jryan19982

Yesterday was rough. From 1 pm on I wanted a drink. I didnt though but the thought stayed with me all freaking day.

Then today I woke up. totally refreshed, not hung over, and had one of the better mornings I have had in a long while. Not tired (not tons of energy) and relatively happy.

Im glad I didnt drink. But now tonight I want to drink...

ScottFromWI

Congrats on making it through! Try and remember how good it felt to wake up sober and refreshed today, compared to how awful, ashamed and guilty you would feel if you drank tonight.

biminiblue

I had "times" when I was habituated to drink. Habit takes time to break.

Don't pick up a drink - stay on here and keep reading.

One day at a time.

jryan19982

I totally hear what you are saying. But my mind is thinking I can deal with whatever happens, you should drink...

strategery

Try playing the tape forward. What is going to happen when you drink? What are the negative things that could happen? How are you going to feel tomorrow physically and mentally?

Sebastian84

Hi Jryan, good on you for not having a drink mate. I recall how a couple of times throughout the last 10 years I actually managed to wake up on a Sunday morning without a hangover (they were few and far inbetween!), and how fresh and good it felt. Sadly, I never managed at the time to sustain it, and would inevitably wake up every Sunday morning for months afterwards feeling terrible and full of regret and remorse.

Try and remember that great feeling you had this morning, they'll only get better and easier as time goes on, and compare it to how bad and guilty you'll feel in the morning if you do drink.

I would say good luck but you don't need it mate, you did it last night, and you've got it in you to do it again.

Seb.

thomas11

Hi Jryan, I'm new to this site, but I can relate. You made through what many believe is the toughest day of them all, day 1. Great job.

SoberLeigh

Good job for coming here to talk about it, jryan. As others have said, think it through - play the tape forward and to how you will feel tomorrow if you do drink - the beastly hangover, the regret, the embarrassment. Then think how great it will be to wake up in the morning, sober, hangover free - the pride and guilt-free mind.

You can do this; you did it last night; you can do it again.

P.S. - Everything that voice in your head (AV) tells you is a lie.

Dee74

Tried any of these tips J?
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html

D

jryan19982

Playing the tape forward:
What would I gain: a buzz, an escape from a work week that hasnt gone perfectly, stress about the sports league that I run... a nice feeling of euphoria, and like I am getting away.

Negatives: Hangover, being tired, being agitated, being sad, going back on my word again about not drinking again, possibly disappointing my wife- kids wouldnt know- possible withdrawal in coming days, resetting my time. Longer term: cancers, live failure, kidney failure, stomach troubles, possibly drinking and driving and getting caught- never have but probably should have a few times- jail time, empty promises being broken, spending $2,000 a year on alcohol if I go back...

Yeah I know the negatives outweigh the positives by a lot, but the thought is still there.

SoberLeigh

Thoughts are just that - thoughts. They don't control you; you have the control.

Have you read up on urge-surfing and mindfulness?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...85970519,d.eXY

jryan19982

An interesting concept I have never heard of... will read more about it. thanks

strategery

I am not exactly how far you are into your sobriety, but every time I picked up, I had to re-battle through all those intense cravings all over again. It was miserable since it would last close to two weeks for me.

jryan19982

Today is day 12. I dont remember when my cravings stopped the last time around.

happyandfree

Congratulations on making to day 12! Almost 2 weeks. Keep pushing through like you did yesterday and it WILL get easier. Bravo to you!

strategery

Great job on 12 days! I agree with HAF in that it does get easier.

serenityfreedom

You may never have to go through those 12 days again. it get's better. It's so much easier to stay sober than to get sober. One day at a time.
peace-Jonathan

jryan19982

Yeah getting sober is hard because its so hard to say when that time is. I use to set a date then keep pushing it back and back and back until I said screw it I dont need to quit. Then I would have a huge night out drinking and pay for it heavily the next day or two. Hopefully I dont ever have to pay for that again.

Northlander

This sound familiar?

Drink, buzz, drunk, pass out, hung over, hair of dog, some more hair, buzz, drunk, pass out, hung over, a week passes, then another, oh man I have to stop.

Skip ahead to the stop, my friend.

mns1

Stay focused jryan!

Alcohol isn't escape. It is confinement. It imprisons you and blinds you to the truth, which is that you are strong enough to push forward without it.

Glad you are here and fighting it.

More power to you!