The Clear Horizon

From oblivion of alcoholism into the light of sobriety

addiction

  • Community; like minded people, same disorder, different core – exchange as best form of Therapy

    This may sound like a no-brainer, but in my opinion and my experience, it is not so easy finding THE right community. I have tried different approaches, but none has been so successful like my most recent attempt, which, actually, I was getting into couple of weeks ago, but only now I actually realized the… Read more

  • After half a year of cutting back and sobriety – Am I bulletproof yet?

    The longer I work on my sobriety, the more loose ends come up of which I sometimes have the feeling that it all is either too much to work on, or that it is too much I think I need to do to have a successful recovery. But is all that really necessary? A two… Read more

  • Being strict with sobriety but not with other addictive behaviour

    Something that has been on my mind for a while now is the question why it seems to be no bigger issue for me to deal with other habit loops and/or addictive behavior in a moderate and sensible way while with alcohol I can’t. I won’t get into too much detail for toxic habits and/or… Read more

  • Alcoholism is a spectrum. Here’s why.

    Yesterday I reflected on the question when an addiction is actually an addiction, and apart from the “objective” diagnosis you get from a doctor or therapist, it is mostly up to you to define and feel if you have an addiction. I was neither diagnosed nor had I a distinct conversation with people who told… Read more

  • Reward vs quick fix

    Will I never doom scroll again? Or have a beer? Or buy something stupid on Amazon? The answer is (in the correct order): Maybe, no, yes. Here’s why: Doom scrolling has nothing of worth to me in terms of a reward in terms of “Oh, I have had such a stressful day, I am going… Read more

  • The quick fix is not the problem – addiction is

    We all have this from time to time – indulging in little sins to please a craving. Be it chocolate, gaming, social media, buying something, a small treat – you name it. I think the problem is not pleasing a little craving once in a while. It’s a little dopamine spike that can sweeten your… Read more

  • Luck or Mindset – what is my label for individual success and failure?

    It all comes down to your own inner narratives. And these narratives determine your mindset and thus your life. Of course, our beliefs are strongly determined by our education in early life, but the good news is, we can change these mindsets. Suffering from the imposter syndrome? I did. Before changing my job, I had… Read more

  • What is the Pink Cloud?

    When I initially stopped drinking, I was a bit confused by the fact how easy it seemed to quit in the first place. I felt high and euphorised. I really could not understand why I had this feeling. I deep dived into the matter: Reframe, blogs, books, videos. Not all of them take the pink… Read more

  • 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

  • Proactive vs reactive. How a prefix determines your fate

    An interesting aspect of addiction and depression or anxiety disorders has (at least from my point of view) a lot to do with your own initiative. What do I mean with that? In various blogposts, coaching contributions and podcasts, as well as as in my own work and my own addiction, there is one common… Read more