Class of April

[Jane47]

Way to go Jhay! 90 days is great.
Glad you made it through the party at your house. It's a hard thing to come home to and deal with.

[jhay]

Thank you.

[CarolD]

Hi Everyone.....

My noon AA meeting was on how to deal with anger.
A lot of interesting ideas were shared.....but I was
quite surprized to hear how many people said they
often drank to upset/spite/punish others.

I was reminded of something I saw on line....
"That behavior is like drinking poison
and expecting someone else to die"........

Let's all continue to enjoy a sober ay

[Jane47]

I can remember using anger as an excuse to drink before I got to the point where I didn't need an excuse to drink and just drank.
A lot of my anger ends up turning into resentment and you can't stay sober if you have resentments built up inside you.
That's what I've been working on the most this time around, letting go of resentments, most of which have to do with my workplace.
I've been trying to quit for 6 months and only have 11 days now, but these past 11 days have been the easiest sober time I've had. I've been in some really tempting situations and have managed to walk away.
I think I've finally got the determination, tools and knowledge to beat this.
I've also got a little bit of fear in me again, I had a hard time making it back the last time I relapsed.

[CarolD]

Jane.....
3 tthings I use to help me with emotional balance

1. Praying for peace and also for the person that upset me.
2. Would I rather be right or happy?
3. How important is it?

I did change jobs to protect my early fragile sobriety.
Perhaps you could check out different places for employment.

Well done on your fresh start...

[Sweets79]

Hi,

Hope everyone is staying sober and having a great day!

2 1/2 months for me. Feeling realllly good today, although I do get in my moods.I do find the morning to be the hardest for me, because I always started the day off with a drink to get motivated.

I'm starting to appreciate the beauty in life that had been covered in a fog of alcohol for the past 5 years. I'm also starting to get to know MYSELF better.

I'm finding that sometimes if I push myself and go do something productive even if I don't feel like doing it at that moment, it works wonders.

[CarolD]

Yes Sweets.....Action works really well for me too.
Good to know you are moving forward....

[Sweets79]

3 months today. I know the road is still going to be bumpy but I feel positive

[Jane47]

Congrats Sweets! 3 months is great.
Keep hanging in there, you can do it.

[Sweets79]

Originally Posted by Jane47

Congrats Sweets! 3 months is great.
Keep hanging in there, you can do it.

That's so sweet of you Jane, Thanks!

[jhay]

Sorry to report that I am a drop out of this class as of my 111th day. I don't even know what the hell happened. It crept up on me. Please be aware and careful. You think everything is perfect and BAM it all blows up in your ******* face. Goodbye.

[OceanBound]

Originally Posted by jhay

Sorry to report that I am a drop out of this class as of my 111th day. I don't even know what the hell happened. It crept up on me. Please be aware and careful. You think everything is perfect and BAM it all blows up in your ******* face. Goodbye.

Good luck, jhay! Stay strong!

Sorry I don't have any particular words of wisdom, been struggling myself. Haven't picked up. Yet. I keep reminding myself of what it felt like last time and why I wanted to quit. Also reading people's stories after relapse and knowing that even if I make it next time, I'll feel the same guilt, shame and remorse. Relapse is happening right and left on the newbie board and some days I'm afraid to open it to see who's next.

And yet I've been thinking of picking up again every single day for the last month. I'm under a lot of stress at work and in my personal life but that's not a good reason to give up. I know I don't have to test the waters to see whether I can drink responsibly again cuz I can't. But getting smashed is all I can think about now. Looking for oblivion I guess.

Good luck to everyone!
OB

[CarolD]

Gosh Jay ... Sorry you went backwards for a bit
OK...time for a fresh beginning
Please let us know how you are doing

[CarolD]

Hi OB.....

Have you considered making a list of your stresses
and thinking of ways to minimize them?
Write down even the silliest ...like moving into a hermits cabin.

Sometimes I get tickled at my dramatic over the top ideas.

Glad to see you here....Keep iin touch ...

[Firehazard]

Originally Posted by CarolD

Hi Everyone.....

My noon AA meeting was on how to deal with anger.
A lot of interesting ideas were shared.....but I was
quite surprized to hear how many people said they
often drank to upset/spite/punish others.

I was reminded of something I saw on line....
"That behavior is like drinking poison
and expecting someone else to die"

Let's all continue to enjoy a sober ay

Anger add one letter and you get DANGER

Thanks for the reminder

[Rad44]

I'm still in the class of April (Aug. 7 will be 4 months). My IOP is coming to an end this month and I am a little nervous about that. I did however sucessfully pass a Huge Crucible Trigger when I made it through a whole week Home Alone (I was a Home Alone Drunk) when Wife and daughter were out of town. That preceeded my last several relapses and I finally was able to beat it.

[OceanBound]

Originally Posted by CarolD

Hi OB.....

Have you considered making a list of your stresses
and thinking of ways to minimize them?
Write down even the silliest ...like moving into a hermits cabin.

Sometimes I get tickled at my dramatic over the top ideas.

Glad to see you here....Keep iin touch ...

Hi Carol,

I'm doing something similar. I bought a "Staying Sober Workbook" when I quit. And now I'm trying to work thru it to have more tools ready when I need them. And oh boy, I do need them...

Thanks!
OB

[CarolD]

Rad.......Well done!


Glad to see you again and Congratlations!

[CarolD]

OB....the topic of my meeting today was
"Whats in your toolbox"?

I shared that remembering H.A.L.T.
often keeps me in emotional balance
Ergo....less stress.

Scott shared all he had was a hammer
to smash the idea that alcohol is a solution.

Jen...."I've got a rusty broken screwdriver
to match my messed up negetive thinking"

[jhay]

I'm alive. That's about all I can say. Lonely, depressed, full of regret and hurt. Drinking and using by myself right now. I guess this a cry for help.

[jhay]

And now I see no one from this class has posted in a month. Once an addict always an addict they say?

[CarolD]

Yes Jay....we have not been active on this thread recently.
I am glad you shared again Sorry you are having difficulties.
Mega

Depression is why I started my AA recovery program.
When my doctor diagnosed situational depression
he suggested AA.
This may be something for you to try?
You will find support and understanding in meetings
Getting out of the house is a good idea too.

Hope you can get back on track soon.