Would a Drink help?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 230
Would a Drink help?
i am a few days off 5 months sober and now am struggling.
The pleasure of sobriety are starting to plateau. I am finding it difficult dealing with the reality of my life.
Becoming very frustrated with life can be difficult when being sober as nothing blots out your problems better than alcohol. Being sober means that release option is not there.
So I am lying here with a headache not knowing what to do with myself. So I ask myself Whould a drink help?
The pleasure of sobriety are starting to plateau. I am finding it difficult dealing with the reality of my life.
Becoming very frustrated with life can be difficult when being sober as nothing blots out your problems better than alcohol. Being sober means that release option is not there.
So I am lying here with a headache not knowing what to do with myself. So I ask myself Whould a drink help?
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 141
You’re reading my mind at this very second....but I know I won’t do it, and I know there’s nothing so bad that a drink won’t make worse.
Don’t entertain the idea and shut it down. It’s not worth throwing away what you’ve hard earned, and even any buzz will be gone in a half hour...you’ll spend the rest of your time chasing it down that ugly rabbit hole!
(These are the words I’m thinking for myself now, I hope they help you, too
Don’t entertain the idea and shut it down. It’s not worth throwing away what you’ve hard earned, and even any buzz will be gone in a half hour...you’ll spend the rest of your time chasing it down that ugly rabbit hole!
(These are the words I’m thinking for myself now, I hope they help you, too
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,598
Why did you decide to get sober? Was life going great? Everything operating smoothly and under control? If you want to return to your old life, it’s only a drink away. And the extra bonus is that it will be even worse than you remember it.
Remember the reasons you quit. Remember the pain and shame. The booze convinces us that we like the drama. I used to say I’d trade the extreme lows I experienced for the extreme highs I got from substances. Until I wouldn’t trade them any more. The lows got lower and the highs weren’t high anymore.
Remember why you quit and don’t take that drink!!
Remember the reasons you quit. Remember the pain and shame. The booze convinces us that we like the drama. I used to say I’d trade the extreme lows I experienced for the extreme highs I got from substances. Until I wouldn’t trade them any more. The lows got lower and the highs weren’t high anymore.
Remember why you quit and don’t take that drink!!
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: canada
Posts: 7,242
and what is your answer to that question?
as you say, it didn't "help" in the past, it only masked reality.
living in reality and being okay with that, finding a "solution" to that, is the real challenge.
as you say, it didn't "help" in the past, it only masked reality.
living in reality and being okay with that, finding a "solution" to that, is the real challenge.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
I had my last real struggle with those thoughts at just over five months, and I've read about it and heard about it enough to know that it is common to go through at about this point.
Keep doing the next right thing.
No way I was going back to the way I was OR to that first couple weeks of sobriety, way too difficult.
It's going to get a lot better in the next few months for you. Keep it going.
They're just random thoughts: they have no power, no arms no legs, no wallet. Escort them out and have a good day.
Keep doing the next right thing.
No way I was going back to the way I was OR to that first couple weeks of sobriety, way too difficult.
It's going to get a lot better in the next few months for you. Keep it going.
They're just random thoughts: they have no power, no arms no legs, no wallet. Escort them out and have a good day.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 2,229
A drink would not help, and it would really hurt. Maybe you need some fun and/or relaxation? Or to talk to another recovering person? Whatever you've done for five months, it's been working. Maybe do more of that? Getting rid of the headache may be a good start, too.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Warwick RI
Posts: 1,276
I think that a drink would help...temporarily...it always helped me to numb out and ignore what was happening or not happening in my life....
BUT unfortunately when I would take a drink (or an alcoholic takes a drink as you know)..the drink starts to take over your life and happiness...and then most just can't stop drinking again and then all h*ll breaks lose AGAIN and "we" long for the time we had sober.
It would suk to back in the same hell you have been avoiding for 5 months.
I feel sorry for anyone that has cravings this strong because they are very hard to get thru...I hope you get thru them...because if you drink in a short time you will be back to asking for help to stop again.
BUT unfortunately when I would take a drink (or an alcoholic takes a drink as you know)..the drink starts to take over your life and happiness...and then most just can't stop drinking again and then all h*ll breaks lose AGAIN and "we" long for the time we had sober.
It would suk to back in the same hell you have been avoiding for 5 months.
I feel sorry for anyone that has cravings this strong because they are very hard to get thru...I hope you get thru them...because if you drink in a short time you will be back to asking for help to stop again.
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 453
It can be hard to adjust to living without alcohol. I had a hard time, but learning how to cope with life sober was worth it. It's not easy at first, though.
One way that helped me to look at it was that drinking might (MIGHT) provide a temporary, false escape, but would exacerbate any problems. It never solved anything. If anything, drinking always created even more problems.
Learning how to face life sober taught me a better way of living. Bored? Go do something. Feeling sad or angry? Learn how to deal with my emotions.
What are the problems that you think alcohol can help you with? What other ways are there of dealing with them?
A drink will not help you. Stay sober and you'll find your way.
One way that helped me to look at it was that drinking might (MIGHT) provide a temporary, false escape, but would exacerbate any problems. It never solved anything. If anything, drinking always created even more problems.
Learning how to face life sober taught me a better way of living. Bored? Go do something. Feeling sad or angry? Learn how to deal with my emotions.
What are the problems that you think alcohol can help you with? What other ways are there of dealing with them?
A drink will not help you. Stay sober and you'll find your way.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 405
After getting through detox I took an inventory of my life and the results were as follows: it sucked.
Years of destroying my body left lots of carnage in the aftermath and lots of mistakes that were in need of correction. Since drinking was no longer an option the only thing I could do was to give 110% effort into making my life unsuck. That requires discipline, it took many years to get into my mess and there was no way I was going to get out by Thursday.
The more I've tackled my problems, the more my confidence has grown which gives me the resolve to face the next problem. I believe if you try this approach instead of drinking you will find that it will pay dividends in your life and wellbeing.
Years of destroying my body left lots of carnage in the aftermath and lots of mistakes that were in need of correction. Since drinking was no longer an option the only thing I could do was to give 110% effort into making my life unsuck. That requires discipline, it took many years to get into my mess and there was no way I was going to get out by Thursday.
The more I've tackled my problems, the more my confidence has grown which gives me the resolve to face the next problem. I believe if you try this approach instead of drinking you will find that it will pay dividends in your life and wellbeing.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
When first getting sober there can be a honeymoon kind of phase. Where just the simplest, most 'normal' things (like not throwing up or shaking) can seem 'amazing'. That pink cloud. Stuff that people who have never experienced addiction take for granted, I can see as 'miracles'.
And then yeah, at some point things start to become 'normal'. As they should. Doesn't mean I can't pause for a moment of gratitude that I woke up this morning without a hangover. But really, that should just be normal.
It sounds, like me, you quit for reasons that prove that alcohol was not working for you. And guess what, that means it will never 'work'. There is no passive way to handle feelings. Nothing 'works' but action.
So no, a drink won't help.
And then yeah, at some point things start to become 'normal'. As they should. Doesn't mean I can't pause for a moment of gratitude that I woke up this morning without a hangover. But really, that should just be normal.
It sounds, like me, you quit for reasons that prove that alcohol was not working for you. And guess what, that means it will never 'work'. There is no passive way to handle feelings. Nothing 'works' but action.
So no, a drink won't help.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 600
Wise advice here. If you drink you know it will escalate & you will be right back to where you were when you stopped drinking in the first place. Probably worse due to the progressive nature. If you drink you will be throwing away all the benefits of sobriety for which you are grateful - self respect, a clear head, positive energy, your health!
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