Why I should/should not drink on this trip:
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 771
Why I should/should not drink on this trip:
So i have a stressful trip ahead, leaving tomorrow. Lots of relatives with drama, big decisions, etc. They live in a resort town so I’m bringing the family, and we’ll try to work in some time for fun stuff. Basically, triggers everywhere, and I’m worried about handling it.
Why drink (according to my AV):
1. I won’t have to deal with cravings
2. I’ll be more relaxed when I interact with certain people
3. I’ll need to unwind
4. Less anxiety
5. I could go right back to being sober afterward.
Why not drink:
1. I won’t have to deal with hangovers
2. I won’t act stupid/obnoxious/rude/oblivious when I interact with certain people
3. I’ll need to think straight
4. #4 on previous list is a lie. So are #s 1-3. And especially #5. What BS.
5. My kids like me sober
6. I like me sober
7. Early sobriety kind of sucks and I don’t want to start over
8. If I drink, then I won’t make time for fun stuff. It’ll just be stress-drink-stress-drink. Better to have stress-fun-stress-fun.
9. I don’t want to mess up my keto diet. So, vanity.
10. If I do go off my diet, it’ll be for ice cream.
11. I can swim in the ocean to unwind. If I drink, I’ll probably just end up looking at the ocean, too buzzed and stressed out to enjoy it.
12. The stressful stuff might not even be that bad. Unless I drink, then it’ll really suck.
13. I have enough to deal with without throwing shame into the mix
14. I need to be strong and available to people who need me to be present
15. Alcohol sucks
16. At least 100 more reasons
Yeah maybe it’s a “no” on the drinking. I hope I can hold strong. I might be checking in here a bit though.
Why drink (according to my AV):
1. I won’t have to deal with cravings
2. I’ll be more relaxed when I interact with certain people
3. I’ll need to unwind
4. Less anxiety
5. I could go right back to being sober afterward.
Why not drink:
1. I won’t have to deal with hangovers
2. I won’t act stupid/obnoxious/rude/oblivious when I interact with certain people
3. I’ll need to think straight
4. #4 on previous list is a lie. So are #s 1-3. And especially #5. What BS.
5. My kids like me sober
6. I like me sober
7. Early sobriety kind of sucks and I don’t want to start over
8. If I drink, then I won’t make time for fun stuff. It’ll just be stress-drink-stress-drink. Better to have stress-fun-stress-fun.
9. I don’t want to mess up my keto diet. So, vanity.
10. If I do go off my diet, it’ll be for ice cream.
11. I can swim in the ocean to unwind. If I drink, I’ll probably just end up looking at the ocean, too buzzed and stressed out to enjoy it.
12. The stressful stuff might not even be that bad. Unless I drink, then it’ll really suck.
13. I have enough to deal with without throwing shame into the mix
14. I need to be strong and available to people who need me to be present
15. Alcohol sucks
16. At least 100 more reasons
Yeah maybe it’s a “no” on the drinking. I hope I can hold strong. I might be checking in here a bit though.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: W Washington
Posts: 11,589
trust me, it will be 1,000 times EASIER if you ditch the maybe and just commit to NOT drinking, period. a firm commitment is the best way to deal with any cravings as well. nope, not gonna happen, not now, not in ten minutes so Go Away!
i hope you make that choice.
i hope you make that choice.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 771
Originally Posted by AnvilheadII 
trust me, it will be 1,000 times EASIER if you ditch the maybe and just commit to NOT drinking, period. a firm commitment is the best way to deal with any cravings as well. nope, not gonna happen, not now, not in ten minutes so Go Away!
i hope you make that choice.
i hope you make that choice.
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Originally Posted by Bonniefloyd
Why drink (according to my AV):
1. I won’t have to deal with cravings
2. I’ll be more relaxed when I interact with certain people
3. I’ll need to unwind
4. Less anxiety
5. I could go right back to being sober afterward.
2 - maybe for a short period, but after you get drunk ( which you will ) you will likely do something you will regret anyway
3 - Lots of ways to unwind besides drinking
4 - Actually your anxiety will be worse the next morning
5 - Not everyone does - and you never know when you'll hit the point of no return,.
So to me it sounds like you actually have 0 reasons to drink?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 771
Originally Posted by ScottFromWI
1 - until the next day when the cravings come back again
2 - maybe for a short period, but after you get drunk ( which you will ) you will likely do something you will regret anyway
3 - Lots of ways to unwind besides drinking
4 - Actually your anxiety will be worse the next morning
5 - Not everyone does - and you never know when you'll hit the point of no return,.
