It’s About The Little Things in Sobriety

A sober holiday has you appreciating the little things in life, the things you wouldn't necessarily notice when you are drunk or hungover.

When I was on drinking holidays I rarely noticed the little things, as I was was constantly chasing the the big dopamine fixes that alcohol gives. Alcohol for many and especially with people with ADHD delivers such a huge hit to the brains dopamine reward centre, which floods the brain with dopamine. And another thing to note is that this can even happen just by thinking about having a drink, because we already have the associate that alcohol equels pleasure. 

But with huge highs, what comes up must come down and we end up feeling worse than how we felt when we started. So we crave another drink just to chase that feeling we had before having that first drink. Basically as the alcohol wears off we then want more! Sarah Rusbatch says “When our brain gets lit up several nights a week from alcohol like a bloody Christmas tree in Times Square, we start to anticipate those dopamine punches and look forward to them. We stop noticing the gentler dopamine tickles, the glimmers.” And Andrew Huberman also explains this by saying that consistent drinking of alcohol can create "a gentle narrowing of the things from which we find pleasure'. 

That is why on previous drinking holidays I didn't find much joy in things that didn't involve alcohol. The little things were irrelevant as alcohol didn't allow me to receive the little natural dopamine fixes anyway as I was so focused on when I was getting my big unnatural hits of dopamine from alcohol. 

This sober holiday has been all about the little things:

Waking up fresh as a daisy, getting out a camp chair outside the campervan and sitting there in stillness with so much gratitude towards myself, Joe, the holiday and life! Feeling so excited to begin another day with so much energy 🔋 

Walking on the beach, listening to the waves, looking at the beautiful turquoise colours of the sea 🌊 and feeling the sun kiss your face ☀️ and really savouring the moment 💾

Looking at my gorgeous boyfriend with his extremely cheeky smile and the bluest eyes in the whole world 🌎 and feeling like the luckiest girl in the world to have such an amazing boyfriend 💕

Being in awe looking at sunsets and the beautiful colours in the sky with palm trees adding to the ambience 🌴 

Being adventurous with food, trying and sharing new dishes, being mindful of the colours, presentation, taste and textures 🥙

Intimate moments with Joe, a cuddle whilst waiting in a queue, holding hands whilst walking, a kiss on my forehead whilst we admire a view and his hand on my leg whilst we sunbathe 🤗

Being on a nature trail walk and noticing all the different colours and textures of the trees, plants and flowers 🌺 Listening to all the different noises of birds, insects and other animals. And smelling the aromas from being outside 🏞️

And having the mental space and agility to make witty jokes and waiting for Joe to turn around with a quick comeback and having a giggle🙊😂