The Clear Horizon

From oblivion of alcoholism into the light of sobriety

  • Time to wave good bye.

    I am approaching my anniversary and this I am planning on leaving this Platform. Thanks for reading. A Podcast will be in the making and a book will follow. As always: keep up the faith in yourself and take one step at a time. Read more

  • Medication Glasses – good for Automatic thinking processes – and what of the rest?

    I have been on medication for about a week now, and I have found several positive results, especially dealing with every day situations that would otherwise be running through my fingers like sand in a hand. That is a very big help for me. Interestingly, these every day routines have mostly to do with my… Read more

  • When medication is not the last resort, but helpful.

    So it finally happened: I have been prescribed methylphenidate. And you know what? It’s great! It’s not that I feel much different from before in terms of cognition or behavior. It simply supports my everyday getting-by in a way reading glasses will ease the problems I have with reading as a result of my age.… Read more

  • How in the world could I keep up motivation to stay sober?

    I have been pondering this question for quite a while now. Especially, as the first year of my sobriety draws to an end and as there were a many challenges that would have caused me to find reasons to get back to drinking. First off, there is a wise saying, that goes like this: If… Read more

  • Do we have a choice where we don’t have a choice?

    It’s a question of training, mindset and perspective, I guess. Given a situation that is truly mind-blowing, fatal or leaves no choice otherwise, it will be difficult to find a possibility of choice. I think, as long as you find a space to maneuver or find a little headspace, though, there can always be a… Read more

  • Political shifts and self efficacy

    I am not commenting on the outcome of the latest elections in eastern Germany, nor the fact that Trump finds it worthwhile enough to post the outcome of the elections. What is more of my concern is that this election will probably have significant consequences in the way political debate will be conducted and how… Read more

  • Institutionalised drinking as excuse for excessive binge drinking

    I’ve just come home from a town fair in the town I live in, which is a textbook example of German social culture: It’s called “Junggesellenfest”, and it’s basically a small fair with two or three fun rides and a lot of stands where you can drink. And drinking is what people do. Well, no… Read more

  • Trying to escape the maelstrom. Why detachment is an important Concept

    What’s the biggest threat for a social worker or other persons working in a likewise business? Bingo. Emotional entanglement. This has been one of my nemeses (is that a plural?) ever since: Getting emotionally entangled when other people suffer or have hard time in an emotional sense. Yes, I have nonetheless, or rather, because of… Read more

  • a quick note on regulating your nervous system

    I listened to my favorite podcast today, and there was the question of regulating your nervous system in terms of winding down or generating emotional beneficial balance or avoiding bad feelings, your choice. I think, for me, there are a few possibilities that work short term, some things that aren’t leading onto a good track… Read more

  • Anxiety, ADHD, alcohol, the prefrontal cortex, learning and the lizard Mode

    Are you familiar with the lizard mode? It is a concept introduced by one of my anti-aggression-coaches. No, not because I was aggressive, but it was a seminar about how to deal with aggressive behavior in youths. It is basically saying that once you are emotionally activated in such a way that all your rationale… Read more