aedru

I'm brand-new to the forum, almost brand new to sobriety. I'm an Englishman living in Denmark and have just started a recovery program and am looking for any avenue of support in order for this to be successful.

It's taken me 2/3 of a lifetime to conclude that I need to get sober, so here I am.
Jon

oinobares

Welcome Jon! Tons of kind and wise support here. I have just over a week under my belt and after, several relapses, feel committed to making it work this time. Hang out here, absorb the collective insights.

Best wishes to you, and stick with it!

ReadyAndAble

I try to think of it as saving the best part for last.

Welcome aboard, Jon. Glad you found us!

aedru

Thank-you both. I'm in a bit of a limbo state right now. The logical, concerned part of me is desperately willing me to success, the alcoholic in me is looking for a way out. But I'm in a safe place just now.

I was given a choice by the Danish justice system recently (I had a disagreement with a couple of policemen) and the choice was to either do 20 days in prison or to do a 3 months recovery program. I chose the program solely because I've known for a while that my drinking is out of hand and that a wise man would grab this opportunity with two hands.

I'm looking for strategies and I'm looking for something to fill the vacuum that sobriety seems to have left me with. I know that they'll come with time but I'm eager to get myself 100% behind the project which I know I'm not just now. It's early days yet, I know...I'm only 3 weeks or so into it, but I'm impatient!
Jon

least

Welcome to the family! :ghug3

Dee74

Welcome to SR Jon

I found my life expanded to fill the vaccuum - personally, I found volunteer and service work a great way to give back to my community

D

Impurrfect

Welcome to SR ((Jon))! I think most of us are impatient when we start recovery, we want to be all better and QUICK! I'm a very impatient person, but have found that trying to rush recovery just doesn't work (and trust me, I tried). It seems that slow and steady has made much more of a lasting effect than trying to absorb everything at once.

((Dee)) has a great idea about expanding life to fill up the vacuum.

Hugs and prayers,

Amy

Itchy

Jon,
Like Dee said. Fill the vacuum? You know all those things you never seem to find the time for? You may, like me, find that you now have the time to find the time for all those things.

Welcome to SR, lots of great folks here with the odd grump thrown in to keep it real!

aedru

I am in full-time employment, Dee, so that part of my life is full...it's my free time that needs filling. I used to fish a lot but somehow can't get started. Lack of transport doesn't help. I also have a sail-boat that needs some TLC yet I sit here at home despairing that nothing gets done.

I suppose I ought to add that, for the first time in my life I have a fairly deep depression. It's getting better but very slowly but this is no doubt a factor in my inability to get started on projects.

Thanks for the welcome you guys. It warms me.

artsoul

Welcome aedru!

I think we can all relate to the split-personality feeling. I had to drag my alcoholic side here, kicking and screaming. I knew it would never be happy (unless it had unlimited alcohol forever) so I just finally decided to choose the sane side. It took a while for the alcoholic voice to go away (and to get my motivation back), but today, I love being sober. To me, that's amazing because I couldn't imagine my life without alcohol.

Glad you're here - it really helps to get support and to know we're not alone.

CarolD

Welcome John

Hope all begins to sort out soon for you ..Recovery really rocks!