How to stop drinking

[Samantha]

Ken throw them out! Im sober almost 5 months now. During that time if alcohol had been in the house I can think 2 times I might have slipped. So get rid of those 5 beers and protect yourself. Just toss it and dont worry about being wasteful on this one! Your doing great.

[Mel]

Day 7 - and Happy Birthday Peter!! Great idea to give yourself a sober birthday - hope everything goes swimmingly. Ken, like Samantha said - just pour 'em out. Do it fast, like ripping off a bandaid. You can do this.

Potluck with colleagues later today - I'm driving, and like Peter, I don't drink n' drive with others in the car (I have done it while alone, oh god). Baking these amazing, intense double chocolate monster cookies. Baker's dozen, so I think number 13 will have to undergo quality control. Take care everyone. I'm off to scoop those babies off the pan, and then workout.

[Mel]

Kimber - Don't allow one person to stop you from posting here. You've made it clear that your lengthy posts are for you, not necessarily for us - and we can each make a choice to read or not, but that doesn't stop us from supporting you in your pursuit of sobriety.

I hope you reconsider.

[Ruth]

Peter! You are back and I am glad to hear your resolve! I am sure you can do this, and you know we are all here for you. Happy birthday, as well. I also stopped on my birthday (June 6), and although it was hard sometimes, and I was around alcohol A LOT, I managed to pull through, and now I can say that although I have to remain vigilant, I no longer fear that I will break. It is a great feeling and it only gets better.

OK, so about online manners, people. I love that nobody gets censored around here and that we are self-managing. That said, I see no point in directing negative comments at any users here (this is for you Tap-Out). I have no problem with calling something what it is, or some tough love sometimes, but all of the drama and ultimatums are out of place here. This is a community of people who are processing their issues around alcohol in the best way they can, and sometimes that involves long posts, sometimes it involves slipping etc. If there is a particular individual who gets on your nerves, by all means skip their post! So easy! There is no need to cause anyone here pain. OK, end lecture.

Sylvane, great to see you here again! Connor, come back!

[Billy]

Hey Ken - Throw them out! What are you losing 3 or 4 dollars! You can do this! You went 4 years sober! Man, thats awesome!! I'm counting on you and Regina to help me out also, just like I am going to help you out!! Regina, how is day 1 going? Keep posting everyone! We are here for each other! This is the most important thing we can do for each other!! Just think about the AM!! No anxiety, no sweats, no shakes, no guilt and think how good you'll look in a few days!!

Tap out - my friend; chill! Kimber is Kimber! SHE NEEDS US NOW!! This is an anonymous site for all of us to vent! Don't be a downer! We all need everybody to post; like I said many times, the good, the bad and the ugly but please, please NO personal attacks!! It doesn't help anybody and we all need help or we would't be here!! Like someone said, you may need that persons help someday!

Kimber - Please keep posting! I think your stories are inspiring and for what you are going through, YOU STILL HAVE'NT DRANK!! I love reading your post, because like many of us, we went through what your going through now!! Kimber, you need someone to vent to so PLEASE, keep venting!!!

Thanks everyone for your support, and please, everyone, be friends "can't we all just get along"!

[Ken1]

Samantha, Mel, and Billy,...you are right and thanks for the comments. I threw them out. After thinking about it, I think it was like a security blanket. Like throwing them out meant it was really permanent and keeping them meant I was in control.

Funny how alcohol plays mind games with you. Well no thanks alcohol, I thought you were my friend but really you are the devil in disguise! Goodbye to all the misery you caused me through the years and tricking me into thinking I was having fun and in control. I am taking my life back and for good this time.

[Millie]

Kim, I love your posts. I have been very inspired by how well you have been handling all of this. Don't stop posting....
Tap out...good grief, if you don't like someone's post, skip over them and don't read them. That simple!!!

[Billy]

Okay everyone can we just chill! We don't need any more drama! We have already lost many posters from the negativity. Was Tap out wrong? Yes, probably, but we don't know what he is going through either. Lets all have compassion and understanding for each other and lets continue to do rule #1-though shall not judge!!

Kimber - Keep posting or I'll come up their! I'm just a few hours away being in RI (lol), and Tap out - make peace and not war!

We are all in this fight together and we need each other to survive; unless you want to go to AA and say, "Hi, my name is..."

[Millie]

It is time to all join in and sing kumbaya. Lol.

