Im seeking advice ive been a alcoholic for quite sometime my last drink was sunday I think my counter is off. Im tired of the person I become drinking. I’ve damaged multiple vehicles spend a night in jail. Got stuck in the snow and hurting people i love and care about obviously sucks. On top of that I decided to quit smoking as of today ive been using the nicotine lozenges they are working better than the patch giving my body the oral fixation its been used to for id say prolly +20 years. The cost is insane. Its terrible for your health they stink. I need to cope with my frustrations better any ideas ? And does this get easier ? I feel like a part of my body is missing or something idk.
It does get easier, absolutely - but it takes time and effort.
At SMART they talk about VACIs which stands for Vitally Absorbing Creative Interests (great tool, terrible acronym) and that’s going to help keep your hands and brain busy whenever you’re dealing with cravings - actually SMART have a lot of good tools, they have online meetings too if there are none near you - def worth checking out imo
One thing I would suggest tho is not to bother with the nicotine lozenges, they’ll just keep you hooked for longer in my XP - nicotine leaves your system pretty quick and the sooner you stop the sooner you can enjoy the benefits!
Best of luck on your journey and keep coming back! You’ll find a great community here of folks who have been through the same and gotten through it
Sounds like you’re having a moment of clarity of just how unmanageable drinking is and what it does to those around us. I got here and it took 3 relapses to get it solid. What DOES NOT WORK is not having a sponsor because then you’re left to your own best thinking. What does work is the program of AA as laid out in the Big Book of AA together with a Sponsor and a lot of solid AA people in your contact list that can talk you “down” off the ledge that is our “feelings”. Get to a local in person meeting and seek out a sponsor. Getting a sponsor is the easy part..taking suggestion and staying sober working the steps is where INTO ACTION really takes place. This app is a good source if you don’t have meeting nearby you. I’ll pray for you and that God’s will not yours be done.
That is good that you found your way here. Lots of resources and people with lots of experience. Very challenging to give up two addictions at once. My suggestion is to spend time here reading and reading. In the beginning that kept me out of trouble and I was comforted to know recovery was possible. This app and community made the difference for me.
Welcome and congratulations on day 3/4 Lexie.
You found a remarkable sober forum to help you navigate sobriety.
Keep an open mind and stick with the winners.
Have a good read around. Lots of great info and people on here willing to help.
Congrats on your days hun and welcome here. This is a great community with lots of resources and advice. Early days are tough but it does get easier with the right steps, support in place. Find what works for you and dig deep but also be kind to yourself too
In this fellowship we call AA, there shines a great light of hope, voices filled with stories of renewal, and hearts eager to tell how life grew brighter for them. But the longer I walk this road, the clearer a deeper truth has become to me: Life itself does not change, I do.
The world remains as it is, but I am given the grace to see it anew. It is not life that grows better, it is I who grow better, me, I through the quiet work of surrender, faith, and willingness.
And this change for me is not optional, it is the gentle command of the Spirit, I must change, if I would live in peace. For only when I am transformed within does the world around me begin to shine with the light of my Creator’s love.
AA doesn’t hold the cornerstone on sobriety. Work whatever works, for you.
It does in my experience, eventually. It takes some time but if you’re willing to face some pain and do some digging as to why you drink or use, address those things, and have an open mind about how to change aspects of yourself or unhealthy thought patterns then eventually, it will get easier! Will it ever be “easy”? I don’t know, but I think there are definitely steps to take that will make it “easier”!
Congrats on beginning your journey, this place is a good place to start! Tons of resources and connections to a community that genuinely cares! Whether your road leads you to AA, Smart Recovery, or just some good ol fashioned therapy, I think this road is a road worth traveling!
Reach out if you need support! Plenty of people here that are more than willing to listen and if need be, talk about experiences they’ve had that might help you!
Yes, it gets easier the Longer your sober& going to lots of meetings / online Zoom meetings are great too….it takes years to get back all the years of damage we did out there, …I’ve been sober since 1991….if I can do it so can you….Rick
