Dad who’s been sober for 7 years shares the 4 things he does when he ‘wants to give up’

A dad celebrating seven years of sobriety has shared the four steps he takes whenever he feels like giving up, and TikTokers are thanking him for his actionable advice.

Daniel Patterson, a dad of three, uses his TikTok to inspire his nearly 74,000 followers with his storytelling videos.

While Daniel records and shares inspiring videos year-round, his content is especially relevant during National Recovery Month, in an initiative that aims to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery.

In his hallmark funny and candid way, Daniel begins his video by answering the question, “Do you ever feel like giving up?” He laughs heartily at the question then answers, “All the f****** time!”

But whenever the dad of three feels like throwing in the towel (and “cannonballing into a pool of vodka”), he gets “back to basics” by doing the following things:

  1. Get still.
  2. Get moving.
  3. Get busy.
  4. Be of service.

To “Get still,” Daniel says he figures out what is going on with him mentally. “Name it to tame it,” he says.

After that, he “Gets moving” by doing something physically active — in his case, either cardio or weights.

Then, to “Get busy,” he tackles small wins, like laundry, dishes or “rage cleaning.”

Finally, to “Be of service,” Daniel finds tiny ways to give back and be helpful to others.

“Then, I don’t want to cannonball. And I keep moving,” he concludes with a big smile.

“Needed this…”

TikTokers were grateful to Daniel for his message and his advice.

“Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for sharing. You’ve got this,” one user wrote.

“Needed this practical and actionable advice,” another user commented.

“Out of all the Tok vids out there, I can relate to you the most. Keep it up and thanks!” wrote another user.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your ZIP code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you.

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