Who we are, how to contribute, our community guidelines Welcome to Sober App’s Community Stories! We created this space as an extension of Sober App. Both on the app and here on Substack, you’re invited to join a vibrant and supportive community, united by the shared goal of staying sober, one day at a time….
From chaos to calm, sobriety transformed my life in ways I never expected. I’ve been thinking a lot about change lately—in no small part because I’m about to turn 50. But also because we moved to Thailand last summer. When I lived here two decades ago, I was a much different person. The first go-round…
A journey of pain, addiction, and redemption The first time I heard the word “lightbringer” was in therapy three years ago, and since then, it’s been burned into my mind. “Mac, your lightbringer failed you,” Adam, my therapist, said gently. Sinking into the well-worn couch in the backroom of his dojo, tears streaming down my…
“I was surprised at how quickly I saw results after doing the one thing I needed most: stop drinking.” I officially quit alcohol on June 20, 2024. I feel like I have been practicing for it for a few years now. I’d do Dry January, or take a few weeks off of drinking to “detox”…
The distance between what we need and what we ask for can be as narrow as the distance between one breath and the next. In my 20s and 30s, aside from alcohol, my drug of choice was sex. Secret, illicit, sometimes on the edge of dangerous, always on the outside of my marriage. I’ve been…
A personal story of recovery, self-discovery, and connection Before When I first began attending sobriety meetings, I had just separated from my husband of ten years. It is hard to say if I had postpartum depression back then or just the usual circumstantial and chemical depression, but I wasn’t myself for some time. We were…
Meet sober writers and connect in the comments! Welcome! As part of celebrating and growing the Sober App Substack community, this periodic feature showcases recent guest contributors. Check out their bios and publications below, find their guest posts on the homepage, and share your own sober publication or say hello in the comments. Elizabeth Austin’s work has appeared…
After three decades in hospitality—almost eighteen of which were dedicated to selling, teaching, traveling, and writing about wine—I made the decision to stop drinking after taking my last sip of alcohol with one of the best chefs in the world. Let me say up front: while this could easily be seen as a humble brag,…
The first time I got drunk, I was fifteen, cradling a Solo cup filled with whatever mishmash my friend had cobbled together from her parents’ liquor cabinet. I was too young to care about the taste, but I immediately understood the promise it held. I loved the way getting drunk dulled the sharp edges of…
What does the word “shame” bring up for you? I recall being told as a child, “Shame on you,” and I would immediately feel guilty for what I had done, bowing my head in submission. After being sternly spoken to or given a spanking, I would be sent to my room to “think about what…