Creating better times

You are right. I attended one online meeting a while back but didn’t feel like it was the right one for me. Do you have any recommendations of finding one or just going and trying different ones out

Thank you for your words. I need to learn to be patient and to also not just expect quick fixes for everything. The last time I was sober for a period of time I got this overwhelming anxiety of my brain winning the fight and like I knew I was going to end up not having control over it eventually.

I’m trying to be strong this time and not listen to the voice in my head when it pops up - because I know it will.

I have had a hard time crying or feeling emotions due to being numb and it almost will be a relief the day I can let those things out of my body and release.

Happy to be here and sober and that’s something in the universe made me stumble upon using this platform. You are all such great people.

3 Likes

This community has been a game changer for me too. It’s is one day at time. I don’t like think to think in forever terms as it a trigger for my :smiling_imp: :brain:. I’m coming up on 30days soon. It feels so good to sober and taking part in a real life again.

3 Likes

Congrats on almost 30 days !! Yes it’s crazy how much more life there is, even just in this week for me.

1 Like

The first AA meeting I went to, before I hit RB honestly wasn’t the right vibe for me. But I found myself at a pub…very tempted and sad one Sunday afternoon and looked up AA times for the nearest meeting. It was at 6pm and I went and cowered in the back of the room. Not talking to anyone or making any eye contact. In fact, I was so ashamed and scared I stared down at the floor. I had tears in my eyes; not from sadness…but from the hope of shared experience in the speakers that night that they had been through the same things I have and they had something I wanted. Hope, joy and peace…let alone freedom from alcohol and drugs.

I did tons and tons of research when I was in rehab and time and again from a therapeutic, outcome driven point of view…when a person commits themselves to participating in AA (attending meetings, getting a sponsor and doing the steps) it gives the best chance of long term, sustained sobriety and provides a tool kit to do life with. Different from the selfish and self centered way we’ve been doing it.

Time for you to find a meeting (in person) and go to it. Then go back again and again and again…repeat. You got this!!

2 Likes

How has your weekend been @bettertimesahead ?
Hope you’re ok. Have you attended a meeting?
Let’s go to another week alcohol free together.

1 Like

I can’t believe I blink my eyes and 30 days have passed probably drank every day. It’s especially hard with the holidays.

I’m so done with myself this is by far the worst I’ve ever felt. I am missing work again.

I am ready to get help and I think I am going to try to go to a detox or rehab.

I’ve been avoiding coming on here because i know the things i need to do and feel like a broken record at this point.

:frowning: :frowning:

I had many reset before I got 60 plus days in😀. Try not to worry about never drinking again.

And just commit yourself today not drinking and do what it takes to get your head to your pillow sober tonight.

You can do it!

They will be moments you will want one, but fight the fight and don’t pick up that first drink.

It is not easy but you can beat your alcohol demon! Get some more tools, in your toolbox and use them. A big one for me was coming here sharing and reading around. And the other biggie was really wanting to be sober, I mean really wanting it.

You can do this! And you came back that saying you want it. One day at time and a old saying if first you don’t succeed, get up and try again

Let’s stay sober together today

2 Likes

Welcome back. You are here today. Let’s stay sober today. You are not alone on the path to sobriety.

2 Likes

Thank you for the nice welcome. I feel like I’m at a point where I want to stop drinking more than the idea of continuing this miserable life.

2 Likes

Today is the day. First days will be tough I cannot lie. Stay here. Check in everyday. Resources are abundant to stay sober. Your job and the really tough work is reaching out and getting the tools needed to stay sober. We are here to support you. I maybe only sober 9 months but I swear best 9 months of my adult life.

4 Likes

Congrats on 9 months!! I keep trying to calm myself by thinking it will get better. I am in a tough spot though. Hoping I don’t lose my job from how much I’ve called out recently. My boss is less and less understanding. I am so anxious and feel not good. I feel like I can’t show my face to anyone without them seeing the sheer shame right through me.

Looking forward to this bad feeling passing and working to be a person I’m proud of.

2 Likes

I’m glad you are here and came back! I was heavy daily drinker for over a decade and I sure do not miss the hangovers and feeling like shit everyday.

And today my goal is too I will get my head to my pillow sober tonight! Join me in that goal today!

2 Likes

I will stay sober today!

I’ve felt like crap for too long.

2 Likes

Can you go to the emergency room to detox ? how do you go about it. Im not sure if I need to go or if I just have to ride this out. If I go then my whole family is going to be aware I slipped up again. Which I don’t think is bad but also know it could be so expensive.

I have horrible health anxiety.

I don’t have medical advice. Maybe call emergency room and get some answers. I’m sorry you are anxious about your family but you need to take care of YOU right now!

1 Like

Not sure where in the world you are. Not knowing how much you drank either, or how you took care of yourself (food, drink, exercise, rest, etc), or how your general health is. Detoxing on your own can be dangerous, based on many factors, some of which I just mentioned.

Step 1 is to seek medical assistance. Over here that would mean to go to my family doctor. I work in a detox in Western Europe myself, we don’t take many cases straight from an ER or family doctor, only when there is real urgency to the situation. And everybody has some urgency of course, so that’s often a hard choice to make.

For the rest there’s a waiting list of a couple of months usually. Which also depends on the waiting list for a follow up treatment. A detox is just that. A week to three weeks of safely detoxing from your DOC. The real work starts after that. Firstly in- or outpatient follow up treatment for addiction. And maybe longer treatment for other psychological problems after that. And peer support of course. Lots of it to begin with. Here or in groups. Living a sober life is perfectly possible and hugely beneficial for us all, but we have to do the work.

To get back to your question: if your detoxing alone, and you feel bad, go to the ER and let them check you out plz. Hydrate. Lots of water. Eat but not too much. Take vitamins, especially Thiamine (B1). Plenty of rest. Take care please. This is dangerous stuff friend. Hugs.

4 Likes

Thank you this is helpful to me. I am in the states and have had to go to the er before for alcohol related complications. I will make sure to go if I start feeling really bad. I’ve had acute pancreatitis in the past and fatty liver. I took a break for 4 months and my labs were returned to normal after 2.

I’m just now afraid that those are returning. I’m ashamed that I continued to drink knowing my health history. Just bad vibes over here.

I have been telling my work I am needing to work on my mental health , I don’t know if I want to be honest to them about my alcohol. I feel like I need more time off.

Thank you for the virtual hugs and words.

2 Likes

If you’re in the States a list of rehabs and other treatment resources (both inpatient and outpatient) is available here:

If you have any health concern that is serious or unknown, go to your ER. That’s a front line medical service for emergencies.

Follow the advice you would give a friend if your friend was in your situation. :slightly_smiling_face:

2 Likes

@bettertimesahead “Can you go to the emergency room to detox ? how do you go about it. Im not sure if I need to go or if I just have to ride this out. If I go then my whole family is going to be aware I slipped up again. Which I don’t think is bad but also know it could be so expensive.

I have horrible health anxiety. “

Sounds like the drinking taken a total on your health. Mine too, I did stop after decade of drinking and I was ok. But you know how feeling go the doctor go they are not going to judge you! Please don’t let detox stuff stop you or fear. Get the help you need. There a lots of options in States.

Continue to drink is going leads to death. The loss of your job, etc…

I was a closet drinker too but let’s be real about for a minute, the people around me knew and I’m sure the people around you knew too. Including your boss they can mostly tell your hangover and smell it on you too.,when you make it in.

Stay sober with me just today. One night! Don’t let the alcohol win tonight. Take a shower, get some rest.

2 Likes