Struggling a bit last couple of days
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 63
Struggling a bit last couple of days
Hi all, hope everyone is good 🙂
I'm just over 2 months in now and no booze, started university today which was great, job going well and relationship and daughter all good. Going on holiday shortly too
The last 2 days I've had some really aggressive thoughts hitting me about grabbing a drink, not necessarily short cravings but longer periods when I'm just going over and over in my head about planning a future drink. Quite rightly I'm in the process of continously dismissing these thoughts as they come up and "battling" them as nonsense
I've been attending aa online meetings and I'm in touch with a guy from the programme. I have a copy of the big book and I'm reading that although I'm not a massive reader. Right now though (and I do see the benefit of aa) I feel that I need to be looking at a practical, common sense approach to improving my mindset. AA at the minute seems a huge thing to get my head around, I see that it us rooted in the 12 steps and helps with adopting a spiritual element to a person's recovery but I think this all may need to come a little later down the line.
Any advice?
I'm just over 2 months in now and no booze, started university today which was great, job going well and relationship and daughter all good. Going on holiday shortly too
The last 2 days I've had some really aggressive thoughts hitting me about grabbing a drink, not necessarily short cravings but longer periods when I'm just going over and over in my head about planning a future drink. Quite rightly I'm in the process of continously dismissing these thoughts as they come up and "battling" them as nonsense
I've been attending aa online meetings and I'm in touch with a guy from the programme. I have a copy of the big book and I'm reading that although I'm not a massive reader. Right now though (and I do see the benefit of aa) I feel that I need to be looking at a practical, common sense approach to improving my mindset. AA at the minute seems a huge thing to get my head around, I see that it us rooted in the 12 steps and helps with adopting a spiritual element to a person's recovery but I think this all may need to come a little later down the line.
Any advice?
Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: St. Louis, Mo
Posts: 7,334
I don't know if you have found a sponsor yet, but that always helps. Also, a big help for me to get out of my own head is coming on here and supporting others that are struggling. You don't have to tender advice, just give encouragement. You're doing a great job and it's awesome you came here to ask for help.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,780
I'd suggest making two lists, one of the positive aspects of drinking, the other of the negative aspects. I did that and the negative list was way longer. It helped me to see the good and bad written down in black and white.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: I'm sitting right here ...
Posts: 918
Hi,
You're still very young in your sobriety. Allow hard/challenging days to come and go without getting too worked up. Some days are going to be harder to get through than others. That's just how it is.
I find that when I immerse myself in things I really love to do - what I'm doing replaces thoughts of drinking and time goes faster. And then some days, I still wind up going to bed at 9:00 p.m. because I want the day to end. I'm six months sober.
You're still very young in your sobriety. Allow hard/challenging days to come and go without getting too worked up. Some days are going to be harder to get through than others. That's just how it is.
I find that when I immerse myself in things I really love to do - what I'm doing replaces thoughts of drinking and time goes faster. And then some days, I still wind up going to bed at 9:00 p.m. because I want the day to end. I'm six months sober.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,504
Two months of sobriety is great and take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Some days are tough and hard to get through, but sticking with your plan and getting through the tough days will make it a bit easier the next time. I always remind myself that the tough days won't last and better days will come along. 
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 63
Originally Posted by Bobbieka 
I don't know if you have found a sponsor yet, but that always helps. Also, a big help for me to get out of my own head is coming on here and supporting others that are struggling. You don't have to tender advice, just give encouragement. You're doing a great job and it's awesome you came here to ask for help.
Will give this some consideration and thank you again
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 63
Originally Posted by least
I'd suggest making two lists, one of the positive aspects of drinking, the other of the negative aspects. I did that and the negative list was way longer. It helped me to see the good and bad written down in black and white.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 63
Originally Posted by LumenandNyx
Hi,
You're still very young in your sobriety. Allow hard/challenging days to come and go without getting too worked up. Some days are going to be harder to get through than others. That's just how it is.
I find that when I immerse myself in things I really love to do - what I'm doing replaces thoughts of drinking and time goes faster. And then some days, I still wind up going to bed at 9:00 p.m. because I want the day to end. I'm six months sober.
You're still very young in your sobriety. Allow hard/challenging days to come and go without getting too worked up. Some days are going to be harder to get through than others. That's just how it is.
I find that when I immerse myself in things I really love to do - what I'm doing replaces thoughts of drinking and time goes faster. And then some days, I still wind up going to bed at 9:00 p.m. because I want the day to end. I'm six months sober.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 63
Originally Posted by Anna
Two months of sobriety is great and take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Some days are tough and hard to get through, but sticking with your plan and getting through the tough days will make it a bit easier the next time. I always remind myself that the tough days won't last and better days will come along.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,439
Hey Stewy
some good ideas and reminders here:
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-recovery.html (101 Helpful Hints For Recovery)
For me acceptance was everything - once I accepted that drinking again would always take me back to the things I never want to experience again, the AV lost a lot of its persuasive powers.
Support helps too - post as much as you need too man
D
some good ideas and reminders here:
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-recovery.html (101 Helpful Hints For Recovery)
For me acceptance was everything - once I accepted that drinking again would always take me back to the things I never want to experience again, the AV lost a lot of its persuasive powers.
Support helps too - post as much as you need too man
D
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,598
How often are you going to meetings? I've found that the more meetings I go to, the less I have cravings. I am doing 90 in 90. I started about 50 days ago and have made it to about 40-42 meetings. (Progress rather than perfection, haha). And the meetings have really help me calm my mind. Best wishes!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 63
Originally Posted by BeABetterMan
How often are you going to meetings? I've found that the more meetings I go to, the less I have cravings. I am doing 90 in 90. I started about 50 days ago and have made it to about 40-42 meetings. (Progress rather than perfection, haha). And the meetings have really help me calm my mind. Best wishes!
Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Eastern US
Posts: 1,386
That same thing happens to me when I have a lot going on or big changes in my schedule. Seems like you have both going for you. Maybe reaffirm your sobriety and ramp up your recovery program even more during this time of change.
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