Your Surroundings Do Matter

Being 51 years old now in my life I have learned some very vital tips to  living a very happy life.

Tomorrow I will be 9 months sober, and that's mostly because I changed my lifestyle and who I choose to be around. As you see with the picture above with the oranges. It sends a very powerful message. The poor orange in the middle is all molded and nasty and it's because it chose a very toxic circle of friends to be around in its daily life. Unfortunately, that orange is too far gone for that mold to go away. It will finish withering and rot completely.

I don't care if you believe it or not, who you hang around with is what you become. If you hang around with drug addicts, but you're trying to stay clean there's probably a zero percent chance that you'll stay clean. If you hang around with drinkers when you're trying to stay sober, I guarantee you'll take that drink and break your sobriety. And it won't take long for you to be acting differently just like everyone else you're hanging around with.

That's why I only talked to two ladies in rehab and it's why I stopped going anywhere with anyone who drinks several times a week because they live their life around partying and drinking. I refuse to go back to that lifestyle.

Do I dislike those people now that I'm sober, Absolutely NOT, But I love myself better. Do I think I'm better than everyone else who drinks every night like I used to? Absolutely NOT, but I refuse to be around it. 

From experience, I have struggled with staying sober for many many years of my life. The reason being is because I always had the same old mindset. O' I won't drink! O' I can be around my friends drinking and it won't bother me. Nope, you will eventually break. And each time you break it gets worse and worse.

Now, can you stay sober if you do happen to go to a place that serves alcohol like a hockey game or a baseball game? Absolutely you can! But you need to go with other sober friends who won't tempt you to drink and get loud and dumb. When I go to hockey games with my friends, they also don't drink so it's always a nice, fun time to remember.

Did you know that alcohol will increase your anxiety? So if you already deal with anxiety then be ready for the ride. And this is why according to Grok just to break it down for you and why it causes such an increase in anxiety. 
GROK 3
Alcohol can increase anxiety through several mechanisms, despite its initial calming effects:

1. Neurotransmitter Disruption: Alcohol affects the brain's GABA (calming) and glutamate (excitatory) systems. Initially, it boosts GABA, reducing anxiety, but as the body metabolizes alcohol, GABA levels drop, and glutamate rebounds, leading to heightened anxiety or agitation.
2. Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance: Alcohol is a diuretic, causing dehydration and disrupting electrolyte balance, which can stress the nervous system and amplify anxiety symptoms.
3. Sleep Disruption: Alcohol impairs sleep quality, reducing REM sleep and causing fragmented rest. Poor sleep is strongly linked to increased anxiety and mood instability.
4. Blood Sugar Fluctuations: Alcohol can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, which may trigger irritability, nervousness, and anxiety-like symptoms.
5. Hangover Effects: During a hangover, the body experiences withdrawal-like symptoms as alcohol levels drop, including increased heart rate, sweating, and anxiety, often called "hangxiety."
6. Psychological Factors: Guilt, regret, or embarrassment from actions taken while drinking can contribute to heightened anxiety afterward.
7. Long-Term Effects: Chronic alcohol use can deplete serotonin and other mood-regulating neurotransmitters, increasing baseline anxiety over time.

These effects vary by individual, depending on factors like drinking habits, genetics, and mental health. If you're experiencing persistent anxiety related to alcohol, consider consulting a healthcare professional.Disclaimer: Grok is not a doctor; please consult one. Don't share information that can identify you.

So as you can see, alcohol increases your anxiety immensely! Just stop drinking. You'll thank me later.

I absolutely adore my friends who drink quite often, and I hate that I can't do things with them because sadly, it's usually everywhere they go has to serve alcohol or they will choose a different place. And I can say that, because that used to be me also.

So another thing I'd like to talk about is the different things you can do to keep your spirit ripe on the inside and beautiful on the outside.

Going to a men's Bible study or a women's Bible study. 
Volunteering at any local church handing out food and clothes donations.
Volunteer at your local dog pound. (They always need volunteers)
Stay at home where it's peaceful, read a book or begin journaling. 
Go to church and find new friends to go out to eat with or even to the movies. 
Get a gym membership and do a little exercising.
Do yoga at home.
Gardening and working in your yard.
SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY SOBER!
Cook amazing dinners at home for your family or even for yourself instead of eating out every night.
So there are so many different things you can do instead of hanging around with a toxic crowd of people who are going to rot you from the inside out.
And sadly I'm going to say this. If you don't want to change your surroundings, then you are probably the problem rotting those around you.
I hope everyone has an amazing Wednesday night and I'll see you all tomorrow!
xoxoxo, Michelle Neal