[Millie]

By the way Ken.... Woohooo for throwing the beer away. You, Billy, and Regina are going to whoop a&$!, alcohol devil doesn't have a chance.

[Billy]

Okay everybody 1,2,3 "kumbaya my lord, kumbaya...." (lol). Thats was priceless Millie!!

[Mel]

And now for something completely different - I want to eat the whole house today. I'm hungry. Endlessly hungry. If my house was made out of gingerbread, I would it eat it all and then I'd be homeless.

Phew, I'm assuming this is part of the process - but I've not experienced these kinds of cravings (for food!) like this before in the context of quitting the booze. Hmmmm potluck coming up soon . . . hopefully I don't eat everything there.

[Samantha]

Mel that is me too. Its weird Im not hungry but need to eat. Its like Im not feeling full when geez I should be. Glad to know Im not alone. If you figure out why let me know! Its frustrating.

Billy so glad your here. Im cheering you on. Kimber keep posting. Most mportant thing more then anything in your life now is to stay sober. If you have your sobriety everything will fall into place. Post as much as you want. Whatever you need to do to stay on track. Your doing great.

Bill awesome! Come tomorrow morning you will feel so good you didnt drink and you will be stronger for it too.

[Christy]

I usually don't get this involved in being so mad about someone's post but, Tap Out, why are you being so rude? Kimber and everyone else here has every right to say what they're feeling. You are creating negativity within this forum. Maybe others that are reading all of this are afraid to post because of all this nonsense of being so rude to another individual. Is that what you want? Maybe someone is tired of all your posts. If you don't like any of them, don't read them. You are not contributing to anyone while attacking someone else.
Kimber- keep posting, you can see that you have alot of support here.

[Regina]

Day 1 is actually not difficult for me. I usually feel so crappy and regretful that I have no desire whatsoever to drink. But come day 3......

I really do want this time to be "it". No more guilt, shame and feeling sick. I looked at my journal and I was sober from Feb of 2005 until June of 2009. I can't believe how bad I have become in these 2 years back to drinking. It is easy for me to sometimes drink 2 bottles of wine. I feel disgusted just writing that.

Anyway, there is no changing the past but the future is ours for the taking. Thank you so much to each one of you. I could run through everyone by name but suffice to say you each inspire and encourage me. I am so happy to have 2 sober buddies! Let's make Sept. 25, 2011 our permanent day of sobriety!

[Ken1]

Sylvane,...heck yea meatloaf! It's even better day 2 as a meatloaf sandwich with a slice of cheese!

[frog]

Ken, Regina, and Billy, may I join you? I'm back to Day 2. It will really help me if we do this together. Thank you!

[Ken1]

Frog,... I thought I would check the board one more time before shutting the computer for the night and I'm glad I did. Of course we want you to join us! Together we are all stronger than when we're alone. We need your help and I know I'll be glad to help you anyway I can. Please have a good night and welcome to the team!

[Julliet]

Ken, Billy, Regina, and Frog....what great progress and it makes my heart want to sing! Yah!
Mel, you sound good today.
Meatloaf and monster cookies, YUM! I smoked some spare ribs and chicken thighs today. I put a great rub on them, mixture of brown sugar, onion and garlic powder, oregano, pepper, and .......CINNAMON! Wow! It was great, and plenty of leftovers for another meal or two. Honestly, I have found that as long as I eat regularly though out the day I can fight off the desire to drink. And planning and shopping for my meals helps me focus..Hungry, angry, lonley (or bored), tired... stay away from all of that.

Kim, I got to thinking today, if you are staying in a motel...do you have a kitchenette? What are you going to do for your meals? I hope you are settling in today okay.

Billy, I am so glad you had such a nice weekend with your son!

I am looking foward to this week and hearing all about what everyone is doing to keep the momentum going. It sure helps me, thank you!

[carol]

Julliet, sounds delicious - yum!

Ken, Billy, Regina, frog, AND Marie1971 (just joining us), keep it going!

Mel, was today the potluck? Hope you enjoyed it and glad you're staying alcohol-free.

Sam, how are you doing?

Sylvane, always good to hear from you.

Kimber, I am eagerly awaiting the next installment!

Bill Smit, I've been thinking about you and the upcoming business trip, especially since those always involved a ton of drinking for me. You don't want to take the ribbing when your boss suggests a beer and you pass, but didn't you already do that once during your first 30? I know alcohol is unfortunately expected in a lot of business interactions. Anyway, thinking of you.

Hi to all our friends!