So to me it sounds like you actually have 0 reasons to drink?
2 - maybe for a short period, but after you get drunk ( which you will ) you will likely do something you will regret anyway
3 - Lots of ways to unwind besides drinking
4 - Actually your anxiety will be worse the next morning
5 - Not everyone does - and you never know when you'll hit the point of no return,.
So to me it sounds like you actually have 0 reasons to drink?
Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 87
I agree with the sentiment that when you accept you wont and cant drink it makes things so much easier. In a situation like that , if you can keep yourself occupied when those first couple of drinks are out, and then you start to see people getting tipsy, it can help remind you that you dont want to go there.
under new management
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 2,339
5. I could go right back to being sober afterward.
This jumped out at me in a big way.
When I relapsed I believed that I could/would just drink for short time and get right back to my sober life.
It ended up taking me 22ish years to find my way back.
Sobriety is way too precious to throw away on the off chance that I would be able to control the length of my relapse.
This jumped out at me in a big way.
When I relapsed I believed that I could/would just drink for short time and get right back to my sober life.
It ended up taking me 22ish years to find my way back.
Sobriety is way too precious to throw away on the off chance that I would be able to control the length of my relapse.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 771
Originally Posted by Tinkerbeau
Hi Bonnie great list !!! Im only at end of day 3 and no you really don't want to be back here, i never want to be back here
Hey, congrats on day 3!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 771
Originally Posted by 2ndhandrose
5. I could go right back to being sober afterward.
This jumped out at me in a big way.
When I relapsed I believed that I could/would just drink for short time and get right back to my sober life.
It ended up taking me 22ish years to find my way back.
Sobriety is way too precious to throw away on the off chance that I would be able to control the length of my relapse.
This jumped out at me in a big way.
When I relapsed I believed that I could/would just drink for short time and get right back to my sober life.
It ended up taking me 22ish years to find my way back.
Sobriety is way too precious to throw away on the off chance that I would be able to control the length of my relapse.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: here, now.
Posts: 1,236
Vacations are so much better sober!
Also if you drink in a sunny, salty place, your hangover will be worse because you’ll be doubly dehydrated.
But the best reason to not drink is because drinking prevents you from actually living, which you’ve illustrated here. So zero reasons to drink, fifteen+ to not!
Have fun!
Also if you drink in a sunny, salty place, your hangover will be worse because you’ll be doubly dehydrated.
But the best reason to not drink is because drinking prevents you from actually living, which you’ve illustrated here. So zero reasons to drink, fifteen+ to not!
Have fun!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South East England
Posts: 8,009
You got this Bonnie....
Maybe try and fit in an early morning walk along the seafront each day before everyone else wakes. Take it in and remember you wouldn’t have done that if you’d drunk the day before.
It’s a beautiful world we live in when we remember to slow down and really look ❤️
Maybe try and fit in an early morning walk along the seafront each day before everyone else wakes. Take it in and remember you wouldn’t have done that if you’d drunk the day before.
It’s a beautiful world we live in when we remember to slow down and really look ❤️
Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,065
I have the world's worst inlaws. Ok I totally do not, but we are not close. When I drank so much worse. Being sober around them, the relationship is 1000x better. They are still a massive pain in my ass, but better.
Be sober, hang out here.
Be sober, hang out here.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Warwick RI
Posts: 1,276
The undeniable feeling of accomplishment you will have when you return from this trip and had not drank! It will make you stronger.
If you do drink there are so many negatives but the biggest one I saw was your "children" ...letting them down...confusing them on a family vacation when you have done so well ...would be terrible for them...
Stay strong...fight this fight and enjoy your vacation....
If you do drink there are so many negatives but the biggest one I saw was your "children" ...letting them down...confusing them on a family vacation when you have done so well ...would be terrible for them...
Stay strong...fight this fight and enjoy your vacation....
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 771
Thanks guys, your encouragement has really helped me get my head screwed on right. We’re in the car now, almost out of Texas. We have lots of snacks, bottled water, two Annie Grace books on my phone for motivation, and a fully charged Fitbit for when we get to the halfway point in several hours. (I’m going to unwind by walking, not drinking.)
I’ll be checking in a bit. If things get hard, I’ll post first. But it’s only a struggle if I let it be, right? My mind is made up; I’m not drinking on this trip.
I’ll be checking in a bit. If things get hard, I’ll post first. But it’s only a struggle if I let it be, right? My mind is made up; I’m not drinking on this trip.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
