It’s been a week - ok, Im not completely off the alcohol, it’s one glass wine some days – but I’m sober every day!!! I’m clearheaded. It’s wonderful, I feel good! I was drinking up to 2 bottles wine daily every day!
But I MUST cut off that “just one drink” though - I’ve got to be abstinent, I know it. It’s like a snare, a trap, waiting to grab me back in again. This is what I’m struggling with - letting alcohol go completely! I’m can’t imagine living each day without it, makes me feel sad, empty, bereft. But I must do it. I’ll try today.
Noooo dont be getting cocky!! Ha…it will tell you anything to pull you back in…youve got to accept that you are powerless over alcohol…you cannot ever control it…1 is too many, 100 is never enough! We are never cured only ever in recovery…so with that said…your doing great but try not to think so much about never drinking again and take it one day at a time- head on the pillow sober tonight is what matters for today and then repeat…it does get easier in time…your doing great
Thanks. I guess not letting myself think that it’s forever could help me get through today.
It works really speaking today is all we have afterall.
As @Starlight14 said, take it one day at a time. Remember that alcohol is not your friend. Remember it is an addictive substance, socially sanctioned as it is. Every day you get to make the choice to not take in a harmful substance, to take care of your mental and physical health. Yes it is hard, and may be so for a while. But you can do this. We got your back!
I know this struggle. I liked to drink, it was my identity. Letting that go meant I had to manifest a new identity, but that’s the good part, stripping that identity means you can be whoever you want to be!
The one thing that helped me was changing my relationship with alcohol
Once I changed my relationship with alcohol, the desire to drink faded and the fear of letting go subsided.
Letting go feels scary, but trust me, it will be the best thing you ever do for yourself!
@EileenE - that’s exactly what I was thinking in my case not to get cocky again. I did in near past and relapsed few times and went from drinking cca 2.5dcl a night to 0.5L and could even more, that didn’t knock me off. I swear I thought before I will have it under control, felt so great and full of energy. Big mistake, no matter how strong you think are, alcohol is wired to your brain and it takes time brain disrupts “alcoholic” neuron connections and replaces it with neuron connections based on new habits. To me every solid sober (wo)man is a hero because it takes strong will, discipline and healthy mindset to make the first step without a single drop of alcohol and literally overgrow your brain. Wish you a good luck my friend, you can do it.
I tried to get sober this way for about ten years before realizing abstinence was the only way for me. I’ve only got 2 weeks under me, so I’m also trying not to get cocky. But the “just one drink” approach failed me over and over and over again. Once I embraced abstinence I felt a sense of hope I’ve never felt before, but it’s hard at the same time with cravings. I’m still learning, but I’ve finally acknowledged that “just one” will never work for me as a strategy.
Thanks you guys, this is what I need to hear and I guess why this group is good. Reading each response helps a lot - partly because someone is taking the time to write to me - and partly because what you are saying is helpful and to the point. Hearing some of you say you tried the 1 drink a day approach , and how disastrous it was really helps. I know this - but I need to keep hearing it.
Have good days today, All of You.
Acceptance that you cant drink in moderation after trying to moderate i found really freeing…like ok Kelly just give up the ghost girl its not working, draw a line its not something you can ever control so stop trying! And i did…618 days ones ago xx