Every night I usually like to unwind with a drink or two. Which turns into four or five. I’ve relapsed so many times because I keep telling myself that one drink after work won’t hurt even though I know I have a hard time controlling myself. Once 3 pm hits, a drink is the only thing I look forward to.
What do you guys tell yourself or do to resist temptation?
Hi, im in the same boat, and what I do is just DONT drink. Sounds cliche and boring, but its truth. I just come straight home and stay busy with meal prep, or working out, break the habit.
One, I dont keep any wine in the house. We have beer and my husband gets himself an occasional bottle of bourbon but I dont care to drink either of those
Two, I recently got some alarming liver function tests back. Really scared me, I have a 6 and 4yo and remind myself do I want to be selfish and rob myself of a healthy future, or stay healthy for my kids? They win over my selfishness
May I ask what your doctor recommended to help get your liver healthy again (aside from quitting drinking, obviously)? I’m currently taking milk thistle and turmeric, and drinking lots of green tea.
I’ve been drinking green tea with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a B complex vitamin daily (read that one on here). Lots and lots of water. I go back for repeat labs on Monday and hoping to see some improvement…will have been 2 weeks since I’ve had a drink by that point. I stopped the day my doc called with my results.
AA program, Ive tried hundreds of approaches and thousands of attempts and this is the only thing that worked for me after 40 years of selfishness…
Oh and my doc didnt recommend anything specific aside from not drinking and dont take any tylenol for 2 weeks so they could retest. I wasnt honest about my drinking when I filled out my intake form 
soooo I plan to bring that up when I go in next
Good luck! I hope you see some improvement!
I’ve tried so many times to have 1 drink or drugs but cos I’m a addict I can’t stop at one so it’s best I don’t have any . Please keep reading and reaching out on here were all here to help eachother through our recovery . Maybe u could try aa meetings they are a great way to meet soba friends and have people around us to help with recovery x
What happens at 3 besides the desire? I would change my 2-4 routine. Any possibility of that? Can you take some time to jump on here? For me breaking routines was necessary.
I think you need a reframe, I know I did. You say you ‘need’ a drink to ‘unwind’ but that drink turns into too many and you don’t like that. So…you need to remember the reality of what that drink offers you (over drinking, hangover, shame, anxiety) instead of the illusion you have that you ‘unwind’ and it is helpful. It is not helpful.
That voice that says have the drink at 3pm is the voice of your addiction trying to trick you. Remember the REALITY of what will happen if you drink, not the FANTASY of you drinking like a normal person. Be real and honest with yourself.
Once we let go of the dream of how we will drink and truly face the reality of how we actually drink, it can become easier to string days together.
And once we let go of the idea that we are somehow treating ourselves to a drink, when in reality drinking is not a treat …it is a negative…it sucks happiness and strength and health out of our lives…once we let go of the illusions, it DOES get easier.
I like keeping a list of what alcohol REALLY offers me…anxiety, shame, hangovers, bad health, bloating, DUIs, depression, etc etc. And all the positives of sobriety…self confidence, self esteem, healthy body, mind and spirit, less anxiety, pride in myself, a sense of accomplishment, optimism, no more suicidal thoughts, etc etc. This helps remind me why I no longer drink. 
Maybe it will help you as well.
I think of what happens after I drink. Anxiety, depression, low self esteem. I’ve been really frustrated a couple times this week and thought about how a drink used to be my solution to not be pissed off anymore. I also think about how I have over 120 days sober right now and how much I would regret drinking because of whatever I was angry or stressed about at that time.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll have tons of bad experiences from drinking to look back on. The day I quit I made that connection. Every time the thought of alcohol arises, I think of the awful person I’d become if I decided to drink. Its completely turned me off to it and now I hardly even think about it and if I do the craving quickly dissipates. I used it to relax and numb my bodily pain at the end of the day as well but now I go for herbal tea and light yoga before bed.
I have a rule clean house. It means no alcohol or other types of drugs. Even when I go home to my parents I make sure they know my rule. I do not want to put temptation anywhere near my sick and twisted mind. Once they asked to look after our pet dog okami, I went there and found 2 boxes of really expensive wine. I left the house on that day and did not come back until they organized cleanliness.
Shiba Inu?
I was like that in the beginning. Old ritual of “wine-thirty”. Close the laptop. Pour the first drink. Had that ritual down.
Then I quit. I got antsy as hell when “wine-thirty” rolled around. I realized I needed a new ritual. I started walking and listening to podcasts. At first I walked for 2 hours, then trimmed it back to 1 hour, as it became a habit. I actually looked forward to the walk. If the weather was bad, I walked on a treadmill.
As I began month 3, I decided to try martial arts. Signed up at a school near my house. Loved it. Now my ritual is close the laptop, change into my fighting clothes, grab my gear, drive to class, and then hit things and people, and try not to get hit myself. This has become a huge part of my life, and my sobriety. Been at it almost 2 years. Am a year away from my black-belt in 2 forms.
Find an interest. Dive in and become passionate about it. Build a ritual around it. There won’t be room in your head for cravings or temptation.
Yes (in Japanese)
5 O’Clock was my beer thirty, so instead of beer, I would make a seltzer and cranberry juice drink, then cook a fabulous meal. The drink sated my thirst and the cooking occupied my mind.
