The Clear Horizon

From oblivion of alcoholism into the light of sobriety

health

  • 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

  • Why Body positivity matters

    I don’t mean exercising to look like a top athlete or a poster boy for Men’s Health. And, it’s not for the sake of feeling “manlier” than other men around me. It’s not about body shaming or externalizing on Social Media to compensate for bad self esteem. What I mean is for my own healthy… 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

  • Insights of hands free February, pt 1

    The first quarter of February has passed, and I am quite happy with my interim result. Although I had already deleted all of my Social Media accounts, it became still obvious, that taking out my smartphone on every occasion I felt a vibration resulted in a micro spike of happiness, and leaving the mobile phone… Read more

  • I never tried only “cutting back”, but why?

    In the beginning, when starting with the Reframe App, it sounded so good, drinking controlled with a habit tracker to tell you when you overstepped. I tried it out, but a couple of things stopped me from proceeding, and this is a general problem I see in temporary breaks from drinking as well: That was… Read more

  • Too many good Habits = Overload?

    Good habits is what makes up a good, successful life. I think… I thought. Well, yes. It’s true. But bear in mind the proverb by Paracelsus: The dose makes the poison. When I was in the Pink Cloud I made a had a lot of good intentions I wanted to implement in my life. I… Read more

  • Pink Cloud gone – it has to get worse before it gets better

    The Pink Cloud has gone, and as expected, reality comes down on me with full force. What does that mean for me? Will I fall back into old habits? At the moment I am realizing that urges to substitute alcohol consumption or similar short-term rewarding habits try to get into my habitual system. Here is… Read more

  • Catastrophising – why depression and alcohol can lead into a Vicious Circle.

    Ok, it is no big news that alcohol is a depressant and leaves you in a depressive state after the dopamine has dropped into the void. Alcohol abuse can lead to depression, depression can lead to alcohol abuse. No big news either. Catastrophising is something that can cause a vicious circle, where alcohol and depression… Read more

  • Insights true today maybe obsolete tomorrow – how I accept new beliefs without the urge of justifying

    When I quit drinking, I had the conviction that I could go on with my habits like before, only by shifting from alcoholic beverages to non alcoholic beverages, but the amount and the habits stayed the same. I thought that this would keep me from becoming boring in the eyes of other people. Plus, there… Read more