Seeing as we added a Bonus episode of Sober Awkward today about loneliness, I thought I'd share some tips on how to avoid feeling isolated once booze is off the menu. (episode link https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iPUG7j3MaCic6eXS5zwu7?si=88cc4cc780bf4daa) Giving up booze can sometimes feel like a path of solitude. My choice to no longer get pissed means I don’t fancy going out as much. I spend more time alone. Hanging out in clubs, bars and kebab shops (or prison cells – but that’s another story!) isn’t quite as appealing when sober. The noise pumping from speakers seems louder than ever be ..read more

In a world brimming with alcohol, being the one sober person sitting at the Christmas dinner table can be hard. It’s not only the obvious booze temptations that make it difficult, it’s the strain of being with family all day, the hassle that comes with cooking and wrapping presents, the humiliating games we’re forced to play and the pressure to fit in when you’re feeling on the periphery. There is no doubt about it, your first sober Christmas might bring up a few unexpected hankerings, that need to numb out might envelop you before you’ve even had time to try on your new fluffy Reindeer socks ..read more

Today I experienced a ‘Wapple.’ A wapple, according to my 4 year-old daughter, is when you go to the park and play with someone you’ve never met before. ‘I love wapples mum’ she said after I’d coaxed her off the swing with the promise of a icy pole. ‘Yes, I love wapples too. They’re the best. Now, Orange or lemonade flavour?’ She amazes me sometimes. Not only had she made up the word, she’d also been confident enough to fulfill its sentiment. She walked straight up to a little boy spinning around on the roundabout and introduced herself. Then she played shops and a game of tag with him and aft ..read more

Note from vic - Joe has a great instagram account @soberflourish. I reached out to her to write a blog because I found her posts so relatable and down to earth. A huge shout out to Jodi for stepping out of her comfort zone and writhing this brilliant piece for Cuppa and DMSM - She did not disappoint - A sober writer in the making! This is Jodi's story. #SundayGuestBlogs It's time to look forward... That dreaded 4am wake up call, the overwhelming loud wave of anxiety stopping me from being able to relax enough to get back to sleep. The roll call of the day ahead playing on loop in my head, the ..read more

#SundayGuestBlogs Imagine this scenario. We sit down together at a table. A Harry Styles playlist on in background, dried flower arrangement in the middle of the table and a glass in front you. It’s a drink. It looks enticing, it looks refreshing, the garnish is crisp, the glass is beautiful. It’s yours to drink but of course there’s a catch. The liquid in this glass has been scientifically proven to increase your cancer risk. But you can drink if it you want to.... Would you take the drink? Probably not. This is the predicament you face every time you have alcohol. You see, alcohol is a know ..read more

Shame pops up to say hello for many reasons. It can be due to trauma, low-self worth, feeling rejected, weak, unsuccessful or because of being in a toxic relationship. For me, shame was caused by alcohol. They were joined together like the evil twins from The Shining. Staring me down after each heavy session. Shame kept me drinking. I was stuck in a cycle. Drink, shame, repeat. A routine that I accepted, just like brushing my teeth, cooking dinner, or tripping over the same curb on my way to work every morning. Everyday shame was nearby, lurking, hiding in the shadows. Ever present. After bing ..read more

I’ve been away for a few nights. Away from children, away from demands, spillages and arguments. I packed a small bag, and like Dorothy at the end of The Wizard of Oz, kissed each member of my family that were lined up on the driveway goodbye. The gap between my ears and shoulders got bigger as I turned the key in the ignition. Just being in the car felt as good as having a massage. The peace! The tranquillity of choosing my own music and playing a podcast instead of listening to ‘The Chicken Wing Song’ at full volume. These small changes filled my sober soul with joy. As I reversed out I smil ..read more

Alcohol manages to seep into most aspects of our lives. It trickles into our home life, dampens our relationships, envelops our social occasions and it even soaks into our jobs. It’s hard to avoid. When we give up drinking, we notice alcohol everywhere. It follows us around like a bad smell, lined up on shelves, lit up on billboards and sipped in every TV show. It’s there, reminding us, triggering us and trying to pull us back in. Its annoying to say the least. It is so deeply ingrained into society, culture and work, that us non-drinkers feel like we are fighting a losing battle.... and now ..read more

Is it ok to admit we hate being parents at times? My 5 year old daughter is staring at me with a very disgruntled face. ‘Mum. These chips are disgusting.’ ‘They taste like potato.’ ‘Chips are made of potato darling.’ Deep breath. ‘Well, just eat the fish fingers then’ ‘Are they homemade?’ (They are) ‘No, they’re from Aldi.’ ‘Yay, I love Aldi. Can you tell George that if he isn’t nice to me I will punch him.’ ‘Just eat your dinner, there are people starving in the world. Just be thankful.’ ‘Why don’t the starving people just go to the shops?. Ouch. George punched me!’ ‘Oh for fucks sake’ I mumb ..read more

I’m at the school gates waving like a maniac at my eight-year-old son. He is running up the path with his black bag slapping against his back. I did manage to get a kiss, not a great one, but we made contact. He instantly wiped it off like my lips were covered in poison... But I got one. He’s running away fast because he knows what’s coming, he’s hoping to turn the corner before the inevitable, ‘I LOVE YOUUUUU!’ I shout, I see his shoulders raise as my words reach his little ears. Then he’s gone, around the corner of the building, immediately emersed into his mysterious daytime world of friend ..read more