Going on day five and figured I would create this check-in thread. So far so good, although this past weekend was hard. I had to stop myself going to my usual bar just out of sheer boredom. I joined a gym, but I haven’t gone yet. I forgot that I threw away my workout clothes and shoes a couple of years ago. I’m hoping I can use working out to help my boredom along with video games. Tried an NA beer which was fine, but I never liked the taste of beers to begin with. I don’t want to go back to drinking soda, because that’s a lot of sugar. So, I’ll stick to water for now until I can figure out what NA drink works the best for me.
14 Likes
Fizzy water and flavored water have seemed to help a lot of folks. I know some people have had luck replacing wine with cranberry juice. Swap ciders for apple ciders. My go-to when I’m wanting “a drink” is ginger ale.
5 Likes
I am big fan of flavoured sparkling water as my go to replacement. Sometimes I have a Coke Zero or sugar free ginger ale if I’m looking to mix it up a bit. I haven’t bothered with an NA beer or mocktails as I’m worried it will be a trigger to get the real stuff for me. For boredom I also suggest trying a new hobbie or activity . I’m still pretty new in sobriety but find the focus needed for new activities is helpful in distracting as well.
5 Likes
Welcome @ScarletWhisper 
Alcohol isn’t my addiction but I did want to cut down my sugars so I had to find a healthier way to get bubbly drinks (which I enjoy). I drink club soda a lot, sometimes with lime - get sodium free (check the label! You’d be surprised) - and sometimes I drink the “Bubly” brand of flavoured soda water.
Welcome to Talking Sober!
2 Likes
Welcome to Talking Sober, Molly. I’m Dan, a recovered alcoholic. For me to succeed in getting sober, I had to go all-in on it, and maybe that’s because of the tough losses and deep low that booze had handed me. I went on Antabuse, I went back to AA and did what they suggested, I went back to my drug and alcohol counselor and told her the truth, and I complied with the conditions of my pre-trial release imposed by the court, including giving a breath sample every morning at the local cop shop for about 5 months. I told my employer the truth, and I filled my days with sobriety building activities, starting with my fumbling morning prayer and journaling, including an AA meeting or counseling session every day that I could attend without driving (this was pre-pandemic before online meetings were a thing). After some years, I found Talking Sober and I still show up here pretty much daily.
Yes, I go to the gym and did triatholon racing for a while and served on my town library board a few years, blah blah blah. What I do today is find a way to maintain or grow my sobriety for an hour or so, and I drink water (bubbly and flat) and coffee.
I was a down and outer, I nearly lost everything of value to me, and then I got sober. You can have that sobriety and the awesome life you deserve to. Blessings on your house 
as you begin your journey.
6 Likes
Checking in because I accidentally stepped on my cat’s paw coming home from the store. One of his claws must be longer than I thought, because he started bleeding and wouldn’t let me come near him to wrap it. It might be a dumb reason, but after hearing him hiss at me and avoid me for a few minutes; my first thought was: “I need a shot”.
So, now I’m here. To remind myself of healthier responses to stress, even this relatively small amount, and watching him tear off the gauze I finally got around his paw. I’m also here to remind myself how easy it could be for me to slip.
Deep breaths. He’s fine. I’m fine. No alcohol needed.
7 Likes
You got it.
You’re not alone. Even seemingly little things. This is very common. I’ve been there too, with that thought, in response to little things, sometimes it surprises me.
Deep breaths. I’m fine. They’re fine. 
2 Likes
Day 9: having a bit of a tough day. Just saw what my next paycheck is going to be and it’s not good. I work a commission job and February has been slow. I was hoping to be able to get my anxiety/depression prescription refilled, but I’m barely going to be able to afford rent.
Not sure what I’m going to do. I owe friends and family so much money already and I was hoping that I would be able to pay off at least some of that, but now I can’t.
I just…idk…my anxiety is going in overdrive and that was usually when I drank the most. I feel like the only thing keeping me from slipping is the fact that I just don’t have the money for alcohol. Like, the reason I got this far is because I’m just broke.
5 Likes
How are you doing today Molly?
2 Likes
Molly, How are you doing today ?
1 Like
Addiction keeps us in this loop. We feel anxious so we drink, then we feel anxious because we drank, repeat forever. Taking alcohol out of the equation stops the cycle. I’m sorry you are struggling. Sending some solidarity and a hug.
4 Likes
Great! 35 days is great achievement
Well said ! , its like infinite loop
1 Like
Hi, everyone! I’m definitely having a day. Work was tough, I spent 4 1/2 hours trying to solve a problem (I work at a cellphone store) that I ended up being told there was nothing to do except put in an IT ticket. The customer was, understandably, upset because this was they spent 5 hours in the store yesterday and 4 hours today waiting for this to go through - now they have to wait 2-3 business days.
The biggest struggle I’m having right now isn’t withdrawal, but reprogramming my brain to not turn to alcohol after every stressful situation. Can’t wait to be home with me cats and put on a ghost hunting show or play a cozy game.
6 Likes
That sounds like a rough situation. But as @TrustyBird said upthread, alcohol will only increase the stress. Rewiring our addict brains is an ongoing process, especially or those of us early in sobriety. But you know what to do, what works to actually alleviate stress, and it’s not alcohol.
2 Likes
That sounds really nice.
That’s a challenging job working at a cell phone store. I can tell you are empathetic with your customers. 
It does take time not to turn to alcohol when stressed, I always remind myself how stressed alcohol makes me feel after…depressed, down on myself, and it sure doesn’t change anything in a positive way. It doesn’t happen overnight, but life and stress do become easier to handle with time. 
2 Likes
Day 13. I have the day off today, so I went to do some lab work that my PCP ordered for me months ago. I’m glad I finally got it done, whenever I tried in the past I was hungover and definitely in no shape to do it. I also have small veins and alcohol made it super hard to do.
Otherwise, it’s been a chill day. Not a whole lot to report, I’m definitely feeling like I’m in a better place than I was the past couple times I checked in.
5 Likes
Day 15: I talked to my doctor yesterday and we talked about counseling or medication for helping me stay sober. We decided to skip the medication, since I was past the first few days without any major alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but she said that she would put a note in my file IF I need it in the future.
I’m not completely sure if I want to go to meetings or counseling, as there is not a lot of secular options near me. I’m sure most of them are very helpful, but whenever religion gets thrown into the mix; I just get flashbacks of the trauma I experienced when I was connected with the church.
I’m going to try to see if I can find any secular meetings or counselors close to my area, maybe I’ll get lucky.
3 Likes
There are numerous secular meetings online.
1 Like
Day 18. I feel very irritable today. Every little thing seemed to just push the right buttons. From annoying coworkers to finding a mess from my cats, everything just makes me want to explode. I always thought that I only had a short fuse when I drank, but apparently not.
I know I should go back to counseling. I know that it will be beneficial. I just hate going “counselor shopping”. I hate having to go over my trauma for the first two weeks with a stranger, figure out that I don’t click with them and then doing it all again with the next one. I’m also still dealing with the feeling of being abandoned by my last counselor. I know, logically, that she didn’t abandon me, but my brain doesn’t always agree with logic. I just felt like we spoke each other’s language, if that makes sense.
I guess, my plan for tonight is funny YouTube videos, or some Animal Crossing. Tomorrow is one day closer to 20 and my search for a counselor begins.
3 Likes