Coopertemple

Hi guys,

I went 10 weeks sober a few months back. There wasn't really any particular reason why I started again. I guess I just thought "I can control it now - I'll just have 1 drink a day and that will be fine". And it was fine for a week or two but then I started drinking a 700ml bottle of spirits every 2 days. Not so good!

So I've come back to SR for support, quit drinking for the second time and am exercising.

Anyone else have stories of relapse? And any advice when I start thinking "I'm over it, a beer a day is fine"?

Thanks guys, all the best.

Coopertemple

CreativeThinker

Hey Coopertown- I've been there and I too thought that I could "handle it" after some abstinence. It's strange how it creeps back up on us. Then, before you know it, we're right back where we started...if not worse.

So many of us have to learn the hard way and relapse is just part of the learning curve. Now that you know better, you'll do better.

Glad you came back...many don't.

D122y

Cooper,

Read and head. Each relapse causes more and more brain damage.

More anxiety, paranoia, anger, obsessing, heart ache, bad decisions, regret..etc etc etc.

I relapsed about 100 times before I found SR and learned that I was frying my brain.

I had no idea.

The hangovers turned into withdrawal. My detox took over a month.

I had horrid spatial disorientation for over 6 months. It got minutely better everyday.

Now, it is all pretty much gone except for some PTSD from the hell I endured.

So, relapse and suffer.

Stop drinking the poison, get well.

My drunk buddy had nearly a dozen polyps removed from his hiney.

I don't think drinking helped keep those things away.

Stay clean.

Thanks.

Hevyn

Hi Cooper.

I never knew what would happen to me once that first drink hit. I could never count on being able to control it - and almost never was able to. It became dangerous. Glad you are getting back on track.

least

Once I fully made the commitment to stay sober, I could dismiss those intrusive thoughts of drinking. When I got sober for good, over 7 yrs ago, I was serious. Life or death serious. I knew my drinking would do me harm, one way or another. I had just had enough.

You've got to take drinking off the table as an option.

Dee74

Welcome back

The one thing that got me through those rationalising 'nah I'm ok' thoughts was this place.

I posted here daily - multiple times - if not for myself, I posted to others.

I had to reinforce the idea that I really did have a problem and, sure enough I kept reading my story in other peoples posts day after day...

guard against that complacency.
What do you think you might do differently this time?

D

waynetheking

"Total abstinence is easier to maintain than perfect moderation"......

For us alcoholics cooper, moderation is never an option. NEVER.
Hang in there buddy and just don't drink.

Doug39

I started drinking on a daily basis in 1989.

My first real attempt to quit was in 2013 - I was a physical and mental mess. I lasted 4 months sober and then picked up daily drinking for an additional 3 years.

Those 3 years were the worse years of my addition; I only drank to try and fight off the anxiety and panic - their was zero joy in drinking.

Today I am almost 7 months sober and I know that if I drink again I may not have another recovery in me.

Every relapse is harder and harder to come back from.

Steely

I realised and learnt with every relapse that it would either drive me insane or kill me. I accept and embrace sobriety now, it's a gain not a loss.

Coopertemple

Hi Dee74,

This time I've started exercising. So another incentive not to drink. If I drink I can't exercise. And if I drink I waste all the good that the exercise has done.

Also, more importantly I have a baby on the way (don't worry, I'm not the mother and she hasn't touched a drop!). Only 6 weeks to go So if that isn't an incentive then nothing is :P

It's not an option any more.

Cooper.

Coopertemple

Hi guys, thanks for your messages. I'll be coming here daily to see how everyone's doing and to give you updates.

What does everyone think about non-alcholic beer/beverages? Do you think it helps keep you on the straight and narrow or does it just keep us dangerous close to the booze? I might post a separate thread on it....

Cooper.

waynetheking

Stay away from it cooper. It's crap you don't need. Drink water. Lot's of it.