Alcohol On My Mind Daily
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 160
Alcohol On My Mind Daily
Folks,
In Day 17 of my abstinence from alcohol. Although, I do not crave a drink, I think about alcohol constantly throughout my days.
When I wake up each morning, I say to myself, "Wow, Day X without a drink. I wonder how long it's going to last". Of course, I than tell myself, "As long as I want".
Almost every hour, I remind myself of the Day # I"ve reached.
I guess it's because I've gone more than half of my life drinking alcohol so it had become part of my identity.
Hopefully, the daily alcohol thoughts will go away but something tells me that will never happen.
In Day 17 of my abstinence from alcohol. Although, I do not crave a drink, I think about alcohol constantly throughout my days.
When I wake up each morning, I say to myself, "Wow, Day X without a drink. I wonder how long it's going to last". Of course, I than tell myself, "As long as I want".
Almost every hour, I remind myself of the Day # I"ve reached.
I guess it's because I've gone more than half of my life drinking alcohol so it had become part of my identity.
Hopefully, the daily alcohol thoughts will go away but something tells me that will never happen.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between Serenity and Despair
Posts: 522
The daily alcohol thoughts sort of went away for me. I rarely think about it upon waking anymore. Often, when I think of alcohol, it's to feel shame over some old behavior. Other times, it's to wonder if I'll ever feel happy and content in my sobriety. As time has passed, my thoughts have teetered more toward analyzing my behavior and trying to figure out which direction I want to go in life.
Keep abstaining. Each day, while not necessarily easier, is a bit different. You'll probably gain more insight, see yourself more clearly, stuff like that. You might grow to understand more what you're about than ever before.
Keep abstaining. Each day, while not necessarily easier, is a bit different. You'll probably gain more insight, see yourself more clearly, stuff like that. You might grow to understand more what you're about than ever before.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 139
Originally Posted by AlcoholicOrNot 
Folks,
In Day 17 of my abstinence from alcohol. Although, I do not crave a drink, I think about alcohol constantly throughout my days.
When I wake up each morning, I say to myself, "Wow, Day X without a drink. I wonder how long it's going to last". Of course, I than tell myself, "As long as I want".
Almost every hour, I remind myself of the Day # I"ve reached.
I guess it's because I've gone more than half of my life drinking alcohol so it had become part of my identity.
Hopefully, the daily alcohol thoughts will go away but something tells me that will never happen.
In Day 17 of my abstinence from alcohol. Although, I do not crave a drink, I think about alcohol constantly throughout my days.
When I wake up each morning, I say to myself, "Wow, Day X without a drink. I wonder how long it's going to last". Of course, I than tell myself, "As long as I want".
Almost every hour, I remind myself of the Day # I"ve reached.
I guess it's because I've gone more than half of my life drinking alcohol so it had become part of my identity.
Hopefully, the daily alcohol thoughts will go away but something tells me that will never happen.
I think when we quit a bad habit, there's some repressing that goes on. I know when I quit eating meat, I dreamed of it. Then I quit smoking, dreamed of it nightly. Now Im dreaming about drinking beer on an almost nightly basis.
I think the trick is to find something else to replace it with. AA was not for me, but I went to 2 meetings and that is what one of the longer recovered people said. Find something else to do. I still don't know what my something else is, but I'm looking. Great job on your 17 days.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,445
It's natural to have a mental obsession about alcohol and drinking - that's what bought me undone many times.
I finally figured out it takes much more than just not drinking and willpower...if I want to change my life, I have to, actually, change my life.
Thats hard to do on our own.
Some people use recovery groups like AA or SMART etc...others use counselling....but some kind of support is vital IMO.
D
I finally figured out it takes much more than just not drinking and willpower...if I want to change my life, I have to, actually, change my life.
Thats hard to do on our own.
Some people use recovery groups like AA or SMART etc...others use counselling....but some kind of support is vital IMO.
D
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 139
Originally Posted by Dee74
It's natural to have a mental obsession about alcohol and drinking - that's what bought me undone many times.
I finally figured out it takes much more than just not drinking and willpower...if I want to change my life, I have to, actually, change my life.
Thats hard to do on our own.
Some people use recovery groups like AA or SMART etc...others use counselling....but some kind of support is vital IMO.
D
I finally figured out it takes much more than just not drinking and willpower...if I want to change my life, I have to, actually, change my life.
Thats hard to do on our own.
Some people use recovery groups like AA or SMART etc...others use counselling....but some kind of support is vital IMO.
D
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,525
Hi there. I'm on day 12, so not so far off from you.
I think "Oh, it's day X" upon waking too, and usually many times throughout the day. But for me, it's a source of joy and a mental boost (like, look how far I made it!)
