Put a list of things together to do when you feel cravings or triggers… things to do to distract you 15 to 20 minutes at a time . Hit this list multiple times throughout the day to make it through each day
3 Likes
You don’t have to do this alone…
zoom 24/7. Camera on or off, talk or just sit and listen.
Don’t think you can’t stop until you’ve tried everything to stop. I thought I was different from the rest and was never going to stop but that’s bc the only advice and experience I had was my own. Our best thinking will always get us drunk.
Break the chain.
4 Likes
If you have to, break the day down into segments. An hour at a time if need be. We all know addiction is a smooth talker. Look into recovery groups (AA, SMART Recovery, etc). Try and focus on not using. I go to SMART and AA meetings. I use tools from each to keep focused on my priorities. They’re also good for finding people with similar struggles that can relate to what you are going through. But by all means, reach out.
1 Like
Rona, I understand wanting to drink when getting bored. That’s my failure too!! Usually it comes in a couple: boredom and loneliness. Then comes their cousin comfort. So I usually give in to their suggestion to drink to appease them. I just wanted to encourage you to keep fighting and don’t give up. We are all in this together. You do have hope even though it looks dark.
1 Like
Hey there! I’m in a similar situation, 26 and my boyfriend of 8 years caught me hiding it and he was heartbroken. He doesn’t want to lose me and I don’t want to keep putting him through this. For me it helps to think about the people I am doing it for, and how much they need me to stick around. I’m only on day 2 of being sober, but reaching out to places like this is the first step. What do you enjoy about your life? Try and do those things sober instead of drinking. I know it’s easier said then done. But today is my day off which is the hardest for me to not drink out of boredom. It’s too hot outside but I’m going to watch movies maybe clean and try and not go to the liquor store, it’s all I can do for now.
3 Likes
Hi 
hope your day is progressing ok. I’m sorry you’re struggling. We can all relate though and want you to know that there is hope. You’re young. You are brave. And there are people here that care. Read and post often.
Wishing you healing, strength, and clarity ❤️🩹
3 Likes
Hi and welcome to the community, thank you for sharing. I can relate to your post and I’m glad your here with us.
There is so much support for you here how has your day been going so far?
The first 12 days are the hardest. Your body is screaming for what it is used to getting on a daily basis. I was sober for over 20 years and then this past 8 years I’ve been back to drinking and it quickly got out of hand. I have been in and out of rehabs.
Right now I have 33 days and feel great no cravings etc.
What helped .e the most was a detox program where my doctor prescribed Librium then tapered off. I did it at home. It involved lots of sleeping and then I would do Zoom meetings when I would wake up but it really cleared out my system and I have been going strong ever since. It is interesting that I have not really even thought about alcohol.
1 Like
Hi, Rona, and how are you? You posted here so you do have some hope. 1) get a professional assessment, follow recommendations. 2) get to some AA meetings. This is where you are safe. If you’re female, don’t give males rides home from meetings and don’t get emotionally involved with men from your meetings. 3) get your boyfriend into Al Anon. It is the best move he can make. Why? Because Al Anon teaches us to focus on self care instead of continuing the emotional entanglement with their loved one who is an alcoholic. He will also learn he’s not alone and he will learn to set and enforce healthy boundaries with you. 4) consider at least having a few appointments with a female mental health therapist. We alcoholics and drug addicts suffer from low self esteem. I am a guy and I had a lady therapist for three years (before going to treatment) to help me have more successful relationships with women. I felt it was time to stop blaming them and work on my side of the street. Guess what? She ended up working on rebuilding my self esteem and helping me establish and enforce personal boundaries (my girlfriend didn’t like that last part). If you had met me then, you would not believe I had low self esteem because I intimidated the most beautiful women but I had very low self esteem. She was instrumental in getting me a professional substance use disorder assessment and she did some things that showed me how much she cared about me, and if it weren’t for her I would not have left my business and put myself into inpatient treatment. I’ve been in recovery (not just “sober”) continuously for over 28 years. Same for my AA membership. And I have healthy self esteem… You will find people who have what you want if you have the courage to enter treatment and then join AA. Best wishes to you. Hang in there, you can do it!
Mike