Thinkstraight Substance Abuse and Addictions Treatment

03/03/2024

I recently had the chance to chat with the inimitable Mrs D about drinking and sobriety. We’d never actually met in person - but chatting with her is like catching up with a dear, (not so old) friend. Such is her wisdom, insight, humour and passion - for helping others find the joy that is being sober.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

A community website designed to support people who wish to free themselves from the clutches of alcohol. Living Sober is not for profit and for community.

13/10/2022

I don’t normally comment on this kind of thing, but the idiocy of this young man’s actions are only exceeded by the Judge’s moronic attitude to alcohol. It is, apparently, as essential element of participation in rugby if you believe Justice Russell and would be ‘too difficult’ for the young man to continue playing in his team if he isn’t free to have a beer (or two) after the game.
Cry me a river.

Judge swayed by social benefits of team “tradition”, despite describing alcohol as “root cause” of 19-year-old’s problems.

11/04/2022

25/12/2021

Being sober means I get choose who I want to be… every single moment. I get to act with integrity - do the right thing not just the easy thing.

30/12/2020

‘Be bold, be courageous and mighty forces will come to your aid’. This man too, was once just one day, one week, one month sober. But after forty five years, he still takes a moment to encourage and inspire others. Those of us in sobriety - at any stage - have the shoulders of giants like this on which to stand.

01/12/2020

What happens when keeping a record of your gratitude becomes a task that makes you feel ungrateful?

What happens when keeping a record of your gratitude becomes a task that makes you feel ungrateful? Writing is not everyone’s forte and can seem like hard work, overshadowing the benefits that you’re aiming for in the first place.

29/11/2020

It's never been easier to join an online support community. The rise of support groups for addiction on Zoom is mirroring the burgeoning acceptance of telehealth across the globe.

Going virtual amid the pandemic has increased access to critical meetings, but for some, the feeling of connection just isn’t the same.

27/11/2020

To have good self-esteem, we have to set ourselves up to succeed. When you're drinking, you are more likely out of alignment with your values, which will drain your self-esteem.

25/11/2020

Well-meaning advice about the importance of not drinking too much is absolutely everywhere – even on some alcohol labels. So really, there’s no excuse for drinking too much. There’s no excuse for getting drunk again and again and causing harm to yourself and others. Why does this happen?
Read more on the blog: http://www.thinkstraight.nz/new-blog

21/11/2020

If you're on a sobriety journey, keeping a gratitude journal can help you savour the sober moments and milestones. What are you grateful for today?

19/11/2020

What does it mean to have a serious drinking problem? Nancy Wartik, who labels herself as having moderate alcohol use disorder, says: "Alcohol was my stress reducer, my reality fighter, the conferrer of artificial joys. It was also wreaking havoc on my life." Read this New York Times article for a fascinating insight into her journey of addiction and recovery.

Alcohol was my stress reducer, my reality fighter, the conferrer of artificial joys. It was also wreaking havoc on my life.

16/11/2020

People entering recovery might think it's all about NOT drinking or NOT socialising or NOT having fun any more. Incorrect. Recovery adds a richness and authenticity to your life that you'll never find in a bottle.

14/11/2020

A drinking problem is not how how often you drink or even how much you drink: it's more about how drinking affects you. If you're feeling like drinking is taking more from you than you're getting in return, it might be time to review the relationship.

11/11/2020

This is the face of a high-functioning alcoholic, says former fashion guru Susannah Constantine, who has been in recovery for seven years. More and more, people who couldn't relate to the stereotypical image of an alcoholic are starting to realise you can be a problematic drinker without losing everything. Read more about the faces of alcoholism in my blog here:

http://www.thinkstraight.nz/new-blog/2020/9/9/what-does-an-alcoholic-look-like

What Not to Wear presenter has been in recovery for seven years

05/11/2020

So glam! Not. The truth is, alcohol rarely matches the sophisticated illusion the alcohol industry promotes. There's nothing sexy or stylish about being a messy drunk, or being hung over and losing days of your life, or hurting yourself or others.

01/11/2020

New Kiwi magazine features some great content on women and alcohol in its latest issue. Celebs share their reasons for going alcohol-free (below) and there's also some other great reading on why women are choosing to go sober when you buy the mag or subscribe to the digital version. Support new Kiwi media and pick up a copy with your groceries this week!

Wellbeing7 sober celebrities discuss their decision for going alcohol freeThese sober celebrities share their reasons for staying away from alcohol.1. Lily Allen“One year completely sober!” the singer posted on Instagram in July 2020 alongside a series of bikini selfies. “So grateful for my he...