The Clear Horizon

From oblivion of alcoholism into the light of sobriety

  • Getting sober without Therapy? – What worked for me and what didn’t

    Sobriety can be like a bullet proof vest The thing that kept me (at least superficially wit the dubious help of the “bad advisor” (what I framed the voice in my head from my alcohol addiction after a tipp from a coach)) from working on sobriety was the common belief in my head “you can’t… Read more

  • ADHD or no ADHD, that’s the question

    What kept me up last night was the question whether one of my reasons for diving headlong into an alcohol addiction years ago has something to do with symptoms that are strongly related to ADHD. I don’t know as of now if I have ADHD or not. I simply add together one and one and… Read more

  • Am I Re-Nerd-Ing? – Why Reading, Gaming and Podcasts become relevant

    When have I returned to reading, listening to podcasts and gaming? It wasn’t in the same moment I stopped drinking. It started when I realized that replacing my drinking habits with hanging out on social media too much. I realized that falling for filter bubbles and fake news aggravated passive aggressiveness and depression. How did… Read more

  • Alcohol or activity – What defines your Masculintiy?

    James Clear writes that you should build habits to define your identity to keep up the habitual routine. The argument goes: If you identify with your habits, the habits become you or at least help shaping your identity. If working is a big part of your identity (which is normal if you are belonging to… Read more

  • Outdoor activities to Beat Winter Blues

    Winter Blues. I talked about that yesterday. Especially in the dark evening and morning hours I find it hard to find anything good about the winter time. When additionally there is grey in grey ahead in the sky, the mood goes rock bottom very quickly. Outdoor activities have, since beginning of this year, becoming a… Read more

  • Why I hate the winter time – and how to deal with it

    Sometimes it just strikes you down from behind like a thug with a log. From one day to the next, all the decisions you made, all the new habits accumulated, all the good things that have happened to me seem like dust in the wind. Then something like a depression pushes you down, aggravated by… Read more

  • Addiction and psychic Disorders

    I have long wondered, why people with depression, ADHD, anxiety disorders or OCDs tend to be more likely to have an alcohol addiction. I, for myself, have an anxiety disorder. I can’t explain in detail why me or other people tend to have the problem with addiction, but one thing is for sure: Alcohol only… Read more

  • Job Identity and Drinking

    When you are so used to drinking after hours it can be hard getting into the workflow after vacation without booze. Let me explain. Daniel Schreiber, a German journalist and author, wrote that we pursue rather a “work – and – drinking” – balance instead of a “work – life” – balance. I don’t think… Read more

  • The Power of reaching out

    Just a short note today: Whenever you have the feeling it gets all too much, it very much helps to write, of course. In a blog, or, preferably, handwritten in your diary. Reflecting is great and can be a great deal in recovery. What is an absolute gamechanger is reaching out, however. Find a community,… Read more

  • When it can be helpful not giving a F*ck.

    This is a general issue, in this post I want to make a short notice on the way it affects your sobriety. Imagine an evening with a social situation, say, a family gathering or a party. You have been dry for a couple of weeks or months and try to maintain sobriety, but you are… Read more