How to stop drinking

[Mairianna10]

Don't feel like I can throw out what's in but do feel like I could try to not drink tomorrow.

[carol]

Millie and Mairianna, the most important thing is that you are HERE, being honest with yourselves and ready or getting ready to recommit to sobriety.

Millie and Mairianna, my heart just goes out to you. I spent so many years drinking and feeling trapped. I went thru quitting for about 3 months and then 5 or 6 more years of being in the abyss drinking before getting here. It makes me upset just thinking about it. It's your life, each of you, but I'm so glad you came back. Please don't just keep drinking and jump back into the abyss, please stay with us. Plus, on a lighter note, the 30 day exercise forum just isn't the same without you Millie.

I went back to look at Patrick's articles for inspiration. Wow, there are a lot now, with some of the older ones I have used a lot back in the older part of the archives. So instead of citing any one in particular I'd just urge y'all, wherever you are in this journey, to go read one or more of them today.

Thanks everyone. I won't drink today. Join me in freedom.

[Mairianna10]

OK Millie, let's go for it. Thanks Carol, weird how you think you can manage on your own. Thanks for being there x

[Mairianna10]

Thanks Dragonfly, needed a hug x

[Sally]

Bassetcat - you might want to look into "campral" - it is good for quitting drinking and alleviating anxiety - what I called the "heebie jeebies" - at the same time. And in my personal experience there are no side affects, in fact you don't even know you are taking it, you just don't feel like drinking:] It helped me get over the 2 week hump. Google it... kind of expensive though...

Happy birthday Mel and Julliet. What a wonderful feeling it is to give others our time - and to actually be present for it :]

Millie and Mairianna - DAY1 tomorrow - no excuses! You are here for a reason, because you are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Don't go back down that rabbit hole!!!

Welcome Susan, Kim99, Kat and all the other newcomers. This is a wonderful site if you want to get and stay sober. Carol, Ruth, Julliet, Christy, Samantha, Dragonfly, and so many others (forgive me if I left you out) have such inspirational words of wisdom. Never quit trying. Life is so beautiful when you eliminate alcohol from the equation :]

[Millie]

Mairianna, you are on. Tomorrow is day one, no excuses.

Thanks everyone for kind words.

[Mel]

Marianna and Millie - you can do this!! Don't keep slipping. That is what I did after 100 days. I've been scrambling back up to the point where I could stop again and make it work. I'm there. There was such a switch in my mind when I begin thinking about being sober (and all it brings) as a gift to myself.

Be selfish, ladies Give the gift that keeps on giving. Really. We've all got your back. Just be honest with yourself first. And Marianna, get rid of the booze any way you can (without drinking it) - cook with it? give away?

[Kat]

Thanks Sally and Dragonfly for the welcome.
Just checking in before going to bed. I made it through the weekend sober and some of my bruises are starting to fade. Tomorrow will be day 9.
Marianna and Millie it sounds like tomorrow will be a good day for both of you. I'm sending you both good wishes.
Sam, how are you feeling?
Dragonfly you are right about learning from everyone here. Thanks everyone. Stay strong!

[Mairianna10]

Day 1, here goes. You with me Millie?

[Kim99]

Good Morning All.
Here I am, two weeks tomorrow that I haven't had a drink. For probably the last 10 years, maybe more, I've been trying to "not drink so much", and usually failing. Usually I would connect the drinking and being overweight, so sometimes I would say to myself, well, I'm on a diet, so I will drink two glasses and stop. Because after 2 glasses, then it would all be open, more drinking and more food. But that wears pretty darn thin after a while. The diet ends, the willingness ends. The wine/beer/rum/liquer wins. This is the first time that I'm saying it would be easier to not have even one drink, than to have just two, regardless of the diet/not dieting.
Today is the first day that I haven't woken up thrilled. The past two weeks I've been so happy to wake up not hung over. I'm going to go with the idea that this cloud is temporary, and the day will be ok. I read that lots of people find the two week mark difficult, so I'm just going to hang on, hang on, hang on.
Last night I went out to friends for a bit, took my two diet gingerales with me. I was glad not to have to worry about driving home and getting stopped. A very nice feeling.
I haven't told my spouse yet. we talk several times everyday, and he must notice the lack of evening slurring , he hasn't said anything and I haven't either. He'll be home next week. I almost told him today, but it is hard over the phone. I'm glad he's been away for this new beginning, because I can get a good start before I need to deal with the 'relationship' stuff.
Thanks for sharing your journeys, I'm still saying just for today, I can't think 30 days out, 100 days out, but, for Monday, I drink gingerale.
and the writing and reading here helps. TY,
stay strong!

