New here and struggling.
One day at a time.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Nowhere, USA
Posts: 340
New here and struggling.
Hello all. I am a brand new member here and I have been struggling like crazy! I've been trying to quit drinking for about three months. I've only been able to make it ten days at the most without a drink. I've "relapsed" so much I don't feel like I've actually achieved anything. *heavy sigh*
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Welcome to SR.
So what exactly have you been doing to stay sober? And are you applying those same methods/processes for each stint of sobriety?
I ask because something in your plan, if you have one, isn't working. Repeating the same thing and expecting something different is very common, especially in recovery. We feel we are trying, but always fail. It isn't the trying that's failing, but what we are doing when we try.
If you have a plan, tweak it. And if you don't have a plan, time to put one in play.
Originally Posted by SpiritOfDjinn 
Hello all. I am a brand new member here and I have been struggling like crazy! I've been trying to quit drinking for about three months. I've only been able to make it ten days at the most without a drink. I've "relapsed" so much I don't feel like I've actually achieved anything. *heavy sigh*
I ask because something in your plan, if you have one, isn't working. Repeating the same thing and expecting something different is very common, especially in recovery. We feel we are trying, but always fail. It isn't the trying that's failing, but what we are doing when we try.
If you have a plan, tweak it. And if you don't have a plan, time to put one in play.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,872
Hello and welcome.
I relapsed many, many times. But I did achieve something eventually. I learned I was an alcoholic and could not control my drinking. I needed help. I found it here and in AA.
I found people who understood where I was coming from, and that was important to me, that I wasn't alone with my drinking problem.
I was a bad alcoholic. I drank for twenty five years alcoholically. I was addicted.
Even with coming here and AA, I would drink again.
It took an awakening and a belief in a Higher Power to get sober.
You've taken a big step by coming here and admitting you may have a problem. I took that step, too. It helped a lot. That, and knowing I wasn't alone in my drinking problem helped me quit, too.
You can do it. The only failure is to stop trying. Pick your self up and try again. We're all here for you.
Best to you.
I relapsed many, many times. But I did achieve something eventually. I learned I was an alcoholic and could not control my drinking. I needed help. I found it here and in AA.
I found people who understood where I was coming from, and that was important to me, that I wasn't alone with my drinking problem.
I was a bad alcoholic. I drank for twenty five years alcoholically. I was addicted.
Even with coming here and AA, I would drink again.
It took an awakening and a belief in a Higher Power to get sober.
You've taken a big step by coming here and admitting you may have a problem. I took that step, too. It helped a lot. That, and knowing I wasn't alone in my drinking problem helped me quit, too.
You can do it. The only failure is to stop trying. Pick your self up and try again. We're all here for you.
Best to you.
One day at a time.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Nowhere, USA
Posts: 340
@doggonecarl In all honesty, I really don't have a plan. I have basically just been trying to abstain. My biggest problem has been my inability to ignore / fight my cravings. They hit, and I bend like a sapling in a windstorm...
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Originally Posted by SpiritOfDjinn
@doggonecarl In all honesty, I really don't have a plan. I have basically just been trying to abstain. My biggest problem has been my inability to ignore / fight my cravings. They hit, and I bend like a sapling in a windstorm...
You don't have to be an alcoholic to quit drinking, don't have to be an alcoholic to find it difficult to quit. But if you can commit to sobriety, you can find a way to achieve it.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,777
Welcome to the family. 
It's not easy to get sober, but it's simple: you don't drink no matter what! Do you have any support in real life? Have you considered trying some AA meetings? Lots of people there can help you get sober for good.
I'm glad you joined us and hope the support here can help you live a rewarding sober life.
It's not easy to get sober, but it's simple: you don't drink no matter what! Do you have any support in real life? Have you considered trying some AA meetings? Lots of people there can help you get sober for good.I'm glad you joined us and hope the support here can help you live a rewarding sober life.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: East Coast of the US
Posts: 283
Hi spiritofdjinn! I tried to quit drinking for a few years and relapsed a bunch. You got a lot of really good advice here, I can't really add to it, but I just wanted to say, if I can do it, you can do it. Just because you've tried to quit before and didn't succeed, doesn't mean you can't do it now.
One day at a time.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Nowhere, USA
Posts: 340
Thank you all so much for making me feel welcome! I do have support here in "real life" but I just felt like it couldn't hurt to have more. I've considered AA and the like but I just feel more comfortable being in a community like this one.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Eastpointe,Michigan
Posts: 278
Welcome to the club. I also tried to quit for 30 years and kept relapsing, I had to try something different and I found it in A.A. I haven't had a drink since May 18th 2013.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Posts: 12,000
welcome to the forum spirit.
Take some time and read through the forum. Read through the information - stickys.
And look at different subjects here.
I am of the school that says you didn't relapse at all in the past three months. You just never quit in the first place. Big difference in my book.
Accept that this is something you want - and need - to do. Then commit to doing it.
Regardless of the plan, until you put it into action it's just a plan.
Take some time and read through the forum. Read through the information - stickys.
And look at different subjects here.
I am of the school that says you didn't relapse at all in the past three months. You just never quit in the first place. Big difference in my book.
Accept that this is something you want - and need - to do. Then commit to doing it.
Regardless of the plan, until you put it into action it's just a plan.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,435
Welcome SpiritOfDjinn
There's some useful ideas about tackling cravings here:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html
Once you can get yourself past the imperative to drink, you'll find the cravings do go away...it may take a while at first, but it will get better
D
There's some useful ideas about tackling cravings here:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html
Once you can get yourself past the imperative to drink, you'll find the cravings do go away...it may take a while at first, but it will get better
D
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Maryland
Posts: 93
Hello spirit. It's 10 days for me and it was 9 days ago that I found this site. You came to the right place. Great place to start. I read here so much that I don't have time to think about drinking. These are all wonderful people with caring advice.
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