Anna JolliffMay 23, 20218 minTackling alcoholism and bulimia with Faith"I spent a year or two in a constant state of inebriation, besides those moments when I was sober enough to find some food and throw it up.”
Anna JolliffJan 9, 20217 minThirty days sober with Harper "I felt like I was just existing. Even if I was just smoking weed, I was not feeling things."
Anna JolliffDec 31, 20202 minTen things I loved in 2020I laid aside my fears for just long enough to sign my first lease with a partner, in my first relationship with a woman.
Anna JolliffDec 19, 202010 minA little bit addicted to everything“My ‘ism started well before the use of alcohol,” says Kristen. “Well before the first time I used.”
Anna JolliffOct 24, 20204 minAn alcoholic researcher's perspective on alcohol researchMost researchers have a habit of putting themselves under the microscope. “Mesearch,” it’s called. It’s when the person with an eating...
Anna JolliffMay 15, 20204 minI tried AA on Zoom On March 16th, I attended my last in-person AA meeting. In the month leading up to that, meetings had grown progressively empty. We sat...
Anna JolliffApr 17, 20203 minOn the urge to "get productive" in quarantineLately I've been posting here a little less. The reason is not that I haven't been writing. Rather, I simply haven't been writing the...
Anna JolliffMar 20, 20206 minOn belonging and the miracle of choice with ChrisLook for the similarities, not the differences. From an outsider’s perspective, Chris and I don't appear to have much in common. He’s a...
Anna JolliffMar 13, 20204 minWhat does COVID-19 mean for alcoholics?To be clear, I’m not asking what COVID-19 means for practicing alcoholics. I’m assuming that, for people who still drink, the virus won’t...
Anna JolliffFeb 14, 20202 minSober on Valentine's DayMaybe Valentine's Day stress you out. Maybe you can’t imagine a sober one. Or maybe it's no big deal for you; maybe you'd even forgotten...
Anna JolliffFeb 7, 20204 minHow to quit drinking in 10 stepsThe other day, my girlfriend asked if I ever thought I would make it to four years sober. That’s a harder question than you might think....
Anna JolliffJan 24, 20203 minI'm four years sober today This morning I woke early to stomach pains. These are the natural result of a body in transition. About four months ago, I began to...
Anna JolliffJan 17, 20203 minHow I know I'm alcoholicSome days, my alcoholic mind plays tricks on me. “You never drank every day," my mind says. “You never had withdrawals.” “You haven’t...
Anna JolliffJan 10, 20203 minResponsibility after relapseThese days, my home group is a women's newcomer meeting. I suppose it’s meant for those early in sobriety. With four years, I attend...
Anna JolliffDec 27, 20194 minI went to 90 meetings in 90 daysA little over three months ago I moved home to Oregon. My Wisconsin sponsor suggested that, upon arrival, I attend 90 twelve step...
Anna JolliffOct 30, 20193 minMore boring drunkaloguesYou’ve probably heard of imposter syndrome. That’s when you don’t feel like you deserve your seat at the table. You glance nervously...
Anna JolliffOct 16, 20193 minThe newcomerYesterday in a twelve step meeting, I sat across from a girl who felt like home. When she introduced herself to the group, I saw that she...
Anna JolliffOct 4, 20193 minI'm an alcoholic and I moved states. Now what?On September 16th, I began the drive from Madison to Newberg, Oregon. Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington, Home. I was moving...
Anna JolliffSep 17, 20193 min6 things it's hard to say aloud (part 1)On Sunday, I had the opportunity to share my story in a women’s recovery meeting. These days I rarely get nervous, largely because of...
Anna JolliffSep 6, 20193 minGetting selfish to get sober? In recovery, we’re always flirting with the idea of selfishness. There are the worried mothers wondering if it’s “selfish” to leave their...