doctors orders
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 1
doctors orders
first post here... my doctor just dropped the bomb and said I had to stop due to my high enzymes. just finding it hard to break the environment thing.. I am a creature of habit and it will be tough to skip the watering holes and the social side of it. any tips?
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 35,731
Welcome keithelmo! 
Please take a look around SR.
You may find these links helpful.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Please take a look around SR.
You may find these links helpful.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Formerly ScrewdUpInDe
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: In the Nightmare in my head
Posts: 5,329
Welcome keithelmo.
Another link you may find useful.
(Psst...wanna know why I'm always recommending recovery plans?)
Another link you may find useful.
(Psst...wanna know why I'm always recommending recovery plans?)
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,756
Welcome to the family. I hope the support and wisdom you'll find here can help you get sober for good. It takes some effort and changes, but it's so worth it. I wouldn't trade my sober life for anything!
I hope the support and wisdom you'll find here can help you get sober for good. It takes some effort and changes, but it's so worth it. I wouldn't trade my sober life for anything! Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Welcome to SR keithelmo:
Changing our habits is definitely difficulty, but by no means impossible. You just have to make new habits. How about taking a different route home from work for a change? Or perhaps making plans to cook a nice meal with your family or go for a walk? There are literally thousands of things to "do" besides drink.
One of the things that helped me out a lot in early sobriety was making a daily plan - and making sure that I had something planned for the entire day from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. Even if it was just "reading a book" or "cleaning the bathroom" - I would list something for any hour of the day. Idle minds are a bad thing during early sobriety, so keep yourself busy.
Changing our habits is definitely difficulty, but by no means impossible. You just have to make new habits. How about taking a different route home from work for a change? Or perhaps making plans to cook a nice meal with your family or go for a walk? There are literally thousands of things to "do" besides drink.
One of the things that helped me out a lot in early sobriety was making a daily plan - and making sure that I had something planned for the entire day from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. Even if it was just "reading a book" or "cleaning the bathroom" - I would list something for any hour of the day. Idle minds are a bad thing during early sobriety, so keep yourself busy.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,465
Welcome!
I was a creature of habit too, which is one of the many reasons I was susceptible to alcoholism. The most important thing I did in the first weeks was change routine. It helped me a lot. My normal time to start drinking was right after supper and cleanup, so I had to do something different at that time. Shopping at different stores can also be helpful.
I was a creature of habit too, which is one of the many reasons I was susceptible to alcoholism. The most important thing I did in the first weeks was change routine. It helped me a lot. My normal time to start drinking was right after supper and cleanup, so I had to do something different at that time. Shopping at different stores can also be helpful.
Friendly Folk
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Powers Lake, Wisconsin
Posts: 21,698
That really is 'a bomb'. I don't know how much you care about your life. Don't even know how long you care to live. But, alcohol really messes up your body. So sorry to hear that about you. I hope you get the medical attention you need.
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Welcome to SR. Hope you can make the changes necessary to safeguard your health.
I don't know what kind of drinker you are, or the history of your abuse, but if your doctor is telling you to stop, how social is your drinking, really?
Originally Posted by keithelmo 
... it will be tough to skip the watering holes and the social side of it. any tips?
A Day at a Time
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Grand Rapids MI
Posts: 6,435
The only real hope of staying sober long term is to junk our old lives. AA has a saying, "You only have to change one thing that is everything. "
New friends, activities, places. Sobriety is about change not trying to make our old lives work without alcohol.
For me AA taught me how to make those changes and I gained a whole bunch of sober friends in the process
New friends, activities, places. Sobriety is about change not trying to make our old lives work without alcohol.
For me AA taught me how to make those changes and I gained a whole bunch of sober friends in the process
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 701
Welcome! I can relate to your post on many levels. I had elevated liver enzymes, and I too was (am) a creature of habit.
No lie, it was hard at first. But the brain is quite pliable and can be re-trained to break old habits and develop new (healthier) ones. Changing up my routine was paramount for me. Take different driving routes, take up new hobbies, etc. And by all means, make a plan for sobriety, your health depends on it.
I suggest reading the book "Healing the Addicted Brain". It discusses forming new neurological pathways within our brains.
No lie, it was hard at first. But the brain is quite pliable and can be re-trained to break old habits and develop new (healthier) ones. Changing up my routine was paramount for me. Take different driving routes, take up new hobbies, etc. And by all means, make a plan for sobriety, your health depends on it.
I suggest reading the book "Healing the Addicted Brain". It discusses forming new neurological pathways within our brains.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,364
Welcome Keith
I had to change my life, because my life was all about drinking.
I thought that would be the end of me, but it turns out it was really a beginning.
I love my life and who I am now - I could never say that when I was drinking.
D
I had to change my life, because my life was all about drinking.
I thought that would be the end of me, but it turns out it was really a beginning.
I love my life and who I am now - I could never say that when I was drinking.
D
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