Dee74

I think I'm part of the furniture and fittings here now Paul lol

D

Hawkeye13

I've always liked your upostry Dee

paul37

Thanks for the messages everyone. Eventually fell asleep last night and got up mid afternoon and feeling ready. I have put all the alcohol out of sight and will bin it tomorrow. Great to have so much support here, I think I can do this.

ScottFromWI

Glad to hear it Paul. Why not dump the booze out now? No sense in keeping it around until tomorrow, right?

paul37

Completely agree, just waiting until the kids arent around, I am strong enough not to touch it today and I am going for a drive in a while with the kids, its started snowing!

Hevyn

I'm so glad to see you back & giving a sober life another shot. There's no doubt you can do it, Paul.

paul37

Thank you, I am determined this time not to have "just one" drink and vanish again for a year or two!

paul37

That's all the cans and bottles gone now, day 2 and still positive.

I didn't sleep a wink last night, does anyone have any advice? Is this just something I should expect?

I am going to have to stay awake until a reasonable bedtime tonight or my sleep pattern is going to be completely out of sync!

Dee74

not sleeping is pretty common - it should get better with each successive day

D

paul37

Thanks for the reassurance Dee

Hawkeye13

The insomnia does get better--you can do it paul.
Great work on dumping the booze and getting to Day 2
I had major insomnia two weeks ago, but last night I logged a massive
nine hour sleep. I'm on Day 13 --everyone is a bit different but
trend is certainly towards more and better sleep as sober days add up.

Keep posting, especially if tempted.
We can help.

paul37

Thanks for the reassurance and encouragement, appreciated.

Hope I can sleep a bit tonight, feel like a zombie right now. I think I will try and get 2 hours this afternoon and head out again this evening for a drive somewhere.

esinger

The sleep thing will get better. I try to lay off anything caffeinated within 8 hours of my bed time. 3 years in and I still don't get the same amount of sleep I did. Then again I was really just passed out. At least I don't wake up sick.

ScottFromWI

My sleep was all over the place for a while Paul, it's difficult to deal with but it does get better. Try and stay away from TV or anything else that can excite you right before bed if possible and don't eat or drink right before bed either if you can avoid it.

paddyjnr1

This is an excerpt from The Big Book Alcoholics Annonymous,Chapter 5. I left out the 12 steps so not to confuse you totally, it's a simple program for complicated people, you can try other methods which most have at the start but this is the only way I got 8 years Sober and happy from


"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average.

There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.

Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are ready to take certain steps.

At some of these we balked. Thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power that One is God. May you find Him now!

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:"

My friend get yourself the phone number of AA and tell them you want help, they will come and tell you how it works and bring you to a few meetings until you are strong enough to go yourself.... I sincerely wish you the best and in your spare time hang around here and let us know how you are getting on.

Soberwolf

Just want to say congrats paul

paul37

Thank you everyone, it means a lot. I managed to get two hours sleep and feel a lot more normal for now.

Going to head out again this evening with the kids and do something :-)

bullmas

"paul37 Thank you. "Can't sleep tonight but been here before. Bring it on! "
What seems to be the holdup ,Bring it on man ..bring it ,are you trying to tell us something?

paul37

Nothing to tell, promise.
I meant I have tried to stop before and couldn't sleep then either.

paddyjnr1

Try deep sleep meditation on youtube, it done wonders for me.
At the very least it will stop the backround chitter chatter, that will go pal in time.
Stick with it.