Getting clean and sober

Hi my name is Scott as of today I’m trying to not drink or use cocaine , I feel like I’m struggling with these addictions, I don’t drink everyday but when I do it seems like binge drinking and just looking ,I’m looking for any insight or ideas on helping me get clean

Hey Scott :slight_smile: I know it’s hard, believe me. I motivate myself by reminding myself of how horrible and nightmarish my life was when I was dope sick half the time, committing crimes to hustle up money so I could get well, ruining my life and the lives of my loved ones.

I definitely suggest going to AA meetings and participating in the discussions. Emotional support is essential to stating sober. Set reasonable goals for yourself, and take it one day at a time.

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Thank you so much for your reply , I appreciate it

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Sure. :smirk: If I knew more specifics I could give you better input, but that’s all I got for now

Scott,
This forum is really helpful and I couldn’t agree more with @volatile about the importance of AA. Just don’t isolate or try to do it alone. We recover together with help from each other.

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Thanks hopefully I can get to a meeting this week

I have had some negative experiences with meetings, but i really want to work the steps and get a sponsor, so I’ll probably go as well.

The hardest part for me is getting there and walking in , I know I can do it

Just out of curiosity, what makes it difficult for you?

I just feel like failed and I keep telling myself this is a new day a new me but I have said that over and over

I know it’s hard to overcome negative thoughts… I’m so pessimistic that I don’t even try to stop anymore. But if you’re bothered by your negative thoughts and their inhibiting your recovery, try telling yourself that meetings are a necessary unpleasantness for you to be sober… Just as going through withdrawals is unpleasant but necessary. I only suggest this because positive thoughts aren’t working for you right now.

The more meetings you attend, the less you’ll find it such a terrible chore. It can be very therapeutic, even for a pessimist like me. It can be for you too. :slight_smile:

So my Sponser basically dumped me today. She suggested “maybe I should find a new Sponser or maybe I’m not ready”. I’m really frustrated. I’m ready and I’m trying but my biggest issue is forcing myself to get up an hour early to hit a meeting before work. I only average about one meeting a week and I see that this seems to be my biggest problem in staying sober for more then a few weeks. I use time as an excuse, but how do I MAKE myself go!? I keep saying I’ll do better and when 730 am rolls around I say no way I’ll listen to an AA podcast on the way to work.

I have a hard time forcing my self too I use time as my excuse, frustrating,

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First time i ever got sober i went to meetings sometimes 3 times a day…stayed sober about 6 months. Second go around i never went to meetings…stayed sober 4 years. This time around i haven’t hit a meeting yet but it’s mostly due to having to watch my daughter over the summer and I’m not going to bring her with me but i think when she starts school again I’ll go every one in a while when i need to hear something I’m not hearing in the “real” world.

So people can get sober and stay sober without meetings? 4 years! Was it hard? What did you do? How did you make it happen without meetings?

I just focused on what was most important to me…drinking ran its course and i caused enough damage that i swore it off because my life and my family were more important.
I’m not going to say you do or don’t need meetings, we’re all different in our addictions as well as our sobriety so what might work for me might not work for you.
When i was going to meetings i would just listen, never really shared, i just listened to the “old timers” and took from what they had to say that i needed…there were a few of them that worked the steps, had or where sponsors and that’s what worked for them…then there where others who went to meetings, never worked the steps or had a sponsor and that worked for them…so you have to find what works for you and work it…but don’t ever give up because one thing might not be working, try different things until you find what works for you.

Stay strong, stay sober…
Believe in yourself :grinning:

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That’s really fucked up. I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but she doesn’t sound like a very good sponsor. Sponsors are supposed to be understanding… Work is almost as important as sobriety, maybe even equally important depending on your perspective, and there isn’t just one way to be sober.

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I was kind of hurt. Like I hear about people chronically relapsing for years but yet she suggests I look elsewhere because I haven’t mastered it in 9 months of trying. Its ok tho. She just gave me someone to talk to and be accountable to…I thought shed be there when I was ready to do steps.

You’ll find someone better, I’m sure of it. hugs

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