Roughly 20 years ago, I recall sitting around our favorite round table, at our favorite sports bar, on our favorite (weren’t they all) night to party. A sweaty draft beer in front of me, I pondered just how much money I had spent during all years of drinking. At that time, all of those years only added up to a legal 3 years. Also at that time, a draft beer only cost me my share of $1.00 pitcher. At the time, I had lofty dreams that I could have already bought a house or a car… or both, with the “thousands” I had spent on my addiction. I have to believe that only an alcoholic would think such a ludicrous thought, and furthermore, continue to drink without abandon.
Back in these vintage times, when iphones, apps and even the internet where a mere figment of the Jetsons’ imagination, I didn’t have a random calculation at my fingertips. One can deduce that lack of information led me to drink for another decade… or two.
Here I am, feet firmly planted in sobriety in the year 2015. Sober for today, as I do this thing one day at a time. Part of my springboard into recovery, was a sobriety app that I downloaded the day after I left our local crisis center. I did this almost immediately because I didn’t want to lose track of my progress. I hung on that information like a lifeline. Checking it every morning, feeling victorious for making it through another sunset, and ready to move through that day’s sunrise and challenges.
Staying sober also requires a large amount of accountability. For me, “coming out” about my alcoholism was a huge part of how I stay restrained each day. I have surrounded myself with like-minded people, on the same path of sober enlightenment. Along with friends and family that have my best interest at heart, and watch my evolution. Likewise, a sobriety app is a daily accountability tool. A daybreak reminder of our progress; by the day, the dollar, and the calorie.
Quitting drinking quite possibly could be the most difficult thing you have ever embarked upon in your life so be sure to add a sobriety tracker to your tool kit.
Users can email us at info@recovery elevator.com if you would like the Recovery Elevator Sobriety Tracker app.
Sobriety Tracker Apps are fantastic and really are the first apps related to sobriety that hit the scene and remain long lasting – useful to all, new and old in the program. Indeed “counting days” is so very important for the visual self reward we so desire and deserve early on in recovery. NOW, there are an abundance of apps that have hit the ground in recovery circles. Most have to do with sobriety time but there are now a few coming out that are centered on accountability. One of the most recent to launch is The Mental Rhythms App. According to the MR website, “Mental Rhythms is a personal inventory app for those with a desire to learn and grow from the practice of unsparing self-surveying. With this app self-searching and careful reviews of our progress becomes a regular habit. With an intention to help industries, psychologist, and individuals seeking progress, Mental Rhythms allows users to rate and track emotions in regards to their personal experiences. With a simple design, Mental Rhythms is flexible to allow the monitoring of emotional reactions as it relates to any subject relevant to the individual or corporation.” According to one of the co-creators it will be launching soon.