Janis

I was minding my own business when I was reading about Johnny Carson and an article came up with a disclaimer about the way that our society overreacts to alcoholism today. Now my mind is RACING.

I don't want to drink so I'm coming here for support. Can I get some reminders from personal experience of why we, as alcoholics, can't drink?

It's so irritating that something like reading that can be a trigger.

Verte

Because for just about anything in life:

Just because we can, does not be mean we should.

LBrain

Get feady for some action here...

1) I lost my job because I drank.

TigerLili

It's very frustrating to get triggered like that. I know the feeling very well.

When I knew I had to quit drinking, I was miserable. I was suicidally depressed and absolutely dead inside. I can't go back to those feelings. Everything was so hard - managing my life, going to work etc.

Stay strong Janis.

3777

If you let your brain trick you into that first drink you will be suddenly back to the dark and unhappy place of drinking too much. Remember why you had to quit in the first place and don't let your brain trick you into just one drink. That reality doesn't exist anymore. The pain is much greater than the pleasure of healthy full living. You need to feel. Drinking takes that away. Good and bad. Then you have nothing.

Verte

Janis-I did not mean to sound callous with my impulsive response to your question. It was the first thing that popped in my head...and this time of day is rough for me and I am a little rough around the edges.

I have a house full of **** and am only Day7 thus the **** in the refrigerator is a perpetual trigger.

Working on all that.

Seanfox

What will drinking achieve? You'd be back to square 1 and just be annoyed at yourself. Keep up the good work and remember what you're working towards.

BHappy2014

I get triggered by this stuff too. I can't watch movies where people drink socially because it triggers me. Just don't drink. What purpose would it serve? I'm only on a Day 2 but hope to keep going.

Leshar

I hear you, Janis. Good for you for posting, rather than following thru on the trigger.

Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and bear the discomfort.
Tomorrow is another day, with the hope of something better ahead, if we stick to our plan.
Good luck.

Dee74

hi Janis

Go back and re-reread your old posts - click on your name and look in the drop down menu.

They're usually the best argument against 'maybe I don't have a problem'

I lost myself for many years. Getting the real me back was a gift.
There's nothing for you back the way you came.

I haven't read the article but I reckon the problem is we don't react *enough*.

D

joyfullysober

I have a list of situations in which I would feel really bad after being drunk. Driving without remembering how I got home, making a fool of myself in gatherings, living the door opened and my house was robbed, not being able to remember, fighting over small things, etc etc. It helps to remember.

lunar

Why can't I drink?
1) I end up drinking and driving
2) I think I can control it, then suddenly I'm drinking all day
3) I drink before, during and after work
4) I forget what I said or who I spoke to
5) I wake up with the WORST hangover imaginable
6) I can't function or accomplish anything
7) Weekends are a blur of drinking, sleeping and nursing the hangover
8) Sleep is terrible
9) I gain weight from ingesting USELESS calories
10) Drinking only magnifies my anxiety and problems
11) A hundred other reasons