you your dream job and a beautiful family – but you’re still…

Taylor Swift’s ever-evolving fashion throughout her eccentric eras has been captivating. What’s remarkable is how her audience has transformed alongside her. Initially, she was embraced by innocent nine-year-old girls drawn to her catchy tunes and relatable lyrics. Fast forward to today, and her fan base has matured into a diverse crowd of 30+-year-old women capable of treating her concerts like adult outings. This evolution mirrors Taylor’s artistic growth, and it signifies her bond with her fans, who have navigated life’s twists and turns with her. Now, they attend her shows for the music and as an opportunity to savor an…

As of November 28th, I am officially two years sober. That is two years without a sip of alcohol. It’s not a one-off beer or a sneaky sip of wine. Not a champagne toast on New Year or a Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day. Never in a million years did I think I would be able to say this, and I never expected to say that with enthusiasm! Sobriety is a never-ending journey, and I keep learning more and more the longer I stay sober. Today, I wanted to talk about my first year of sobriety compared with my second…

As we get older, the quest for dopamine becomes more and more challenging. As little kids, Pixie Sticks and a Disney movie would give us the rush we needed, but adulthood presents us with overwhelming obstacles. Some expected, like bills and relationship struggles, and some unprecedented, like worldwide pandemics and politicians so divisive that I had to mute half of my family on Facebook. The want and need to feel joy, excitement, and contentment is a part of the human experience. We want to feel good. We want to be happy. But sometimes life throws us curveballs that lead us…

“My mom goes better with gin,” was my typical answer when someone asked. She lives eight hours away, so visits tend to last several days. This was the first time I visited her sober in twenty years. My mother and I generally get along and there’s a lot of love between us. However, she inserts barbs where I still don’t expect them. I react despite years of therapy. “Do you think those pants are getting a little tight?” is one of her favs, & any reply that starts; “You think you’ve had it hard?” Being tipsy helped smooth over those…

Amy Liz Harrison is the bestselling author of two memoirs, “Eternally Expecting: A Mom of Eight Gets Sober and Gives Birth to a Whole New Life…Her Own” and “Eternally Awkward: A Future Mom of Eight Reflects on Mysteries of Anxiety, ADHD, and Coming of Age in the 80’s.” As a mother and a writer, Harrison felt inspired to create the “Kiss Your Brain” series of children’s books in 2023. This series tackles the big mental health topics her family—and all families—face. With five stories written from a child’s point of view, this series addresses substance abuse, eating disorders, and other…

It’s hard to find a celebrity as misunderstood as Britney Spears. Plagued by paparazzi and invasive interviewers, the negative press surrounding Spears has created an echo chamber of speculation and negativity spanning her 30 years in the spotlight. So, when it was announced that her memoir would be published following the end of her 13-year conservatorship and censorship, Britney fans rejoiced everywhere. The Woman in Me, published in October 2023, is Britney’s testimony–a chance to set the record straight. After over a decade of an abusive conservatorship, censorship, and lack of access to her social media, through which she lost…

In The Lower Power, Michele Miller’s upcoming addiction fiction novel, there’s a new drug running rampant in New York. If you try it once, you’ll be hopelessly addicted. It invades your mind, takes over your life, and puts you totally under its control. People are abandoning their families and committing violent atrocities. The city is under siege, while the corrupt police force looks the other way. This sounds familiar to anyone who lived through the crack epidemic in New York in the ‘80s, but Miller adds a supernatural twist to her story. There’s an entity who personifies the drug. He…

For as long as I can remember (over 30 years), I drank alcohol every day. Beer being my biggest drink of choice. Most of that time I was a functioning drinker… go to work, do what I needed to do for the day, then come home in the evening and put down 6 or 8 beers and relax. I have always struggled with anxiety and depression, so this was my way of letting go and feeling ok for the night. This was the way I was for years, and to me, it worked. But the last few years I started…

Hey there, jet-setting teetotalers! As we gear up for the holiday hustle, it’s time to face the harsh reality that travel is about to become a major player in our lives. Whether you’re navigating the open road, riding the rails, or braving the skies, the journey can be tough. Now, for most people, airports are just a blip on the holiday radar – a necessary evil in the pursuit of festive joy. But for us champions of sobriety, airports are like the ultimate obstacle course filled with temptation at every turn. I mean, c’mon! Bars, cocktail-slinging restaurants, and duty-free stores…

Why is a break from booze before the holidays ideal timing? Sober Curator Allyson Sullivan, blogger of Shimmer & Shame, shares her story. My sobriety date is November 28, 2021. That means my first month sober was the month of December. What happens in December? Christmas parties with friends. Christmas movies. Christmas cookies. ALL the Christmas activities with kids. Christmas cooking. Time off work. Downtime with family. All the games. All the music. You know what goes with all those things? Wine. Beer. Christmas cocktails. Spiked hot chocolate. Holiday-inspired mimosas. Christmas-themed shots. Some people may say that starting my sobriety…

I found out after reading Cherry that the book was semi-autobiographical and that Walker wrote it from prison. That makes sense. The world he describes—inside and outside his mind—feels too vivid and authentic to be pure fiction. He was a middle-class white kid who loved drugs and booze (and women) from the start. They helped him escape his mind, which was not a happy place to reside, even though his circumstances weren’t bad. He signs up for the Army because he can’t think of anything better to do, and ends up working as a medic in the Gulf War for…

Two and half years ago I quit drinking. I noticed my sleep got better, I had more energy, my anxiety went down, and all the other annoying things that non drinkers brag about to their friends that still drink. All of those things really did happen, but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about garbage. I figured since I could quit drinking and had more time on my hands I could do other things I’m interested in like running, yoga, writing, reading, and binge watching TV. I also started walking my dogs more, and because I was also…

It’s Fall, Y’all! How sick are you of hearing that? Are you equipped with your pumpkin spice lattes, plaid, and some decorative item that reads “spooky season?” (I admit that I literally have all these things because I am basic.) Fall is fun and exciting because it visually represents change. No inner work needed! See those leaves? They are different colors now. You did it! You made it through another season. Despite the obvious differences in the seasons, Fall is also a time of transition, not just in terms of weather and scenery but also in our own personal journeys.…

Birthdays are an excellent opportunity for self-reflection, goal setting, and health resets. Kind of like a “personal New Year’s Eve,” it feels like a fresh start. My 35th birthday is right around the corner, so naturally, I have been consumed with the “Who the fuck am I?” questions I am flooded with whenever one of my trips around the sun is ending. My mother also reminded me that I will be closer to 50 than 20 the day after my birthday, so that’s great…thanks mom. As I’ve been pondering just who the fuck I am, I’ve been reflecting a lot…

Rachel is one of those alcoholics who has lost her job but gets dressed and takes the train to the city every day anyway, pretending to go to work so that people don’t think anything is wrong. She’s been doing this for about a year while she runs out of money and tests the patience of everyone in her life. Her circumstances are bad, but the climate in her head has become unbearable, so she lives in a fantasy world, imagining lives for the people she sees out the train window every day. She gives them names and elaborate back…

Sober. I hate that word. It sounds so sad. Before I stopped drinking, I basically replaced the word “sober” with “boring.” I didn’t think anyone was sober because they wanted to be. Sobriety was something you had to become because you had a problem. My stance on this has completely changed based on my experience and education on the topic, but I think most people still feel that way, and that’s okay. I have always been good at balancing my different worlds and harvesting different versions of myself based on my current needs. Stretching and morphing myself into the “Allyson”…