Three basic assumptions have given me the dog I’ve always wanted and accelerated my recovery from alcohol use disorder. They are to respect your bandwidth; maintain connection; and think small.

Loneliness isn’t the absence of other people but a lack of connection to yourself. What’s the difference between solitude and isolation?

Self-care is not making yourself pretty and presentable whilst balancing bad habits with health hacks. Stop gaslighting yourself.

Ex-drinkers have worked very hard to get their shit together. Alcohol keeps the masses numb and dumb. Recovery is the next revolution.

Getting help to stop drinking may seem like a luxury you can’t afford. You can quit on your own, right? The trick is to avoid trading one addiction for another.

You’re not bad if you drink too much. You’re not good if you quit. Sobriety is not a good goal. It’s a vehicle, not the destination.

Antidepressants improve mental health. Drinking alcohol (a depressant) does the opposite. Does alcohol cause mental illness? Yes. But like all chronic illness, alcohol use disorder is reversible.

Alcohol is addictive because it triggers the release of dopamine. How addictive is alcohol for you? The more you drink, the harder it becomes to control.

The idea of getting sober feels like the hiker who had to cut off his arm to save himself. Except it’s not. Just put down the drink. You can keep your arm.

Loneliness is not the absence of people. It’s the lack of connection with yourself. Focus your attention inward to heal loneliness.

Recovery from alcohol use disorder doesn’t happen overnight. We have to learn how to process emotions and manage stress, and allow time for brain chemistry to recalibrate. The symptoms of post-acute withdrawal syndrome are easier to manage with a timeline and strategies.

To overcome alcohol use disorder you must admit that alcohol is causing more stress than it’s worth. It’s not fun anymore. Drinking too much is a form of self-neglect, not self-care.

I just celebrated my first Thanksgiving without alcohol. I was surprised that staying sober during the holidays was easier and more rewarding than anticipated.