How to stop drinking

[rosella]

Good for you on the name change John- it must feel like a new you! It's going to take me a while to get used to it. i see you've slipped to junior member again!
Billy, I like the term 'keyboard therapy'- that's what it feels like for me. My attempts without this have come to nothing. This site has helped me so much previously so I'll be checking in each day for my piece of therapy so I can beat this.
I've made it through to the morning of Day 6. I had a good break off alcohol a while ago and since then have tried and slipped many times. This is the longest I've gone since and I've noticed that this time I haven't got the tiredness like that initial time and all those crazy emotions aren't coming up (not yet anyway). It makes me think though that in all those small attempts and extra alcohol free days there must be healing happening and although we might slip, we are heading in the right direction and we are making some progress. My theory has always been that each attempt brings us closer to long term sobriety.
I've also noticed this time how much extra time I have. Just the extra relaxing time. My two young girls and I gave each other a pedicure last night and it was wonderful. When I'd have a few drinks I'd get into the garden or clean up the house. I think I was rationalising my drinking and fooled myself that if I was accomplishing something it was ok. I'd wake up seedy and think "at least the house is clean". It's so ridiculous.
Anyway, it's great to feel all the positivity on this forum at the moment. This really helps, so thankyou to all.

[kevin2]

Very nice post rosella,..lots of truth there. Also, nice earlier Simpsons reference,..the Australia trip was one of the best episodes ever! That was exactly what I was thinking of when I joked about the toilet water rotating clockwise ;-)

[Mel]

Hey all, some really wonderful posts and energy on the forum as of late. I've got a temptation/thing coming up tomorrow - I'm throwing a big party at my place. Yes, there is beer in the fridge. Yes, there is wine all over the place. No, I will not drink it - not tonight and not tomorrow. I'm making lots of food and sticking very close to my 'to do' list and the rest of every minute is scheduled out for today in order to not allow any time for looking at, fondling, opening, drinking, chugging the crap in the house. If the booze-hounds tomorrow don't drink it all - it goes home with them. Or down the drain, no matter how much it cost.

I've been sticking to my punishing / horrible diet (that allows not a single inch for any wasted calories) and exercising. Waiting to see the benefits - that will immediately help me avoid drinking, if I see lbs going away and clothes fitting better.

[Ruth]

Rosella, I have also noticed better experiences with my kids now that alcohol is out of the picture. What better reason to stay clean? Mel, glad to hear you sounding strong!

[PG1.5]

"PG1.5" is going back to my original login name - Molly.

[Mairianna10]

Hi John and Molly!

Day 19 today, money worries at the forefront of my mind but I'm optimistic, imagining how much worse it would have been if I'd been drinking, pouring all that extra money down the drain.

Met a friend for lunch yesterday and discussed a party we'll be going to in a couple of weeks. She knows I've been off the drink for a while but asked if I would be drinking for this occasion. I thought she didnt know I had a problem but I sensed yesterday that she did. Anyway, I know I wont drink, wish I could get past that feeling that I'm missing something though, funny (not) how even after my major 3 day slip my mind starts telling me again that it wasnt that bad.

I'm working on lifetime sobriety but wish I could GET IT properly like some of you guys.

Wishing you a sober weekend, the hardest part of the week in our journey.

[Molly]

Day 2, again ... Fortunately, it is snowing like crazy here, so even if I wanted a drink I wouldn't be able to go out and get one. My goal is to get through the weekend sans booze.

[Kat]

I am at day 1 again! Even though I am making progress by not drinking out of control as I usually do, I just gave in last night and had 2 glasses of wine with company. I pep talked myself before but just did it knowing that I wouldn't over do it in public. I feel awful today. Really sick of myself. I can't give in anymore. I am giving it another go and reading your posts for encouragement. Rosella, I too have rushed around after a binge cooking and cleaning trying to erase what I have done. It is so amazing how many posts I could sign my name to. Good luck to everyone. Day 1! I am going to be around for awhile today reading.
Dragonfly..46 days..that is so great.

