Hi everyone!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
Hi everyone!
It's been awhile since I've posted, so thought I'd give an update on my progress since my "drinking while on Antabuse" relapse. I did a lot of soul-searching, reading (Drinking: A Love Story) and some drinking. Finally got desperate and had a little chat with God (don't know if you recall, but I'm an agnostic) - quit drinking the next day and am on day 10 as we speak (without Antbause). Have had a couple instances of thinking about a drink, but it went away as quickly as it came. Have honestly not had a single craving, which blows me away (well, except for wanting chocolate chip cookies).
Still struggling to lose all that alcohol weight - was down 13 pounds, now am only down 10 (must be those cookies), but am motivated to not let booze put that other 10 back on! It's nice to not be tired all the time and to actually remember what I've done and what people say to me. Even my bowling game has improved - my average is only 113 (that's what happens when you drink before you bowl, and the entire time you're at the bowling alley) and yesterday I bowled a 170. Excited about all areas of my life improving. Looking forward to telling you I've made it 30 days!!
Am having a bit of a problem finding enough to do during the day - before, drinking, napping, and being sure I had enough booze in the house pretty much consumed my life. Now, I have all this time on my hands (hey, it's been 20 to 30 below here for almost two months now, not to mention a couple feet of snow on the ground). Plus, our town is too small for many things - no gym, no bike path, no cultural attractions (except the bowling alley, if that counts), no shopping, etc. Any suggestions for what to do with my time? I already read a lot - help!
Still struggling to lose all that alcohol weight - was down 13 pounds, now am only down 10 (must be those cookies), but am motivated to not let booze put that other 10 back on! It's nice to not be tired all the time and to actually remember what I've done and what people say to me. Even my bowling game has improved - my average is only 113 (that's what happens when you drink before you bowl, and the entire time you're at the bowling alley) and yesterday I bowled a 170. Excited about all areas of my life improving. Looking forward to telling you I've made it 30 days!!
Am having a bit of a problem finding enough to do during the day - before, drinking, napping, and being sure I had enough booze in the house pretty much consumed my life. Now, I have all this time on my hands (hey, it's been 20 to 30 below here for almost two months now, not to mention a couple feet of snow on the ground). Plus, our town is too small for many things - no gym, no bike path, no cultural attractions (except the bowling alley, if that counts), no shopping, etc. Any suggestions for what to do with my time? I already read a lot - help!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Istanbul
Posts: 124
Keeping myself busy helped a lot in my sobriety. Find yourself some house chores. Rearrange your library or wardrobe, go out and take a stroll. If there is a park near you go there and sit on a bench. Observe people. Exersize if you can. Or if you love animals go to the nearest zoo. Get a pet...etc there are millions things to do to keep yourself busy. 
Whatever it takes to keep your mind away bozze.
Good luck
Whatever it takes to keep your mind away bozze.
Good luck
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,497
Hi Nanita,
I loved 'Drinking: A Love Story'. It was so inspiring and deeply honest, it really helped me so much to take the first step and stop drinking.
It sounds like you're doing well and moving forward. Try to have a little patience and things like the weight issues and finding things to do will work out.
I loved 'Drinking: A Love Story'. It was so inspiring and deeply honest, it really helped me so much to take the first step and stop drinking.
It sounds like you're doing well and moving forward. Try to have a little patience and things like the weight issues and finding things to do will work out.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
Thanks, Anna. After I started this thread, I sat in the whirlpool for about 40 min., nearing the end of "Drinking: A Love Story" and decided to read the remainder of the book today on the treadclimber, finish crocheting the blanket I'm making for my grandson, make a new to-do list, and come up with a special dinner for tonight. Wish it was warmer here so I could do something outside, but 30 below is a little prohibitive! Think I'll also follow ay100's "house chores" suggestion!
Still open for more ideas?!!
Still open for more ideas?!!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Anytown, USA
Posts: 264
If you like memoirs try Anne Lamott's TRAVELING MERCIES (she talks about her own addictions very candidly in that book), and Stephen King's ON WRITING, austensibly a writer's guidebook but also the closest thing King has written to a memoir. The reason why I recommend this book to "people like us", lol, is that King is also a recovering alcoholic/addict, and he writes about hitting his personal "bottom," and his wife Tabitha throwing all his beer cans, drug paraphernalia, and everything else in the middle of the living-room and saying something like "So here is the great Stephen King--this is what you've become."
Those two books helped get me to confront my alcoholism. They're very, very good.