So I'm not worried about it. Oddly, I still haven't experienced any strong cravings for a drink in the past 12 days, although I'm not naive enough to believe that means I never will.
I don't think that it's bad to be thinking about this a lot. It is a huge change in your life. I spend tons of time every day visiting these forums, reading books about addiction/recovery and sometimes going to online meetings. I'm sure that will taper off once I feel like I have more of a handle on this (and more time under my belt) but right now, it's a positive thing to be focused on it IMO.
Good luck and congrats on day 17!
I think "Oh, it's day X" upon waking too, and usually many times throughout the day. But for me, it's a source of joy and a mental boost (like, look how far I made it!)
So I'm not worried about it. Oddly, I still haven't experienced any strong cravings for a drink in the past 12 days, although I'm not naive enough to believe that means I never will. I don't think that it's bad to be thinking about this a lot. It is a huge change in your life. I spend tons of time every day visiting these forums, reading books about addiction/recovery and sometimes going to online meetings. I'm sure that will taper off once I feel like I have more of a handle on this (and more time under my belt) but right now, it's a positive thing to be focused on it IMO.
Good luck and congrats on day 17!
SR Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 7,910
AON - Congrats on 17 days!! It's still so early in your recovery that it's no surprise you think about it all the time. I liken it to when I quit smoking - it took months and months for the habitual thought of a cigarette to die down. Same thing with drinking for me. At 3 months I think about it often during the day, but as soberbythesea said, it's not usually a negative thing. I don't know how we can work on our sobriety without thinking about our drinking days.
I think as long as you're not constantly fighting the urge to drink, you shouldn't be worried about it. Those thoughts are slowly going away for me, and even if I have them for months to come, I hope to use them to bring me to SR and as a reminder to practice some spiritual principles.
Thanks for the post!
I think as long as you're not constantly fighting the urge to drink, you shouldn't be worried about it. Those thoughts are slowly going away for me, and even if I have them for months to come, I hope to use them to bring me to SR and as a reminder to practice some spiritual principles.
Thanks for the post!
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,445
Originally Posted by bubblehead
Or how about Sober Recovery? Its NOT in person but you guys have sure saved ME
D
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Well....for me....that mental obcession was a factor /sign
Drat! I am an alcoholic...
How did I stop obcessing? By living daily with God
and the AA Steps. I'm a recovered alcoholic.
For those of you in early sobriety....please see if
this link of information is useful....
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center
Recovery=Action and Change
Congratulations all......
Drat! I am an alcoholic...
How did I stop obcessing? By living daily with God
and the AA Steps. I'm a recovered alcoholic.
For those of you in early sobriety....please see if
this link of information is useful....
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center
Recovery=Action and Change
Congratulations all......
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Germany
Posts: 2,058
Way to go on your sober time and I too counted sober days.....hours.....it seemed anything I handled sober....I would reflect. I had to be aware and for me it was part of the journey. Every task completed sober was NEW to me. Really it was so I would take the time to reflect and smile and say....job well done to myself.
It has gotten better for me as time has passed but I keep my sobriety closely guarded. I know I had quite some years living a different life so this is my starting over.
SR is a great place to share the journey and there are so many additional support options out there and for me....I feel we need to do whatever we deem necessary to continue our recovery.
It is all about learning and growing.
All the best and so glad you are sharing.
It has gotten better for me as time has passed but I keep my sobriety closely guarded. I know I had quite some years living a different life so this is my starting over.
SR is a great place to share the journey and there are so many additional support options out there and for me....I feel we need to do whatever we deem necessary to continue our recovery.
It is all about learning and growing.
All the best and so glad you are sharing.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 160
Smacked, I honestly do not have a recovery plan besides the will power to abstain and probably more importantly - this site.
I looked over the 12 steps and realized quickly the program is not for me. Of course, it has worked for many people and many others have successfully taken a different route. To each his / her own.
Perhaps I shouldn't say I don't have a plan but just not a structured / formal one. I seem to be more focused on my weight-room workouts and will continue to pursue other outdoor activities.
Now in day 18 (Wow...), my mind is clearer and I'm keenly more aware of my own thoughts and actions - sort of a self-discovery process.
Thanks to all who took the time to read and respond.
I looked over the 12 steps and realized quickly the program is not for me. Of course, it has worked for many people and many others have successfully taken a different route. To each his / her own.
Perhaps I shouldn't say I don't have a plan but just not a structured / formal one. I seem to be more focused on my weight-room workouts and will continue to pursue other outdoor activities.
