I had to cut off everyone in the very beginning.
You find out real fast who your real friends are and who your "drinking " friends are and boy is there a HUGE difference.
I have an addiction specialist counselor through my doctors office for free that's been awesome.
He taught me to think of new things or old things you used to do before addiction that you can have as healthy distractions.
I would color alot.... Go online and print off a lot of mandalas...intricate designs that you can color and focus on instead of drinking.
I went to AA which helps in alot of ways even if all you do is listen. You know you're in a group of people just like you and you're not alone. Plus you can learn some things from them too.
Pray everyday. All day if you have to.
Celebrate Recovery is a Christian based program you can google it in your area.
Start taking care of yourself again. Eat right sleep lots of water.
I even started volunteering at a homeless shelter which was a God send. It's helpful not only to those you serve but it will make you feel good. And it will also show you what could happen to you if you don't stop drinking....alot of the men at my shelter are addicts or recovering. So you can meet good people that have had bad things happen that can also open your eyes.
I'm only 16 months sober and NEVER thought life was possible without alcohol. I've been very blessed with the placement of people and help that have been put in my path. And when I get too comfortable and start taking it for granted I feel out of sync and I need a meeting. I keep an AA link on my cell phone home screen so I know where meetings are everyday.
My doctors office was great too. I was on a drug for a year to help with cravings and with prozac added too once the alcohol wore off and I had to start actually deal with life and feelings I got depressed. Well I was probably already depressed and I used alcohol to medicate....
And the biggest break through for me was to admit out loud that I was an alcoholic. I told my parents. I told my job. Once it's out I had a huge relief. I was so tired of being so many different people. It is exhausting. That's the key. Finding yourself again under all the garbage you've piled on.
Originally Posted by
TheSereneTheif 
Some people have told me to ask about getting a plan together, which after recovering from the initial hangover, would be good. Maybe this will help me feel more conviction.
Getting through this next week, will be the toughest. Specifically, they'll ask me to go out to the bar next Friday. I often make this mistake of going out to the bar, and on Monday decide that I will not go on Friday again. But I go. I always go.
What are some strategies that I can use to keep myself away? I did already tell a friend that I am quitting drinking, so if I tell him that I can't go out that night, he'll likely understand.
I also noticed that there are some online meetings here, so might two or three times of those keep me occupied? I think at least one live meeting this week will help. Because of my weekend, the ability to get around is somewhat limited. I need to connect with people face to face again though. I never did do very well in meetings, because I'm actually incredibly shy in person - but they're valuable still.
If I can get through to Saturday without hitting that bar, I'll know that I at least have some capability left in me. It'll instill a bit of confidence in me again. Can you toss me some ideas? Meditation maybe? How do I imbue this ragged little man with some good work.
Holy **** I'm a broken person.
Thank you. Thank you for letting me ask all of these questions in these threads.