[carol]

Kat, to quote Sally, never give up! Glad you're back here on Day 1. Molly, welcome, and good bye to Pinot Grigio! The 2 of you aren't quite on the same day but maybe can be buddies on this journey if you want to. The hearts and sad faces (or whatever you feel like using) on a calendar can really help you see you're making progress, like Dragonfly said.

Dragonfly, I'm so proud of you! I love "Its like a line, once crossed, we cannot go back. We have changed." Oh, the holidays. New Year's Eve crossed my mind the other day. I'm not ready to think about that. I am planning ahead on iced tea instead of wine with Thanksgiving though. That's what we always had growing up, in a pretty pitcher, so I'm also honoring a family tradition.

Mel, how was the party? What an amazing thing to do.

Transformations, whether with or without name changes, I love it! bdog & Billy, I'm cool with your names. Peter, it was Ruth's challenge to you to change your name before I picked up the baton & suggested it to PG1.5, I'm glad to hear you're taking it on. Now get over the hump, DO it, and post with your alcohol-free name for the future!

Hi to all y'all! Have a great alcohol-free weekend!

[soberpeter]

I had MAJOR computer issues which delayed this. ALL YOU GOOD PEOPLE HERE PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT PETERPINOT IS NO LONGER ON THIS PLANET. soberpeter is here to take his place.

[carol]

Welcome, soberpeter! Woo hoo! Are you ready for Day 1??

[soberpeter]

ready, willing but able?????????

[soberpeter]

REGINA WHERE ARE YOU? peterpinot is on the moon. soberpeter (making a cape right now) is here. I guess I'll put a big SP on the back.

[Jacx]

Sending you all great energy this morning.xxxxxx Today is day 7 !!!!!! Just went for a bike ride along the river.
Funny, the bike path was washed away in a huge flood earlier this year and like my sober self, parts of it are still under construction and a work in progress. It filled me with thoughts as I rode along the old rough parts and the new smooth ones xx
Love your post Dragonfly, fantastic words.
You are all amazing And give me the strength to keep going xx
Have a beautiful day xx

[Kat]

Took a long nap and checking in to how all of you are doing. Feeling physically better but a little down which is usual for me after drinking wine especially.
I love the name changes. Soberpeter brought a smile to my face.
Jacx congrats on one week.
I am not giving up and working on changing myself and how I live my life. I have a good job but I am not that happy with it anymore. Not a great time to be feeling this way with the economy so bad but I am trying to gather up the courage to begin making changes so I am one day ready to being a new career. I am just thinking (or typing) out loud now..sorry for rambling. Happy to have this place and all of you to listen without judgement.
Glad it is the weekend so I can check in here more often.

[Ruth]

Powerful to see you guys with your own names, owning the challenge! Molly, glad to see you leave the PG behind! Peter- you are able! Just focus on this day- as a friend of mine says... STAY sober today and yesterday... that's all we need. Now I wonder where Pearl is!!?

[Mel]

Hey Carol and everyone - thanks for thinking of me. Party is tonight. I mentioned before that there are a lot of new friends of mine who just don't drink . . . but there are a few (colleagues, more like) and they drink damaging amounts and fast. Hmmmm, just like I used to. It should be fine - I made a mess of food, got in a lot of non-boozy drinks and mixers. Spanakopita (Greek friend's recipe), baked feta with roasted red pepper sauce, artichoke/eggplant dip, homemade pizza bread for dipping, nuts n' crackers n' cheese. Good thing I got in a hard workout today! Anything extra alcohol-wise is going home with the people with whom I'm going to do Turkey Day with this week.

[Kat]

Have a great time Mel. I am hungry now!

[Mel]

Thanks Kat! Fingers crossed. And hello to Molly, and John and Sober!!!!!! Peter. There is a lot of power in a name. Own it. One of the most moving moments for me on this forum was when Kathy (KJBP) used her real name for the first time.

"Mel" is the nickname I wished people called me. My nom-de-booze for many years was 'Hot Mess Mel' - because that is what I was, a hot-mess. Using just "Mel" for this forum was a wish that I would leave that other person behind. I'm trying. Really really hard.

[John]

Hi from New Orleans...not a lot of time now but all ok from the Big Easy.