Now in day 18 (Wow...), my mind is clearer and I'm keenly more aware of my own thoughts and actions - sort of a self-discovery process.
Thanks to all who took the time to read and respond.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 45
Or, it's because you're an alcoholic that hasn't given a recovery plan/program a shot.
What are you doing besides just not drinking?
I don't know, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but I thought smack's reponse was kind of heavy-handed. From my understanding, AA emphasizes the importance of sobriety dates and number of days sober, so I'm surprised anyone would infer you're not working on recovery because you're thinking each day of how many days you've been sober. Whenever anyone's battling ANY addiction, it's natural to count days, or count calories, or count number of cigarettes, etc. for the first few months. IMO, it's encouraging and feels great to wake up and count another day of victory over addiction. If you're waking up each day sober, then you ARE working a program of recovery, even if you don't go to 12 step meetings. You're learning to deal with life and stress without hitting the bottle, and there are many, many ways to do that besides a formal program. Reading and posting on this site is one, in my opinion.
What are you doing besides just not drinking?
I don't know, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but I thought smack's reponse was kind of heavy-handed. From my understanding, AA emphasizes the importance of sobriety dates and number of days sober, so I'm surprised anyone would infer you're not working on recovery because you're thinking each day of how many days you've been sober. Whenever anyone's battling ANY addiction, it's natural to count days, or count calories, or count number of cigarettes, etc. for the first few months. IMO, it's encouraging and feels great to wake up and count another day of victory over addiction. If you're waking up each day sober, then you ARE working a program of recovery, even if you don't go to 12 step meetings. You're learning to deal with life and stress without hitting the bottle, and there are many, many ways to do that besides a formal program. Reading and posting on this site is one, in my opinion.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Posts: 266
Josette,
I think you are not understanding what the post meant. I believe it refers to the fact that probably, to be able to get over alcoholism and live a sober life long-time it is important to make a change of life involving that you remove alcohol as the central part of it. Obviously early sobriety makes you focus on non-drinking and it is pretty much impossible to avoid it.
Alcohol is different to other addictions (for instance, smoking) because the majority of people seem to have a healthy relationship with it. They drink from time to time, they do not obsess with it. When you stop smoking you become a 'non-smoker' and as 99% of non-smokers you just don't smoke. When you quit alcohol, you stay an alcoholic and conversely to 90% of non-alcoholics you do not drink. Does it make sense?
I am not a AA person (at least yet) but I see quite clearly that this addiction cannot be addressed just not drinking and counting days. A change of mindset is required to remove the obsession. I have not got there yet. I am focusing on the non-drinking part of it, but will try something else very soon. In my case it is going to be therapy.
Perhaps this kind of posts in early sobriety are very depressing. It is so difficult just to abstain...thinking of a whole new outlook, lifestyle and process of thinking seems such a daunting task.. However, I am trying to listen more to people with long periods of sobriety. And the common factor seems to be that they did something else besides abstinence.
I edit to say, that I may have not understood anything either... If so I apologise..
I think you are not understanding what the post meant. I believe it refers to the fact that probably, to be able to get over alcoholism and live a sober life long-time it is important to make a change of life involving that you remove alcohol as the central part of it. Obviously early sobriety makes you focus on non-drinking and it is pretty much impossible to avoid it.
Alcohol is different to other addictions (for instance, smoking) because the majority of people seem to have a healthy relationship with it. They drink from time to time, they do not obsess with it. When you stop smoking you become a 'non-smoker' and as 99% of non-smokers you just don't smoke. When you quit alcohol, you stay an alcoholic and conversely to 90% of non-alcoholics you do not drink. Does it make sense?
I am not a AA person (at least yet) but I see quite clearly that this addiction cannot be addressed just not drinking and counting days. A change of mindset is required to remove the obsession. I have not got there yet. I am focusing on the non-drinking part of it, but will try something else very soon. In my case it is going to be therapy.
Perhaps this kind of posts in early sobriety are very depressing. It is so difficult just to abstain...thinking of a whole new outlook, lifestyle and process of thinking seems such a daunting task.. However, I am trying to listen more to people with long periods of sobriety. And the common factor seems to be that they did something else besides abstinence.
I edit to say, that I may have not understood anything either... If so I apologise..
Heathen
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: La La Land, USA
Posts: 2,567
Originally Posted by AlcoholicOrNot
Smacked, I honestly do not have a recovery plan besides the will power to abstain and probably more importantly - this site.
I looked over the 12 steps and realized quickly the program is not for me. Of course, it has worked for many people and many others have successfully taken a different route. To each his / her own.
Perhaps I shouldn't say I don't have a plan but just not a structured / formal one. I seem to be more focused on my weight-room workouts and will continue to pursue other outdoor activities.