Those two books helped get me to confront my alcoholism. They're very, very good.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: some where / no where
Posts: 1,019
Nice to see you back Nanita!
Like you, when I quit drinking I had lots of "found" time on my hands. Here's some stuff I started doing to occupy my mind:
- Started turning my hobby into a home business on the side.
- Threw extra energy into my work, and made my boss very happy with me.
- Started playing with my children more, and listening to them when they speak to me.
- Started trying to help other alcoholics and addicts whenever I can.
- I go to 3-5 AA meetings a week.
- I've started working on my spiritual life, and I'm trying to build a real relationship with God. I was an agnostic for many years. I started believing in God when I asked God to deal with my drinking problem. For the first time, I started listening to the good voice of God, and I applied myself to a program of recovery. With God as the architect, and me as the labourer, our teamwork is rebuilding my life on a foundation of sobriety.
I hope you'll keep posting. You have much to offer everyone here.
chip
Like you, when I quit drinking I had lots of "found" time on my hands. Here's some stuff I started doing to occupy my mind:
- Started turning my hobby into a home business on the side.
- Threw extra energy into my work, and made my boss very happy with me.
- Started playing with my children more, and listening to them when they speak to me.
- Started trying to help other alcoholics and addicts whenever I can.
- I go to 3-5 AA meetings a week.
- I've started working on my spiritual life, and I'm trying to build a real relationship with God. I was an agnostic for many years. I started believing in God when I asked God to deal with my drinking problem. For the first time, I started listening to the good voice of God, and I applied myself to a program of recovery. With God as the architect, and me as the labourer, our teamwork is rebuilding my life on a foundation of sobriety.
I hope you'll keep posting. You have much to offer everyone here.
chip
Follow Directions!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
Finally got desperate and had a little chat with God (don't know if you recall, but I'm an agnostic) - quit drinking the next day and am on day 10 as we speak (without Antbause). Have had a couple instances of thinking about a drink, but it went away as quickly as it came. Have honestly not had a single craving, which blows me away (well, except for wanting chocolate chip cookies).
Nanita I had been wondering how you were doing, I thought about you every time I saw or heard the word antabuse, a lot of folks who use or have used antabuse quit taking the antabuse before they try to drink again, you are one of the few I have heard drank while doing it.
I compare myself to Chip totally in his reply except for being an agnostic and starting a home business, when I get a bit bored and need a lift up I go to a meeting and the world is good again, actually the world is good all the time, a meeting makes it better.
I am very happy for you Nanita, that HP stuff doesn't work half bad does it?
On a tear
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Volcano Country!
Posts: 3,221
Good to see you back, Nanita... and I envy your "extra" time... just a little.
I've got a list of things to do "when I get time". One is to learn quilting. Another is to make homemade soaps. Another is to learn to play the piano. Learning is a big thing for me... perhaps there is a community college or some online classes you've been thinking of ?
((hugs))
I've got a list of things to do "when I get time". One is to learn quilting. Another is to make homemade soaps. Another is to learn to play the piano. Learning is a big thing for me... perhaps there is a community college or some online classes you've been thinking of ?
((hugs))
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
You guys are all so great! I was afraid this thread had quickly gone stale and was still looking for more things to do -thanks! Although I was on SR daily, I didn't post for a couple weeks or so because or didn't feel I had anything worthy to write. Had that darn relapse on Antabuse (that was a little crazy wasn't it, Tazman?) and then needed a little while to get myself turned around. Feeling much better now.
Chip, Tazman, BigSis and Mike - I was thrilled to get up this morning and have new posts to read! Chip, it sounds like you really got busy when you quit drinking! I've been trying to figure out if there's something I can do here at home, on the side. What was your hobby that you turned into a home business? I don't have a job since we own an "at home" business (trucking - I do the books) and I don't want to get one because we travel a lot, on a whim. Kids are grown but my 16 month-old grandson will be coming to live with us in a couple weeks - that should make a HUGE difference in not having enough to do!
Chip and Tazman, I'm still kind of in limbo on the God thing - wondering if my little chat with Him is what helped me stop drinking or if I just suddenly got tough. But, just in case, I have been telling him thanks every other day or so for helping me to get through another day. Can't be too careful, you know? I wasn't always an agnostic. Until my 20's I was pretty religous, went to church, etc. Between the ages of 17 and my mid-20's, three of my best friends were killed in a car wreck (I was there and held one of them while she died), my nephew and two cousins were killed in separate car accidents, and then my son died. I decided that if there was a God, he was very unjust and I didn't like him. Fourteen years ago, my Dad (an alcoholic - never would've known it) shot himself in the head in front of my mother (she started drinking that day - turns out she's an alcoholic, too). Small wonder that I, both of my sisters and both of my daughters are alcoholics - I worry about my grandkids when they get older! When my Dad shot himself, I decided that maybe there really isn't a God. My strong Catholic upbringing, however, has me not knowing if there is one or isn't one - thus my agnostic beliefs. Long explanation I know but I'm caught somewhere in the middle with my thinking.
