How to stop drinking

[janny]

Sally,Allyson and Ken-
Thanks for all your input and i feel stronger after reading all these posts.I've got great plans for this week.Good evening meals and eating earlier in the day.I plan to start cross training, pool and bike, not just running. Continue with lots of water.I hope to reconnect with my church i pray often but have not attended a mass in a while.I will go to the library for some books.
I loved your breakfast idea of fresh whip cream and strawberries.That really hit me hard because that is one of the things alcohol has robbed me of,those little special,simple pleasures in life like making a great recipe or sewing a nice pillow or creating a garden in your backyard.I've lost the desire to do all those things and I'm hoping over time I will want to enjoy those things again.

Thanks again for this forum.Have a great day.

[James G]

day 18 - check. why stop now?

That's right you're on a roll...don't stop-STOPPING!

[Tere]

Isn't it funny how those little demon thoughts can sabotage all our strengths and victories. It still amazes me how those demons can pop back in unexpectedly. I struggled last night but put every tool I have learned and heard into my mind. Then I poured myself some apple cherry juice. Wow, did that taste good So glad I did.

[Millie]

Day 13. It is hard to believe it will already be two weeks tomorrow. So far, so good. I hope everyone is having a good day.

[Millie]

John, sorry to hear you are having a bad day. I hate those Monday blues. Hang in there... You may need to crank it up a notch soon and start the exercise challenge or something similar. I know, I know, who am I to give advice. Lol. Last year, the exercise challenge did take my mind/hyper focus off "not drinking" and onto trying to get my exercise done each day, which seemed to help....at least for awhile. . I head back to the beach in less than a month and my new goal, on top of not drinking, is to lose as many pounds as I can before then. I spied a few pictures of me last week and it wasn't pretty. Hehe.

[Patrick Meninga]

I never know how much I should push the concept of rehab and professional treatment.

Ultimately it saved my life. But, I had to go 3 times before I "got it."

In the end, I suppose that it's not perfect, but it's still the best solution we've got......

[JacquieC]

Hi All, long time no blog!!! Today is day 184 for me, yep that is 6 months and some.... Overall I can honestly say some days are really really great and some are not but thats life I think. We have just been away for a family holiday to Phuket, it was great and easy to sit by the pool when it was sunny and hot but then the rain started and never stopped...... I looked out and saw people watching the rain whilst sitting in the pool bar and I will admit it was hard. I would have thought with 6 months under my belt it would be much easier, but some days suck. Maude still sits on my shoulder tempting me saying "one little cocktail, no one will know" but I hung tight and told her to "shut up". I just keep telling myself that "today I will not drink" and repeat that over and over until the craving passes and then I am fine.

So many new faces which is great to see, hang in there guys, be strong. It IS worth it, never think its not.....

Cheers
Jacquie

[bdog]

Hi All,

Welcome so many new people. I havent wrote since I got back from my business trip which started the old ball rolling again. Its been so hot and I lost interest in the things that were keeping me dry. Anyways. back to day one but Its not as bad as the past day ones since I was working on tapering down the last several days in anticipation of quitting. But its still not the same as days and days sober. keep quitting.

[Ken1]

Patrick, in regards to rehab, I can only speak for myself, but I was in no way ready to receive that message when I first started posting here. It took me a long time just to work up the nerve to start posting after reading only for a month or so. I probably had the same incorrect vision of rehab loosely based on the movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, as some scary place filled with crazy people. I now realize it is not that way at all, but initially I just needed a place to realize that I was not alone, not the only person that felt that no one could possibly understand the battle I was fighting with alcohol and how miserable I was. I probably would not have stuck around and been able to learn and grow as much as I feel like I have and met all the great people that post here along the way. I think you mention it perfectly in your articles, gently nudging people to seek professional help as the best way to find relief from addiction. Thanks for providing the forum, your articles and support.

[wlinser]

Day 20 today. Hard to believe. I hope everyone is doing well. You have to start somewhere/some day.

[Kip]

Hi all....good reading here as always....

JacquieC, what an accomplishment! Thanks for posting.. it's an inspiration.. and the honesty of saying it's not always easy keeps us alert to the power of the addiction and the ultimate power of the addicted. i hope you can end each day that much more at peace with your progress..

John, thanks for checking on me, friend.. my mode is such that weekdays are generally no problem even on the 4th last week. for sure, once i get home i have no desire to drink. a far cry from yesteryear and my awareness of post-work triggers is very high so i can keep my little steering wheel pointed straight home... but i must admit the weekends are not my strong suit.. i just don't feel equipped yet, to be honest..and am stuck in that deceptive place when the lying devil of moderation is whispering in my ear. i hope i'm not out of place to regularly post and struggle unsuccessfully. not having this forum would lead me straight to the place i was before. i continue to be amazed at how much work this takes just to be strong each day.. maybe the real truth is just that. all part of that massive change concept that Patrick so clearly explains.

