Day 6. And a challenge later today - drinks after a friend's lecture. There won't be any pressure from the group, just all me - but I've dealt well with the social drinking issue in the past with elegance, grace, and stubborn resolve. So, I'm not too worried - but am also going to be hyper-vigilant and if I have to jet out of there back to safe home, I will.
Morgan, Mel, Marky Mark, go for it... you can do it! Let's make monday a good start to soberiety. I am just thinking how good it will feel to hit that pillow tonite with a clean day behind me..! But not forgetting the here/now because that's what we need to focus on have a great day!
John, good point on the cigarettes vs.alcohol...One difference for me is that I look at any alcohol as un-healthy because I know it leads to un-healthy behavior for me.Originally Posted by John
Binge drinking is proven to be unhealthy and that's where I go if I drink. So that's how I look at it, but your point is valid.
On a different note, I had the pleasure to back-pack the Sierra Nevada's a couple of times. Made it all the way to the top of Mt. Whitney. Highest point in the continental United States. Unbelievable scenery.
Thanks for the sobering thought!
Welcome Lucybrown and all others. CJB I Have struggled with the same habit you have. IT seems the two devils go hand in hand and sometimes i dont even want one without the other. So bad. Anyway reading all your stories is very helpful good to hear some many are doing so well. Im trying for days this week instead of hours for the first time in a long time.
Hi all and welcome to Lucybrown and CJB and all the other newbies and of course to everyone as the reading is compelling.
Midwest Sue, my husband has reacted badly to my sobriety (30 days) too. He now thinks that I'm having an affair as I am reading alot and walking the dog more and I have become distant WTF! This was yesterday morning after he has a gut full of whiskey the night before!!!! Jerk.
Listenen up everyone...........I need your advice. I will keep this brief incase your eyes start to bleed with boredom!
Late summer last year, I and some work collegues went to see a show in London. It was a noon start in Leicester Square. Two of the women got completely bladdered and we was thrown out of the theatre in the interval. These two women had there kids early in life so when they go out (not often) they convert back to being idiot teenagers. The more they were getting louder, the more I was sobering up and the theatre chuck out was the last straw. That's why I didn't like going out to drink, I only drank at home.
On new years eve, one of our customer's died suddenly and the funeral was last Friday. I attended along with...........you've guessed it.....the two stooges. After the cremation, I wanted to go home but they wanted to go to the 'Wake' (after drinks) I'm not sure if you call it that in your countries. They both started to drink, even though one of them was driving. She only had two vodkas but it went straight to her head. She told me that we have got a night out booked after a heavy work day in April and the place has a cocktail bar. 'You are coming!' she said abruptly! I said I'll think about it. I was constantly berated by nearly everyone at the wake for drinking soft drinks. In the end I was getting a bit fed up!! I eventually got home only for the Vodka bird to phone me asking 'what was wrong with YOU today'! Hardly a place for Jazz Hands I thought, but I gave some feeble excuse.
Now.....How can I get out of this night out in April. Bare in mind folks that this woman is my manager (who is very capable of bullying) and that we are to go straight from work. When we was in London, we was in a cocktail bar, and she flashed her tits to the barman!!!!! I can't cope with seeing that again!!!! LOL
HELP.............................................. .!!!!
Love from my little Island. Alison
Hi everyone
I have been 'lurking' on this forum for about a year now, kept telling myself that if I read what other people do to be successful then I just have to follow that advice. Well, it isn't working. I keep going back to the 5o pm voice that says, you can have just one glass of wine, and it ends up being a whole bottle or more. I have to say that I have cut down - but I need STOP. I don't even remember last evening or how I got myself into bed. My story is that same as all of yours, so I won't bore you with my details, but today I jump into the forum and join you. I hope that I can offer you all something with my journey, starting today, because you all have given me so much this past year. Day 1
Thank you Jeff for the great advice! I'm going to Google Louise Hay as soon as I post this comment.
Welcome Hope! Great job choosing today for your day 1, this was the hardest part for me. Make no excuses, don't drink today. You can do it, this is a great place to start your journey. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, just say today I will not drink no matter the circumstances. Glad you joined the group.
Morgan---great job on day 2, stay strong friend!
Alison, I am self employed so I can't necessarily relate to having a manager influence my decisions. However, we've all been reminded here that staying sober IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR LIVES. I don't think your manager will fire you if you refuse to go out and drink with her. It sounds like she may have some demons to deal with as well with her drinking. Misery loves company, don't succumb to her pressures or bullying. You are too valuable to be weakened by this. Go back and read some of your posts and regain some inner strength to help deal with this. You've got some time, but don't spend it worrying about this evening in April. There's enough to worry about today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.
Day 12 for me today. I will not drink today.
Bryan
Thanks for the welcome Bryan - congratulations on Day 12! It will be the 5:00 - 7:00 demon that I will have to fight - if I can get through those few hours this evening I will be o.k.
Stay strong everyone - you all are the reason I have chosen the name "Hope" - you have given that to me
Hi Hope,
Like you, I read this forum for a while and it helped me to make the big step to say "enough". It's nice to feel like you are a part of a group of people with the same problems. Every time I check in here I learn something about myself and it gives me strength.
That 5 to 7 time slot is a bitch to deal with, but you can do it. My biggest help was going to the gym at that hour. Not only did i miss the happy hour roll call at the local bar, but i started doing something positive in its place. Give it a try...
Stay strong and good luck.
Michael
Hi Hope and MikeinITaly. Like both of you that was a huge time for to drink. But now I eat quick when I get hope and head out for a long walk. it feels so much better and helps me sleep. Now I i can find a way thru the weekends I think I could have this licked. keep trying, I am.
