Ask a Sober Lady Links:
Has science accomplished it? The first three weeks on Naltrexone
A funny thing happened on the way to the liquor store
Is relapse always a part of recovery?
How do I stay sober on vacation with my wine-loving friends?
Why are courts still sentencing people to AA meetings?
Are anyone’s drinking dreams actually fun?
Old timers in AA imply I don’t “qualify”
The possibility of spectacular failure
How can I talk to a heavy drinker and chaos agent without losing my mind?
Recommendations close to my formerly drunk heart
Staying sober with a medication I was told to avoid
On birds, murder mysteries, and perspective
My friend quit drinking but things aren’t right between us
Comparison is a fool’s game, but we love playing it
Did getting sober make your life more manageable?
Finding Booze in all the Wrong Places
You Don’t Have to Hit Bottom to Get Sober
17 Things I’ve Learned in 17 Years of Sobriety
How do I talk to my 14-year-old daughter about drinking and drugs?
My brother finally admitted he’s an alcoholic, but he’s surrounded by enablers
How Can I Start Dating After Sobriety Without Making It a Big Deal?
On Drinking, Medical Trauma, and Pain
How Can I Find Sober Friends Who Want to Talk About More Than Recovery?
The Unhelpful Absurdity of the Dry Drunk Narrative
How Can I Support My Friend Who Is Trying To Quit Drinking
Staying Sober at the End of the World
The Halcyon Days of Barfing in Trash Cans
I Accidentally Drank Alcohol—Am I Overreacting?
What Craving Alcohol and a Supermarket Meltdown Have in Common
Can I Quit Drinking Without Giving Up Weed
Why I Am Profoundly Uninterested in Whether We Call Addiction a Disease
How Do I Have Fun Without Drinking?
It’s Okay to Miss Drinking Even If It Ruined Your Life
My Drinking Ended Our Marriage; Now She Won’t Even Acknowledge My Sobriety
Maybe he’s born with it—maybe it’s childhood trauma
Introducing my new addiction recovery advice newsletter! (It’s free!)
Why am I starting an addiction recovery advice newsletter?
Put simply, I used to write one, and when I did, people seemed to like it. I’ve been told it even helped a few people. I’m not a doctor or mental health professional, so my advice shouldn’t be construed as medical or therapeutic advice. But I do know what it’s like to be addicted to a substance, recover from that addiction, and figure out how to live without the drug that used to be my singular obsession. I also know what it’s like to love someone who is struggling with chemical dependence.
I’ve learned a lot since January of 2008 when I woke up in an emergency room after what would be my last bender. Some of that knowledge came through experience, some through hours of research as a health and medicine journalist, but all of it has been valuable to me. I’m starting this newsletter because it might be valuable to you or someone you know.
All of the recovery advice is free in every sense of the word. You are free to take or leave it. I will never put the advice posts behind a paywall.
For any of this to work, I NEED QUESTIONS!
Send questions and feedback to askasoberlady@gmail.com. By sending a question, you agree to let me reprint it in the newsletter with your name redacted or changed. Emails may be edited for length or clarity.
The newsletter will live on Substack, but I’ll post links to it here.
If you appreciate what I do and are in a position to become a paid subscriber, please sign up for one of the paid options. The more subscriptions I get, the more often I can share what I hope will be helpful advice. Plus, you’ll get bonus posts, expert Q&As, community features, and other very cool things that I haven’t thought of yet (if you have ideas, let me know!).
I’m not a doctor or mental health professional, so my advice shouldn’t be construed as medical or therapeutic advice. You are free to take or leave it.
I’m planning on adding more features and resources, but this is my first foray into the world of Substack, so please bear with me as I figure it out.
Katie MacBride 