[Mel]

Yesterday evening I went to the liquor store - bought a bottle of wine (nice, pricey wine), was doing the whole 'it's my birthday, I can celebrate'. And then I got home. And I didn't open it.

Let me say that one more time - I didn't open it. That has never happened in all my years of drinking. I didn't open it because I looked at it, and I didn't want it. I put it in the trunk of my car (parked several blocks away) - and I'll take it to a dinner later this week. I know that these shifts in mindset are important, but not monolithic or everlasting . . . but I'm focusing on the momentum this choice (bad choice turned good) gives me.

[Mairianna10]

Horrible day, still drinking, bought more, tomorrow will have to be Day 1. What have I done?

[_Erin_]

Hi Billy! So happy to see you on here, you're doing great and I am so proud of your progress and how you lift everyone else up!! You too, Dragonfly!!

Millie and Mairianna - come on, girls!! Need you back over at the 30 Day Challenges thread... I'm back on my horse and I need you to push me! You two have been SUCH an inspiration to so many people here, please remember how great you felt and get back up!! You can do it, I have 100% faith in you! Sending good vibes and much love your way, ladies...

Julliet and Mel - HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to both of you!! Mel, awesome story, you sound so humbled but you have every reason to be very proud of yourself!! Not the same thing, but I can't say I would have as much willpower not to crack open... say... a Mountain Dew, if it were right in front of me. Julliet, as always, nothing but love to you! You are truly an amazing woman and I admire you so much.

Carol and Sally - I'm so happy you're here! You both have this awesome way of conveying your message that no one can top. Thank you!

You guys are all awesome. I'm so happy to see this forum going again, you don't even know! Welcome to all the new ones and hello to everyone! I just want to remind you that even if you feel like what you have to say doesn't matter, or won't help, you just never know who you're reaching. Think of the thousands of members who have joined this forum - only a handful of us post regularly - the rest of us are reading...

[Ali]

Hello everyone. I've been reading the forum for about a week. Today is going to be my first day not to drink. I got sober in 1991 for 6 1/2 yrs and have known for a long
time I had to do it again but really like to drink. My husband and I are doing this together. That can be good or bad. We tend to both talk each other into drinking more than
not drinking. But we are looking at what not drinking will bring us. I made a list last night of things we can get done around the house and how it will help us physically (both want to lose weight) and mentally.


I feel like I need to get out and do something instead of dwelling on this.
I've read somewhere to take L-Glutamine for the cravings. Does anyone have any advise on what to take. Or does anything really work?

[Millie]

Oh no Mairianna...
What was the trigger! What is going on? Are you just having a drink or two or drinking too much?????

I seriously thought about having a glass of wine yesterday, so today would be official day one with you, but I couldn't do it. I am tired of drinking poison and decided I didn't want even one more drop.

So, today is day two.

Mairianna, I really, really want you to join me. Start tomorrow.

[Millie]

Mel, I love your story. Good for you!!'

[Ruth]

COngratulations, Mel! That is the proof that you are on the right road. That is really something to celebrate!

[Mairianna10]

Dont want to say how bad things got, what an idiot. Husband has been drinking all along and he now says he will stop with me tomorrow. Millie, I'm definitely starting Day 1 tomorrow, you go girl! Cant believe the hold it has on me but I will not go down that rabbit hole.

[Mairianna10]

Erin, back on the 30 day challenge tomorrow x

[_Erin_]

Yaaay, Mairianna!! Let's drop the stones, girl!!