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What's your reminder(s) to NOT go back to the alcohol?



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What's your reminder(s) to NOT go back to the alcohol?

Old 09-10-2016, 09:03 AM
  # 21 (permalink)  
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Being sober to me is like being brought back to life after being dead for years. It's like being free instead of being a slave to alcohol 24/7. It's all-encompassing and goes way beyond any individual reminder.
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Old 09-10-2016, 09:19 AM
  # 22 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by Sweettha View Post
Sometimes we forget why got off the booze, so I made a list.


What are yours? It doesn't have to be deep but something that reminds you that you are better then the alcohol.
My list.........

I am not better then the alcohol. Powerless once ingested......

It's the engine that gets me, not the caboose.
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Old 09-10-2016, 10:12 AM
  # 23 (permalink)  
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The love and devotion of my dogs reminds me how much better I take care of them sober.
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Old 09-10-2016, 10:14 AM
  # 24 (permalink)  
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What's your reminder(s) to NOT go back to the alcohol?

my past.
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Old 09-10-2016, 12:32 PM
  # 25 (permalink)  
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Benefits of sobriety

I know we have done these posts before, but I thought it would be good for the newcomers.

Biggest one for me. . .Not having alcohol consume so much of my thinking, which allows me to focus on important, lovely things. SOOO much time I spent worrying about having it, getting over it, and it ruining my life. That is gone.

Yours/
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Old 09-10-2016, 02:28 PM
  # 26 (permalink)  
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Being able to take care of my service dog. Having money to spend on treats for him and other goodies for myself. Not having to check my bank balance before i go to the liquor store. Remembering the night before.
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Old 09-10-2016, 06:15 PM
  # 27 (permalink)  
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My alcoholism progressed to the point of being a blackout drunk. I was not even able to meter my consumption to avoid this, I blacked out after only a few drinks during my last episode. When I came to I was in the middle of a pretty scary situation.

I know that if I pick up a drink, I will go right back to that same level of drinking, I have no idea what would happen, or what consequences I may face if I pick up. That is scary **** for me, no thanks.
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Old 09-10-2016, 11:57 PM
  # 28 (permalink)  
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.

Watching the sunrise over an early morning dog walk.

Who am I to say there is no dog?

.
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Old 09-11-2016, 12:19 AM
  # 29 (permalink)  
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The serenity and calmness of my life here and now.

I never ever want the mayhem, anxiety filled, stressful life I had when I was drinking.
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Old 09-11-2016, 12:40 AM
  # 30 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by Change4good View Post
Biggest one for me. . .Not having alcohol consume so much of my thinking, which allows me to focus on important, lovely things. SOOO much time I spent worrying about having it, getting over it, and it ruining my life. That is gone.
I couldn't say it any better than this.
xx
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Old 09-11-2016, 01:07 AM
  # 31 (permalink)  
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Don't need a reminder. It never occurs to me to drink, which is what is meant by the problem being removed.

When I was drinking there was plenty of fear and horrible memories, none of which was sufficient to keep me sober.
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Old 09-12-2016, 09:17 AM
  # 32 (permalink)  
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There are so many.

Having the shakes and barely being able to write when I wasn't drinking.
The paranoia about my health, obsessively trying to evaluate if my skin looked yellow.
The money I spent.
The constant effort of trying to hide it, and thinking I was doing a good job (there's no way that I was, looking back).
Having the support of my family and friends, and knowing they're proud of how far I've come.
Being able to be present and available when someone needs me.

I can't imagine re-entering that hell.
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Old 09-12-2016, 09:26 AM
  # 33 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by Gottalife View Post

When I was drinking there was plenty of fear and horrible memories, none of which was sufficient to keep me sober.
^ This
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Old 09-12-2016, 09:32 AM
  # 34 (permalink)  
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Seeing the fortunate ones that come back after returning to the booze reminds me that there is still -- nothing good out there for me. Oh - yes, I fooled myself too many times into thinking that I could drink once again as a normal one would. I have been burned enough times and today I'm grateful to be sober once again.

I'm not sure how many chances I (we) get?
Today I will not test the waters.
Bob
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Old 09-12-2016, 10:48 AM
  # 35 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by Mountainmanbob View Post
Seeing the fortunate ones that come back after returning to the booze reminds me that there is still -- nothing good out there for me. Oh - yes, I fooled myself too many times into thinking that I could drink once again as a normal one would. I have been burned enough times and today I'm grateful to be sober once again.

I'm not sure how many chances I (we) get?
Amen - I cannot say that the thought of drinking is not there, (just one more time mentality) but the he(( and chaos that it brings is certainly not worth it. I realize that with abstinence my nightly drinking (in the past) is not possible anymore without ramifications. The shakes, the horrible anxiety, the worry, fear, the self loathing all come back 10 fold. Thank you for this thread.
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Old 09-12-2016, 04:05 PM
  # 36 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by Cherrybreeze View Post
The constant effort of trying to hide it, and thinking I was doing a good job (there's no way that I was, looking back).

I can't imagine re-entering that hell.
I kept finding sneakier and more covert places to keep it. My wife eventually found each one!
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Old 09-12-2016, 05:34 PM
  # 37 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by least View Post
The love and devotion of my dogs reminds me how much better I take care of them sober.
It's sad but, I still remember back when I was drinking and arriving home each day, I knew that with just one simple look my dogs could tell that once again I had been drinking too much.

When your dogs give you the stink eye due to your drinking it may be time to slow down before the train wreck.

Mountainmanbob
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Old 09-12-2016, 05:54 PM
  # 38 (permalink)  
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I see numerous other reminders in some of these posts but, sadly, all those things were present for me for many years, and spanned numerous quits and relapses. All of them were terribly unpleasant but it wasn't until I nearly lost everything, including my own life, the reality that I'd gone too far finally sank in. I hope I never forget all the carnage from that episode. I'm still paying for it.
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Old 09-13-2016, 08:01 PM
  # 39 (permalink)  
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Total state of despair and loosing days due to massive hangovers.
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Old 09-13-2016, 08:23 PM
  # 40 (permalink)  
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When I was drinking:

- I wasn't living life I was managing my drinking schedule, plans, inventory, etc.
- I became someone I and the people around me didn't like.
- I couldn't finish a project. Created more work than I accomplished.
- The time and energy I spent doing "damage control" after a long weekend of drinking.
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