Ive just received my 2 week badge and honestly, I feel so proud of myself.
I got so tired of the sickness and the anxiety. Throwing up in my sleep was the final straw for me.
Ive had 2 days so far where I almost bought a bunch of Cider, but I stopped myself. (Thankfully)
I know that if I slip up, then it’ll be days and days before I try again.
I’m wondering what others do in those moments when you’re just on the cusp of going backwards
If Im on the cusp of going bckwards I get out for a walk and contact my sponser, and get on a zoom meeting.
Im glad you have those options! And thank you for responding X
I haven’t been for a while but when I used to, I would tell myself “not tonight” and promise myself another check-in the next morning.
Inevitably, things would be brighter the day after, having hit the pillow sober and in the bright light of day.
“Not tonight” is actually perfect, thank you. It wont (or shouldn’t) feel like such a big deal by thinking that way X
Welcome to the community and congrats on your 2 weeks of sobriety. The early days are so hard and we are super fragile as we are gathering our tools and new routines / ways of dealing with life’s lifey moments. Best for me is to stay away from triggers, keep myself busy and surround myself with support. This is a great community that will provide support, advice and great distractions.
Keep up the great work and just know that even one sip is the slide backwards. We can’t moderate, we can’t go slow and who knows how many chances we get so for me that is the harsh truth that keeps me from going backwards
My last drinking session was so bad, every time I think about drinking I ask myself ‘do you want to go to prison?’ as I genuinely feel that’s where I will end up in one way or another if I keep drinking. I also ask myself when I’m out with other people and tempted to drink ‘is this person/situation worth throwing all my efforts away for?’ The answer to these questions is always no. Gotta keep the reality of the destructiveness of my drinking alive in my mind because it’s so easy to just think ‘well I could just have one…’. But it’s not just one, even if it is just one once it won’t be the next time. So far it’s helping but it’s still very early days for me. I also find AA meetings are incredibly helpful to help me keep focus and keep the reality of alcoholism at the forefront of my mind.
Do you have a sober plan my friend? Just relying on willpower prob isn’t gonna cut it.
Thank you so much for your help and responses. I went into hermit mode for a little while hence my late reply.
I dont have a plan, I’m just taking it a day at a time.
It was my first sober birthday since the age of 15 at the weekend, and I actually cannot believe I managed it. (Im now 43)
Today, though, is awful. I feel unwell, I’m grinding my teeth, I have a headache, I feel like ants are crawling all over me. Im agitated and am super nauseous. I have been told that this is normal and my body is throwing a tantrum. Hope it stops soon!
Good for you Helena!
Thank you! X
Happy belated birthday
Keep going, this too shall pass. Tomorrow is another day. Put your head on the pillow sober, go to bed early, catch some sleep.
Thank you so much. I am truly grateful. Yes, I think an early night would be helpful (thank you) X
Keep it up I realized it’s all just an illusion,based on a book from Allen Carr and it’s so true. When we addicts drink, we’re not ‘satisfying’ our need of any kind (positive, negative, whichever). We’re feeding that little monster we created over the time we have been drinking, it’s just a withdrawal nothing else. We’re filling that up not our empty ‘bottle of pleasure’ so to say. It’s also an illusion that by not drinking you are making some kind of sacrifice… when you understand you are in that void, in that vicious circle of active addiction just because of an illusion created by alcohol, it’s then easier not to buy a bottle or get a drink.
Breathe through it, find something else to do, tidy up or go out or call some one or do anything else at all! Take a shower, take a bath, go for a walk, read a book.
The main thing is to raise that it’ll pass and that every time you get through one of these moments the addictive voice gets weaker.
happy belated birthday
Coming up on 3 weeks is awesome. Sorry that you are having a rough day. This is totally normal and it will pass and it does get easier . Keep pushing forward - drink plenty of water, get your rest and find ways to keep yourself busy to work through the urges when they hit. We are all here to help you. ODAAT
I made a point of not putting myself in those positions. I made complete change in every part of my life.
I don’t go to bars, I don’t miss watching pro sports…dont miss trivia night or 1/2 price fu@kin nachos …don’t miss the people, conversation…and they don’t miss me. That’s the what I don’t do list…it’s short
But I do do…(lol) I just do other things now…bike walk around town or countryside…I pick a place or area in the city and explore…I shop the shops, eat in restaurants and just check out how it is to live in that area over several visits. This is easy for me as I enjoy watching peeps go about there days/lives…a few people think I live near them, but I’m 13km away…I enjoy our ravine park sustem (left to us thanks to Hurricane Haczel, 1954), we have several rivers that offer a different slice of the city.
I’ll talk to strangers and not just engage in conversation, but really be present, ask questions of them and their lives, be genuine in sharing that time. They chose to reply to me…a stranger to them…that’s nice and feels good inside.
Some think that is also a short coming of mine, the amount of time I spend solo…it’s what I do, so I’m ok with it.
I love thrift shops, so any town I’m in I look for them…collect junk… comics, bobbleheads, motorcycles…it goes on …Currently study online Occupational Health and Safety related courses.
You don’t need my list of change, but you do need to create your own.
Go and make change…do different stuff…have fun and be well