Tazman, I still haven't attended AA here in my little mountain town but am still going to go when I'm on vacation. I know I'll need the support since the people we travel with drink. Not to mention we vacation in Nevada and drinks in the casino are free - however, since my grandson will be with us, I guess I won't be spending much time in the casino, will I?
BigSis, I hope you eventually get the time to learn all of those things! I don't have much interest in online classes or anything, but you did give me a thought - I crochet exceptionally well. Our town has an Art Council that offers classes in various crafts. Maybe I'll take some of them to learn new things and possibly even offer to teach beaded crocheting or something. What a great idea! I might even consider volunteering at the Senior Center. Maybe I'll get enough crocheting done to participate in the annual craft sale next November. Thanks for the nudge.
And Mike - you're right - cookies aren't nearly as bad as booze. But I sure do wish I could stay away from them! It's like my craving has turned from one to the other (sugar, no doubt).
Chip, Tazman, BigSis and Mike - I was thrilled to get up this morning and have new posts to read! Chip, it sounds like you really got busy when you quit drinking! I've been trying to figure out if there's something I can do here at home, on the side. What was your hobby that you turned into a home business? I don't have a job since we own an "at home" business (trucking - I do the books) and I don't want to get one because we travel a lot, on a whim. Kids are grown but my 16 month-old grandson will be coming to live with us in a couple weeks - that should make a HUGE difference in not having enough to do!
Chip and Tazman, I'm still kind of in limbo on the God thing - wondering if my little chat with Him is what helped me stop drinking or if I just suddenly got tough. But, just in case, I have been telling him thanks every other day or so for helping me to get through another day. Can't be too careful, you know? I wasn't always an agnostic. Until my 20's I was pretty religous, went to church, etc. Between the ages of 17 and my mid-20's, three of my best friends were killed in a car wreck (I was there and held one of them while she died), my nephew and two cousins were killed in separate car accidents, and then my son died. I decided that if there was a God, he was very unjust and I didn't like him. Fourteen years ago, my Dad (an alcoholic - never would've known it) shot himself in the head in front of my mother (she started drinking that day - turns out she's an alcoholic, too). Small wonder that I, both of my sisters and both of my daughters are alcoholics - I worry about my grandkids when they get older! When my Dad shot himself, I decided that maybe there really isn't a God. My strong Catholic upbringing, however, has me not knowing if there is one or isn't one - thus my agnostic beliefs. Long explanation I know but I'm caught somewhere in the middle with my thinking.
Tazman, I still haven't attended AA here in my little mountain town but am still going to go when I'm on vacation. I know I'll need the support since the people we travel with drink. Not to mention we vacation in Nevada and drinks in the casino are free - however, since my grandson will be with us, I guess I won't be spending much time in the casino, will I?
BigSis, I hope you eventually get the time to learn all of those things! I don't have much interest in online classes or anything, but you did give me a thought - I crochet exceptionally well. Our town has an Art Council that offers classes in various crafts. Maybe I'll take some of them to learn new things and possibly even offer to teach beaded crocheting or something. What a great idea! I might even consider volunteering at the Senior Center. Maybe I'll get enough crocheting done to participate in the annual craft sale next November. Thanks for the nudge.
And Mike - you're right - cookies aren't nearly as bad as booze. But I sure do wish I could stay away from them! It's like my craving has turned from one to the other (sugar, no doubt).
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 63
Hi Nanita,
You're doing great and are a big inspiration to me. I feel I am not doing this alone because of you.
You'll find ways to keep yourself busy in time, as you gain more strength and energy.
Thanks for the update and thanks for your help!
thorn
You're doing great and are a big inspiration to me. I feel I am not doing this alone because of you.
You'll find ways to keep yourself busy in time, as you gain more strength and energy.
Thanks for the update and thanks for your help!
thorn
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
Thanks, Paul. You also make me feel like I'm not doing this alone and I thank you for keeping in touch with me everyday. I'll never completely catch up with you since you're a week ahead of me on being sober, but since neither of us is going to drink again, we can just call it even! Hey - you're almost to three weeks and I'm almost to two!!!!
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