Now in day 18 (Wow...), my mind is clearer and I'm keenly more aware of my own thoughts and actions - sort of a self-discovery process.
Thanks to all who took the time to read and respond.
I looked over the 12 steps and realized quickly the program is not for me. Of course, it has worked for many people and many others have successfully taken a different route. To each his / her own.
Perhaps I shouldn't say I don't have a plan but just not a structured / formal one. I seem to be more focused on my weight-room workouts and will continue to pursue other outdoor activities.
Now in day 18 (Wow...), my mind is clearer and I'm keenly more aware of my own thoughts and actions - sort of a self-discovery process.
Thanks to all who took the time to read and respond.
I saw a counselor for about 6 months, twice a week. I needed help taking care of myself, and fixing things I thought I was medicating. There's LOTS of programs out there other than 12 step.. but I know I couldn't recover until I was willing to do ANYTHING it took.
Heathen
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: La La Land, USA
Posts: 2,567
Originally Posted by JosetteCollins
Or, it's because you're an alcoholic that hasn't given a recovery plan/program a shot.
What are you doing besides just not drinking?
I don't know, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but I thought smack's reponse was kind of heavy-handed. From my understanding, AA emphasizes the importance of sobriety dates and number of days sober, so I'm surprised anyone would infer you're not working on recovery because you're thinking each day of how many days you've been sober. Whenever anyone's battling ANY addiction, it's natural to count days, or count calories, or count number of cigarettes, etc. for the first few months. IMO, it's encouraging and feels great to wake up and count another day of victory over addiction. If you're waking up each day sober, then you ARE working a program of recovery, even if you don't go to 12 step meetings. You're learning to deal with life and stress without hitting the bottle, and there are many, many ways to do that besides a formal program. Reading and posting on this site is one, in my opinion.
What are you doing besides just not drinking?
I don't know, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but I thought smack's reponse was kind of heavy-handed. From my understanding, AA emphasizes the importance of sobriety dates and number of days sober, so I'm surprised anyone would infer you're not working on recovery because you're thinking each day of how many days you've been sober. Whenever anyone's battling ANY addiction, it's natural to count days, or count calories, or count number of cigarettes, etc. for the first few months. IMO, it's encouraging and feels great to wake up and count another day of victory over addiction. If you're waking up each day sober, then you ARE working a program of recovery, even if you don't go to 12 step meetings. You're learning to deal with life and stress without hitting the bottle, and there are many, many ways to do that besides a formal program. Reading and posting on this site is one, in my opinion.
OP said:
Although, I do not crave a drink, I think about alcohol constantly throughout my days.
I don't use AA in my recovery. In MY opinion, abstinence isn't recovery, and until I treated my 'alcoholism', I obsessed and stayed just as sick as I was when I was drinking.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between Serenity and Despair
Posts: 522
Originally Posted by AlcoholicOrNot
I honestly do not have a recovery plan besides the will power to abstain and probably more importantly - this site.
I looked over the 12 steps and realized quickly the program is not for me. Of course, it has worked for many people and many others have successfully taken a different route. To each his / her own.
I looked over the 12 steps and realized quickly the program is not for me. Of course, it has worked for many people and many others have successfully taken a different route. To each his / her own.
Like you, I had looked over the 12 steps and had decided they weren't for me. I am now in the process of reconsidering. I have so many unhappy sober days that I wonder if it wouldn't help me to work through the steps--even if I did the work on my own or just worked through with some folks here in SR. You may never reach this point. I hope you don't. I hope you sing zippity doo dah every single day of your sobriety.
If you don't, or if you think you need help, a recognized program is always there for you. I don't think they close their doors just because you've already got some sober time. They're there (I hope) for anybody who thinks he/she needs help.
Kudos on the gym! I never could make myself stick to any exercise program. I would rather dig ditches for 8 hours than go to the gym for 2 hours. At least I'd get paid for digging ditches.
May each of us find what works so we can all stay sober.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 2,548
Hopefully, the daily alcohol thoughts will go away but something tells me that will never happen
Well i can only share my own experience......no they didnt go away.
In fact they got worse...my life didnt light up and become comfortable.
i became morose and unpredictable......to be honest i wished for the end.
BUT...........there is hope...
AA 12 steps......precise direction to recover from alcoholism..
If your first thought is..yeah yeah...........dont be discouraged....so was mine..
If you are prepared to do the work, you will recover from that hopeless state of mind and body...
i couldnt go an hour without a drink.........i couldnt go an hour without thinking of a drink.........and today i can honestly say i havent thought of a drink for a long time.
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