Hi all...just wanted to check in. Day 30 here (i think) and all is still going well. Great to see so many still going hard at this. Some words of encouragement for those of you still early on in the fight,..stay with it and do WHATEVER you have to do to get through those first few sober days. It really does get better,..and one thing I've noticed is that after the first 2 weeks the days aren't dragging along anymore,..they are piling up quickly,..and what used to be constant nagging thoughts and an obsessive mind-game to justify relapse, has now become a 3 or 5 time a day casual thought (not a temptation) that I can quickly get rid of. Have a great and sober day folks!
Alison - April is a long way off - I would just put it out of your mind and when it does roll around you'll be able to handle it:]
Welcome newbies - you are in the right place:]
Congrats to all on all your time - keep it up - just don't drink today!!!
Mike,
You are on the right track! I was just thinking today (day 36 I think) that it's not enough to just avoid drinking after the first few days. Something positive needs to replace that time and space. Go to the gym (I need to do this), go for a walk, read this site, call a friend, clean the kitchen counters, sort through the mail, organize photographs, shop for healthy food... make the time count instead of suffering through until bedtime.
Create a new routine for the time slot when you used to get that signal to start drinking.
I'm proud of everyone here, and I'm proud of myself! It's a good feeling.
Sue
Hello hello - 7 more minutes and I will have made it through day 6. Not easy. Temptations were all around - two pitchers of beer, that went unfinished with clean cups waiting in front of me. But, I stayed strong and had my diet pepsi. (ugh, not my fave). Now am very very itchy-scratchy-wanting - but will not. Don't want to sully this string of success with a stupid slip.
Happy sober Monday to everyone.
I am getting ready for bed on Day 2. I felt a bit better today, more productive at work, etc. I started the day off with a 40 minute walk. I have been eating like crazy the last 2 days but one thing at a time, I guess.
Have a safe and sober night all.
Morgan
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” ~ William Arthur Ward
Welcome Hope!
Morgan
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” ~ William Arthur Ward
Hi everyone. I’m relaxing back at home enjoying a nice cup of coffee after my second day back at work. This of course used to be drinking time and I am so grateful it is a cup if coffee instead. I’m feeling much better now that I got over that hump of returning to work after holidays. The thoughts, cravings and urges to drink are becoming fewer and more manageable.
Morgan: Good on you for hanging in there and getting back up and doing it – that takes a lot of courage! Keep the momentum going and I’m sure you’ll be feeling better each and every day. Take care.
Mel: Congratulations on day 6 and staying strong in spite of temptations all around. Hang in there. Thank you for your kind, understanding and encouraging words relating to my ‘last day before work post’. I really appreciate what you said and it helped me get through.
Midwest Sue: 36 days is fantastic – you have very good reason to be proud of yourself! Congratulations.
Kevin2: Congratulations on 30 days. I like the thought of days becoming weeks and weeks becoming months. It certainly helps to inspire me and keep the motivation up.
Bdog: Hi there. Great advice about having something to eat then going out for a walk. Hang in there with regard to the weekends; they are sure tough, but keep pushing.
Mikeinitaly: Welcome. I agree it really helps to be part of a group, with people who understand what you are going through. Keep reading and posting as this not only helps you, it helps us also.
Hope: Welcome. I ‘lurked’ for a while also on this forum and I’m still a ‘newbie’. It takes courage to sign up and post as you know you are taking the plunge – that takes courage and commitment. And, I’m sure you can offer us something with your journey – absolutely without doubt!
Bryan: Congratulations on day 12. You are doing a really fantastic job. Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful posts. PS: I like your signature quote! I seem to recall a similar quote from ‘The Secret’; it is so true.
Molly: I’m pleased my post about Louise Hay was okay with you. I trust you are doing well. Take care.
AlisonUK: Yikes, that sounds like a tricky situation! I think Bryan is on the money when he says ‘misery loves company’ and that we all need to put our sobriety first. But, I understand that it would be intimidating when the person is your boss. As Sally mentions, April is a long way off and you’ll probably be in a better position to deal with it by then as you grow stronger in sobriety. Congratulations on 30 days!
Kip: Good on you for stepping back up. The bike ride over the mountains sounds great – a nice way to relax and unwind as well as getting some exercise. You are right that together we can take the high road. Congratulations and take care.
Lucybrown: Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on day 4. I trust it all went well on your date night. This is a great place to be. As they say, ‘keep reading and keep posting’ – it really, really helps!
JacquieC, Ruth, John, JamesG, Makettle (thank you for your kind words also), Julie, Beth, Carol and anyone else whose names I have missed. I trust you are all doing well. Best wishes.
Regards,
Jeff
Hi everyone,
It's a cold windy day here in the north of Italy.
Day 35 for me and i feel good.
Speaking of how working out has helped me, I can immagine it's not so easy for some folks to get stated if they have never been athletic or done much exersize.
There is a ton of info on the web for all levels.
Here is a site that i like that is full of interesting stuff.
http://www.livestrong.com/man/
And in particular an article on drinking.(there are several others on the righthand sidebar too)
http://www.livestrong.com/article/37...quit-drinking/
Hope they give you some inspiration to get healthy.
Michael
Thank you so much Jeff. I had terrible insomnia last night but woke up sober. It is the start of Day 3. I plan to take a walk before work like yesterday. It put me in a good of a headspace. At least for part of the day!
Have a good day everyone. Let's all stay the sober course.
Morgan
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” ~ William Arthur Ward
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