cat1961

I joined this community today and unfortunately cannot say that I've had a sober day yet. But tomorrow is a new day and feel that the time I've spent on this forum has provided me with the positive motivation to give up drinking AGAIN!

I guess once you're an alcoholic there is no such thing as a social drinker. Although, over the last several months I could walk into a bar and get a cold beer then go on home and think nothing of it. But this was not every day either, so I guess I was a temporary social drinker. I work outside and as most of you know, that cold one is refreshing. But just recently I got to the point that the "cold one" is needed to work off the shakes.

Finally, I am so glad I found this site and all you swell people!

HFA

I feel ya. I worry about that "oh yeah, beer, makes perfect sense" moment too. Im afraid I wont recognize it till its the next morning.

Congrats on day 10. Seemed like it took FOREVER for day 10 to get here. Now I am on 15 and those 5 went a lot quicker. Thanks for hanging in there with us.

Dee74

Welcome Cat

I think a lot of us could maintain the illusion of control sometimes - that's what makes the possibility that we might be alcoholic so hard to swallow....and so we keep looking for that control....

But - it was an illusion... at least for me.

I failed to control myself a lot more times than the times I managed to do it...I think now? those 'successes' were blind luck.

And seeing as alcoholism is progressive...they got fewer and fewer....

I know for a fact it was a spin of the roulette wheel really - there were many times when I needed to keep control and just have that 'one' and walk away - and I couldn't.

D

HFA

Oh yeah, today is day 15 for me, so I get to blow this Popsicle stand. I'm outta here, gone, making like a tree and leave, making like a banana and split, not gonna let the door hit me where the good lord split me, see you latter alligator, after while crocodile. Give me 3 steps mister, as I'm headed for the door....

Seriously, thank you all for getting me thru this first two weeks. Its been a challenge, but you have made it possible.

Ill keep checking in to this thread as I think it is a very important thread, but I do hope to NEVER come back as a full fledged less then two weeker.

Murray4x5

I'll see you in six days

My wife and daughter came home from their holiday yesterday. My wife had no clue what I've been up to...all I told her was that some "ground breaking things" had been going on while she was gone. She thought I had done some serious renovating on the house. Was she ever surprised that it was me that got renovated!!!!

My daughter is enjoying her energetic ready to play after work dad too.

Life is good & getting better.

Learning to stop and take deep breaths when I get that jangly, scattered, edgy feeling, and to change the subject in my head when it drifts into thoughts of beer which thankfully doesn't happen very often.

I've been offered several beer by family members, but have easily turned them down. As it stands now I don't think I'll tell anybody else than my wife about quitting. I'm curious to see how long it'll take them to figure it out.

Thanks for being here everybody...it's good not having to walk this walk alone.

Murray

cat1961

That is so awesome Murray!

Reading these posts makes me so much more inspired to my sobriety!

Hey! I thought I was going to bed a while ago....... Guess I enjoy reading these posts from you guys!

Larkspur

Just closing out Day 11 here... feeling pretty sorry for myself as I have a nasty bug, completely lost my voice and aching all over. No desire to drink but am annoyed that I need painkillers (just paracetamol) because I've been trying my best to give the poor old liver a rest and nurture it with good things, and now I'm loading it up with painkillers.

I might go on a green smoothie/juice fast for a few days once I've shaken this bug, to make up for it.

lyddie

Thanks HFA and Congratualtions to you for graduating from this thread. I intend to be right behind you by Saturday. And it is good to know that after 10 days that the days go quicker.

Larkspur - that green smoothie fast sounds interesting. Let us know if you do do it.

CarolD

cat......Thanks for joining our Daily Support group
Welcome.....

Bonbon3

Hi everyone,

I'm newly alcohol free. I've been reading on this site for over a year but just joined. I quit on July 2 and made it for 7 days and then broke again. I'm sober for one day and working on my second night again tonight. I wish it wasn't so hard to quit. 5 pm- 9pm is the absolute hardest time for me. I white knuckle it through that time and feel very unstable. After 9 pm it's smooth sailing with my tea. Anyone else have this problem? Thanks much for this wonderful site. Everyone is so supportive.......

CarolD

HFA......your always welcome to check in here
this was hilarious ....amazing how sobriety lifts our spirits!

Larkspur

Yeah, 5-8pm is my trouble time. Once I get home, and have dinner on and a glass of juice and sparkling mineral water in my hand, though, I'm home free. Can you try making dinner earlier or even doing something crazy like I've been doing and fixing a little bowl of chocolate icecream as a 'cheer up' treat around 5.30? I find having food in my stomach helps a lot.

noubledegative

hi guys just dropping back to give you some words of encouragement

I am now 8 months sober & my life is sooooo much better for it. I received the top marks in my class this semester in my course, i have moved in with a wonderful woman & although my life is much quieter it is much happier & more manageable. i no longer suffer horrifc hangovers & feelinhg of self loathing guilt remorse shame saness. My health has improved & i finally have my life back.

I was in this thread 8 months ago & can identify with alot of what is being currently said. The first couple months are SO HARD! but if you push through there is a better life awaiting you...trust me...what you are all doing is so great & worthwhile...stick with it!

Dee74

Great to hear all that nouble !
D

justjo

Im gonna keep reading this one - not much to say today.

Dee74

good to see you Jo

D

least

For those with particular 'trigger' times. Occupy yourself during those times. Lots of people have found going to a meeting really helps soothe the craving time and gives them something positive to focus on. If not AA, just anything positive: working out, a nice walk/run, cleaning things, eating a good meal, anything outside your old routine to take your mind off drinking during 'those' times.

My trigger times were... mostly all day cause I drank all day... so I had to keep busy and stay focused on my sobriety. It's hard but it can be done. Keep at it. The best is yet to come!

CarolD

Welcome to our Daily Support group

Bonbon3.........Jo.....

CarolD

DN......Wow!

Thanks for sharing your awesome progress with us
Blessings to you and your lady

Murray4x5

Day 10 report;

We went out to a friends house for dinner last night, and this time I was the designated driver for my wife (she only had two ciders all evening).

When I've been designated driver in the past, I was a mess...I couldn't stay involved in conversations, I would fidget and be antsy all evening, and would have been dropping hints to leave early so I could hit the beer and wine store before it closes.

A couple weeks ago was a typical dinner out at the same friends house for me. I took my six pack of ciders (7% alcohol), had two or three beer from the hosts fridge (5.4% alcohol), and bought another six pack on the way home which I couldn't finish because I passed out.

Tonight I had no trouble at all. It's as if there was a line in my life, and there was no need, no desire to cross it. Whatever it is, I hope it stays with me forever!

One weird thing though...have you ever noticed how freaking long it takes social drinkers to go through a beer - 90 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd never noticed that before because I would have been outpacing them at least 3 to 1. No wonder I used to be the only one slurring his words and stumbling out the door at the end of the evening.

First big hurdle jumped clean. Wary of the next one...

Murray