Day 10. I feel great, but...
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 52
Day 10. I feel great, but...
Here I am on day 10 and I feel amazing. The first six days were pure torture and I'm shocked that I made it through. IT WAS SO DEFINITELY WORTH EVERY OUNCE OF PAIN & DISCOMFORT!!!!! I feel so good physically that I'm a little scared. For those of you that are further along than I am, should I be focusing on the present day or should I be preparing for the future? I'm TERRIFIED when I think about this summer and not being able to drink (loved sitting on the deck in the sun or going to the lake with a cooler full of cold beer by my side every day). And I'm terrified thinking about how I'll do in a social situation (haven't been in one yet since I quit). I can NEVER drink again. NEVER. Luckily I don't go to bars. I've mostly been a solo drunk, drinking by myself. Should I just be thinking of today? I'm starting to get nervous that this is too good to be true. I've been waiting for this day for about two decades and I still can hardly believe I have got this far.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 135
That's really an inspiration. I can't answer your question because my desire to be sober has been a complete failure. but, you seem to be off to a great start.
May i ask a couple questions? How much were you drinking per day, and what kind of withdrawals did you go through? Quitting is something i want so bad, but it feels like jumping off a cliff with no parachute. I don't know what to expect.
May i ask a couple questions? How much were you drinking per day, and what kind of withdrawals did you go through? Quitting is something i want so bad, but it feels like jumping off a cliff with no parachute. I don't know what to expect.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 3
Jayelle! Way to go! I stopped drinking in January '85. By one day at a time, I had the most wonderful summer of '85! Read "The Promises" often, follow the suggestions at AA meetings, and they will all come true!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Nutmegger
Posts: 1,799
Jayelle, first of all congratulations, 10 days is amazing. Second of all, I was just like you, I couldn't imagine an afternoon, let alone a Friday afternoon, and then a Saturday night……The weird thing is that sober becomes just as normal as drinking did (but a whole lot better), the first time I did anything sober it was weird, I couldn't believe how loud people chewed popcorn at the movies.
At the beginning I had to stay in the now, but I had the same thoughts. Sometimes I would think, "I am not going to drink today" and other times "just not right now". And once I had 10 days, 20 days, etc, I also became protective of that time, I knew that if I did it right I would never have to do it again.
And by doing it right I don't mean that there is a perfect way to get or stay sober, I mean that I changed a lot of things, where I went and who I went with, no alcohol in the house, being on SR a lot….and every day it gets easier. The thing is, now I see a sunset and actually remember it, I'm not jonesing all day trying to get stuff done so I can hit the bottle, that second voice in my head that was always calculating how much I can drink, when, how can I get more..it's gone and I don't ever want to give it the space to come back.
It is pretty cool when we surprise ourself with our success, it is a huge accomplishment, and I feel like everyone here and out there fighting this fight is courageous. At the beginning just going to bed sober is a huge deal, I really babied myself for the first three months. It is a marathon not a sprint…that thought helped me. And on the days that I don't feel like I am accomplishing too much, I still remind myself that I am accomplishing the most important thing I need to do.
Great job Jayelle!
At the beginning I had to stay in the now, but I had the same thoughts. Sometimes I would think, "I am not going to drink today" and other times "just not right now". And once I had 10 days, 20 days, etc, I also became protective of that time, I knew that if I did it right I would never have to do it again.
And by doing it right I don't mean that there is a perfect way to get or stay sober, I mean that I changed a lot of things, where I went and who I went with, no alcohol in the house, being on SR a lot….and every day it gets easier. The thing is, now I see a sunset and actually remember it, I'm not jonesing all day trying to get stuff done so I can hit the bottle, that second voice in my head that was always calculating how much I can drink, when, how can I get more..it's gone and I don't ever want to give it the space to come back.
It is pretty cool when we surprise ourself with our success, it is a huge accomplishment, and I feel like everyone here and out there fighting this fight is courageous. At the beginning just going to bed sober is a huge deal, I really babied myself for the first three months. It is a marathon not a sprint…that thought helped me. And on the days that I don't feel like I am accomplishing too much, I still remind myself that I am accomplishing the most important thing I need to do.
Great job Jayelle!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Originally Posted by Jayelle113 
I can NEVER drink again. NEVER. Luckily I don't go to bars. I've mostly been a solo drunk, drinking by myself. Should I just be thinking of today? I'm starting to get nervous that this is too good to be true. I've been waiting for this day for about two decades and I still can hardly believe I have got this far.
BE WELL
That bell or bike person
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: london
Posts: 4,978
Hey Jayelle ,
I've done 2 summers sober now, other than when i was a kid . I find other drinks are available if i'm out and about with friends , quite often by being the first one to order a soda water quite often others join in with me staying sober as they would rather not drink but feel some peer pressure .
Try to not worry overmuch about the future just keep on working on making your sober life as great as possible
When people offer me drinks these days , i get a shock of surprise that they would so readily offer me, what to me is a poison . It's a good shock and it always makes me smile to refuse a drink .
Bestwishes, m
I've done 2 summers sober now, other than when i was a kid . I find other drinks are available if i'm out and about with friends , quite often by being the first one to order a soda water quite often others join in with me staying sober as they would rather not drink but feel some peer pressure .
Try to not worry overmuch about the future just keep on working on making your sober life as great as possible
When people offer me drinks these days , i get a shock of surprise that they would so readily offer me, what to me is a poison . It's a good shock and it always makes me smile to refuse a drink .
Bestwishes, m
EndGame
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,677
Try not to project too much. You've got a lot to enjoy in the present moment, so don't let your worries get the best of you. You've started a new chapter in your life, and it takes time to learn the local customs.
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