Hi Sarah, it’s good to see you back and ready to fight for your sobriety. Fighting for yourself is the most important thing you can do, and you are so so worth it.
You’ve already gotten a lot of great suggestions, but just wanted to type in a few words of support. You can do this. Breaking the cycle of addiction and truly taking care of myself was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s so so worth it.
Thanks everyone. I’m back in work sober today. Started reading this naked mind last night. My partner is furious and I don’t think he’s going to forgive me this time, I feel like such a failure
Your doctor has to prescribe it. If you drink while on it, you will get very violently I’ll. I would take mine in the morning when my motivation was high.
I’m here, haven’t had a drink for 2 days. Booked in with a counsellor but she’s got no availability until February reading lots of quit lit and doing online aa. I was thinking last night every time I get into this situation I want to get better for my partner so he won’t leave me (not even my daughter, which is shameful) but I’ve realised that although I need to do it for our relationship I mainly need to do it for me.
I want to help myself and in turn that will help all my relationships.
Just my little thought for the day!
Anyway, I’m doing ok, love to you all as always.
Good morning! Here you are with a new day ahead for you. You get to do this day with your health as the priority. You are right, you have to do this for yourself.
This Naked Mind was super helpful to me when I started my journey. Annie Grace also has a podcast that supports all of us. She is a kind and positive person and she casts this work in a positive way that helped me a lot.
Taking care of yourself may be “new” to you. You mentioned that you are a mom, think of this as being the mom to yourself, in the best way possible. You can do this.
Another thing that really helped me was to make the decision that I would shift my identity a bit. I would become a person who doesn’t drink alcohol. I’ve made other decisions about what to be and what not to be, and when those decisions don’t work for me, I change them. Becoming a person who doesn’t drink alcohol is a lot of work, a lot of changing is habits and mindset. I had to learn other ways to relax and manage stress. I had to learn how to navigate social settings. But this is a lot better than the damage that booze was doing to me.
It is an amazing gift you get to give to yourself. Every day you get to be free and feel better. You gain strength and understanding. You can learn to do this and your life will be better.
I wish you peace and joy on your journey. One day at a time.
Yes! That was my big light bulb moment too. As much as I love my husband, trying to sober up for him, our relationship, simply. It had to be something I did for me, my wellbeing, my mental health.
I’m on day 3 and absolutely determined never to drink again, something feels different this time. The thought of some of the things I used to think were normal, (hiding drink, drinking at 8 in the morning) seem absolutely shocking to me now. My partner is still furious and barely speaking to me, I’ve apologized again and been in tears most of the day. He just says “well time will tell, there will be more temptation in your way again” I completely understand why he feels like he does but it’s making it so hard not having his support this time. My own fault, I know.
Its the old actions speak louder than words adage.
He will soften with time right now hes betrayed and hurting but the longer you stay sober the more he will see how serious you are.
I liked what you said about getting sober for you, unless you do it for the right reasons (for yourself) you will come to resent the person insisting you get sober, that brings more problems.
Keep taking it one day at a time, one hour at a time on the harder days and you’ll be ok
It’s so hard when we start this journey. For me, I had done damage and it wasn’t the first time I said I was done drinking. Plus my bf at the time lost his drinking buddy and that was the only time we could connect. It was a lot, and it was a big effing mess. My life was truly unmanageable and completely unsustainable as it was. It took people a LONG time to realize I was seriously changing my life. They had to see it to believe it. By the time I was able to get to my amends, people started to see a change within me already so they knew at that point things were serious for me.
AA and working the steps with a sponsor totally changed everything for me for the better. I just need to keep showing up and doing the work. Today is always the most important day and I will do whatever it takes to end my day sober. One day or even one minute or hour at a time is all we have to keep staying sober in. You’ve got a few days in so I know you can do it again today. I’m so glad you’re here and taking these steps toward a new life! It works if we work it.
Feel free to join us on the big book reading thread if that would be helpful for you. You don’t need the book, I post the chapters every Wednesday-we are stil on the first reading.
Late getting here with support…sorry to hear about setback…
I had a tough day today thinking about stuff as I puttered around reflecting on stuff that happened 50yrs ago and some more recent junk. I would say it was even an emotional day. Today was really a tough day for me.
I shared this with you as I’m proud of the work I put in today. The progress made, can’t be measured, the relief, although brief, is welcomed, was needed.
I am where I am, (6yrs sober) through effort, (or lack there of)…I needed to be ready for sobriety, and I wasn’t, until I was.
I say this of anyone, I truly feel that until you deal with why you drink…you will continue too drink.
The reasons you drink are in your head…so you’ll need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and deal.
If I come across as blunt, forgive me. I do mean well.