Hope everyone is having a good week.... kip

[Connor1a]

So... After quite a lapse, hello all. Fell off the proverbial wagon (and then down a hill, a large mountain, and finally off a cliff). Sigh.. Been sober for close to 5 weeks with the exception of a one night bender about a week ago. So anyway, wanted to post a question related to detoxification. As I said, been sober roughly 5 weeks. Generally speaking, I feel pretty good in the mornings, but then midday I start feeling very irritable and generally funky - almost like a mild virus feeling - like generally unhealthy. I also have some pretty wicked head rushes when I stand at times. Then, after maybe 8pm, I start feeling human again. I sleep like a rock at night - at least 8 hours. For the record, I have been a hard drinker for quite a few years. Bottle of vodka a day kind of drinker (amazingly functional, but a lot of collateral family damage that will take me some time to clean up. Well, a long time...). Heading to the dr in a week, but would appreciate hearing how you guys felt at this stage...

[Connor1a]

John Aka Bill! Looked for you in the forums. Good to see you here. Yeah - a bottle a day is definitely not good. I really have to get off the hootch permanently. What got me this time was simply how miserable I was feeling everyday and the ridiculous, irresponsible, things I was doing to mange booze. You see, in Sweden all spirits greater than 3% alcohol are sold in state run stores. The stores close around 6pm on weekdays and are only open Saturday mornings on the weekends. So I was planning work obligations around store opening hours. Very very sad and damaging to my career.. So I'm white knuckling it for now and am determined. Will be around for awhile this time.

[bdog]

connor1a good to see you post. we too have similar laws in pennsylvania. an i would do the same thing to get my fix from the state stores. and yes it takes days to get past all the crap that goes along with a bottle of vodka a day. see a doctor. there are meds that can ease the withdrawls but not always the best route for those of us who already have a problem with the drink and or the drink with meds. Hang in there im almost thru another day one and cant wait to have a better night for day 2.

[janny]

I'm beginning to understand the"one day at a time " concept. That's all I can do be cause I start talking to myself about different occassions coming up and how I will handle it then I have to stop thinking that way and get in the moment.My outlook is better today and I start imagining the great things that will come my way as I continue on this path. I've been reading everyones posts which help quite a bit so thank you.
I've been eating a lot! But don't won't to worry about the extra calories. I get a craving for chocolate too, not good for the waistline... I had left a nice dinner for my husband and son before my daughter and I went out tonight. My daughter noticed the nice note I left for them and commented to me how nice that was. I have not done something like that in a while.I care more about things like that too when I don't drink. I feel like I used to be a much more caring and compassionate person, I hope I get that back.
Thanks to all again.

[Millie]

Connor and bdog, glad to see you two back here. Today is day 14 for me. Start of week three tomorrow. Day by day, step by step.

Connor, I used to enjoy your posts about tea. Do you have a good recommendation for a tea to drink at night?

[Jill]

I second that YJ. I too am sorry for upsetting or reading like I'm encouraginging moderate drinking to anybody on SR. I am not perfect, yet ask for guidance from like friends through my struggles. I have been reading, not posting because I can't get through a whole week without a couple of drinks.

Kimber congrats!!! I still find your post to be inspiring for me. I find hope in my life because of what you write. Thank you!

I hope to be in a better place where I can join the rest of my SR friends.

Yj thank you for posting again. It's nice to know I'm not alone. XO Jill

[Connor1a]

Millie - Mint tea. You can buy it in boxes, but I like to make it with fresh mint. Just take a bunch and steep it. Then I add honey and chill it for the summer (or leave it hot in winter). There are a bunch of recipes on the WWW. Its dead easy to make and you can change it up by adding some lemon or lime, other fruits, etc. Yummy!

[Sally]

Hi all – I picked up that book “Drinking – A Love Story” that so many of you had mentioned and for me it has been so spot on….in one section she talks about planning your schedule around your drinking, i.e. my deadline is Wednesday, so I really can’t drink too much on Tuesday, but I have nothing going on Thursday, so Wednesday I can live it up…I loved this line “I had the feeling that I was working my most creative efforts into the margins of things (i.e. around my drinking), struggling to make time for them”.

That’s what I was doing…my whole life started revolving around when and where I could drink and how much….that is what they mean in AA when they say that we are powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable…I mean really how much more unmanageable can life be when alcohol controls your every thought. I always struggled with that concept of unmanageability because I was a highly functioning alcoholic and I always managed to get things done, so obviously I was in control of my life….HELLO!!! not when my every thought, decision, and planning revolved around my next drink…now that I am sober it makes perfect sense…DUH!!!

So hang in there… Connor, bdog, Janny, Kipd – never quit quitting…and Connor definitely talk to your doctor, you were doing high levels daily…I almost reached that point until I finally called it quits. I did get campral (am still on it) and for me it was a life saver….expensive but a magic pill that took away my cravings and let me focus on my healing…well worth it for me.

JacquieC congrats on 6 months that is amazing….let’s see you do 1 year and inspire us all.

Wlinser – 20 days!! Woot woot

Millie – so glad to see you – going on 3 weeks, you are on a roll… keep peddling that bike and don’t look back.

Bill – 25 days…you go, 1 month right around the corner.

Kimber - 35 days - your posts are so inspiring....I am so happy for you and your new life.

[wlinser]

Day 21 today. Where did the time go? Began reading Trimpey's 'The Small Book' last evening and will order 'Rational Recovery' today. Has anyone here read those books or is familiar with the rational recovery program?