How to stop drinking

[Julliet]

Olivia, have to agree with counselors/therapists, thinking and ruminating on past mistakes and regrets does lead us back to the negative thinking, and drinking. I am a PERFECT example of that. And, it is so hard not to think of those horrible, regretful, and shameful things, but.....what good does it do us? If I don't remind myself everyday to wake up and spend some quiet time first thing before anything else, to ask for forgiveness for myself, from myself, and from my Higher Power, than I can so easily regress back, and I have. I also have to remember to ask for recognition and seeing in each day of the simple, wonderful things that come my way. If I don't do this everyday, I get caught up in the negative and start the old program all over again. UGH!!! Enough of that! Thanks for your post, reminded me of what I have not been doing lately to help myself!

[carol]

Julliet, thank you.

[Billy]

Quote of the Day

"When you get into a tight place and it seems that you can't go on, hold on — for that's just the place and the time that the tide will turn."
– Harriet Beecher Stowe

[Regina]

Hang in there Kimber. There is nothing in life that drinking will make better.

[_Erin_]

Billy, I say it every week... you are awesome!!!! Don't ever forget that. I'll be here each week to remind you. LOL

Regina, so happy you're here!! Always trying to keep everyone else going, you're a sweet person. Been thinking of you a lot lately, hope you're well!!

Dragonfly and Juliet, you guys are amazing as well! I seriously want a group hug right now. LMAO I feel like my family's back and we can dig in to the Thanksgiving turkey again! How very woman of both of you, to forgive and forget, and to admit and apologize. I second Millie (whom I have missed outrageously, by the way). You both are completely inspiring to me, you inspire me to be a better person! Thank you so much for what you bring to this site!!

Hello to everyone, and welcome to the new ones! Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

[Millie]

Erin, thanks!!! I've missed you too.

[Kim99]

thanks Kimber, I will start at the beginning and do as you suggest. ty.

[Brie]

Good Morning/afternoon....day 6 today...was so happy to wake up and see your post Kimber!!!! Enjoy your day friend...

Trying real hard to get into a routine of positive habits....decided to quit smoking today too. This exercising and smoking is just not a good combination. ..so today I am feeling very emotional and I am not sure why but I do know that this is just part of the healing. Gonna focus on keeping busy today so I stay out of my head. Hope you all have a great day...

[Marie1971]

hi all, checking in.... sober! I'm even forgetting how long it's been - 6 days?? I finally just know that i no longer drink alcohol. It took 3 decent false-starts, with a lot of reading and support on here. Everything is much clearer now, in my day to day life, and my health is improving (so's my mind).

welcome to the newbies. I found this website offered me hope, and lots of it.

not sure about quitting smoking - but i agree, smoking after exercise sucks. But I'll get to the point where i never want one again soon, I think. Don't want to take on two things at once.... yet i feel i've made the leap away from drinking, so it might be soon for the cigarettes.

have a good day :-)

[Vic]

Good work everybody managing to stay sober, for those struggling never ever give up for sobriety is yours for the taking !
Carol - I read one of your earlier posts and something struck me when you wrote: "I was one of the low energy people. Other people revved up and did all kinds of things they hadn't done for awhile."
I remembered last year on my 90 day sober period (before the big relapse) I had all kinds of energy and could hardly ever settle down. But, I also seemed to have always been fighting a powerful urge to drink to extremes.
This year I am on my 84th day of sobriety and my energy never soared like last year (I was actually tired this time) and oddly enough I hardly ever have the desire to drink.
Anyways, good luck everybody and stay strong in the face of temptation.

[Molly]

Hi bassetcat:

I just finished Day 1 - now on Day 2 - feeling hopeful. I hope we both make it.

[Ruth]

Welcome, bassetcat- no harm ever came from stopping drinking, so I would say you are in the right place! I was a daily drinker- everybody thought I was fine, too, but I knew that I was spending too much time planning to drink, thinking about drinking, recovering from drinking, worrying about drinking and telling myself that I needed to quit. This cycle went on for way too long! I quit on my birthday last June and I haven't looked back! It wasn't necessarily easy, but I have found that once I made the decision, the real and serious decision, that alcohol was harming me and my family and I was going to quit, and I shared that decision with my husband and kids, it was do-able, and it has gotten easier over time. Just read a lot of back posts, and have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks on hand.

[olivia]

I'm on Day 8 and I swear I have accomplished more in the past week (dr appt's, errands) than I have in the past few years. For anyone feeling discouraged or like you can't do it I literally laid in bed for a year and a half drinking 2-3 bottles of wine a day and MAYBE on a good week leaving the house a couple times. I know I'm still feeling the pink cloud feeling and I will have urges and cravings but it is nice to be able to leave the house again. Not throw up or panic when I need to drive. Go to bed at a decent hour (10 o'clock as opposed to 4 in the morning--thank you prescription sleep meds). I'm a little annoyed at GAINING weight when I have been walking alot more and trying to eat better but I'll deal. Better a few pounds for a little while than a heart attack, stroke, seizure, DUI etc

[Regina]

Thanks Erin. You are such a bright spot!

Olivia - you sound great. It is true, pounds will come off. I can relate to the nights of two bottles of wine. Ugh!!

Bassetcat and Molly - Welcome!

Marie1971 - You are doing great. Keep it up.

It feels good to wake up feeling good! Have a great one everybody.

[bassetcat]

Ruth, thanks for your post. I too only had that one drink a day but found myself planning for it, thinking about it and then having it while I worried that I was drinking too much. I told my family tonight that I was quitting and everyone is totally on board. Thirteen years ago, I walked away from a pack and a half smoking habit, cold turkey, never looked back. I keep telling myself that I can do this and it will feel great to get rid of the self hatred that I have about that stupid nightly drink. I'm going to start meditating again, probably right after work, so it takes the place of my after work "unwind" drink. Thank you everyone for the positive posts. Feeling better and ready to start day two

[Molly]

Got through Day 2 - on to Day 3. Slept like a baby last night!

[carol]

Something neat happened yesterday that I didn't realize until I woke up this morning, and I wanted to share it. I went to Trader Joes yesterday for some things I needed. That's TJs, my wine store, that I went to every day for my daily fix for years, until I got paranoid that someone would notice how much I was drinking so I rotated between several grocery stores and several TJs. When I stopped drinking I didn't go into TJs for a long time and then only with trepidation for a quick in and out. I realized this morning that I went in yesterday, wandered through aisles looking for what I wanted, and not only did I not want wine, i didn't notice the wine and I didn't even think about them selling it! Wow! So many years of time spent planning to drink, buying my daily fix ('cause otherwise I'd drink everything in the house), drinking to oblivion, waking up in the middle of the night in shame feeling like crap, morning after hangover and disgust, doing it all over again. . . My wine store and I didn't even think about them selling wine. That makes me feel really great. This is what freedom from alcohol looks like for me today!

[carol]

Sylvane, pretty cool, eh? Good to hear from you.

How's everyone doing today? I hope quiet = alcohol-free, but either way please post and let us know how you are doing.

[bassetcat]

Day two coming to an end. Having a nice hot cup of tea after work.

[Regina]

Checking in - I am doing well. I am sober but still have the cravings. 5pm until 8pm is my "danger zone". Some days are easier than others but easy or not, this girl ain't drinkin'!