Lyrah

Does anyone else make conditions on when to quit? I am in a pretty rigorous educational program that generates a lot of stress for me. I keep telling myself, "I will stop drinking when these last 4 projects are done"... or "I graduate this May....I won't have to drink after this, etc." I hate having these thoughts. I wish that they weren't in control of me and my actions. Has anyone ever had this mind frame.. "I'll quit when...." and how did you overcome it?

Dee74

I put off quitting until tomorrow for 20 years.
there is, and never will be, a good time to quit, Lyrah.

There's an old Chinese proverb

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Your thoughts and rationalisations aren't 'in control of your actions'.
You are

Why not start a new life - today?

D

Panache

I couldn't agree more with Dee and that proverb is fantastic.

I went beyond thinking "I'll start on the first day of next month" I used to think on the day "tonight I'll have my last bottle and say goodbye to the ghost, I'll lay it to rest and bury the empty bottle as a reminder of how far I've come" - 8 years later of false promises and thanks purely to this forum I haven't drank tonight and I didn't do no hokey ceremony either, I just stopped and glued myself to here

misspond

Just stop now. Give it a try

eddo

Well i think post ponding is just a denial...I also keep telling myself lemme drink for the las time this weekend on monday i wont drink again but come monday its the same ..nway hopin this site will help us all

Stewart888

I think we all have done that and wish we would have not. Sure, one more day....what you will learn in one more day with-out. We have all been in your shoes. The sooner you get with it the better and you know that deep down already.

Anna

Just stop now. There is no perfect time and today is a good day to start.

least

I agree. There's no time like the present. Quit now and you can prevent something bad from happening due to drinking.

Richierich777

My friend has not drank in over 25 years and when I called him and asked him what I should do, he told me to go to AA and I said okay next week I will do that. He said "Now". So that night I did and that was it for me. So instead of the excuses I did it. Stress that's everyday working where I work. I usually get up and walk around, then get back to work.

bigsombrero

For an addict there is never a good time to quit. As soon as your projects are finished you'll say "well i'm going to drink for the next two days and this will be IT", and that just keeps on going.

I wish I'd gotten help earlier, but as Dee said the best day to start is today. I hope you consider that. Good luck.

quitforme79

Love that proverb Dee. I did that too. After that wedding, this holiday, this weekend, after New Years...Don't wait until something irrepairable happens you know? And if you need to have a quit date just pick one, put it on a calendar and make the commitment to really do it. I find writing goals down helps me stick to them.