hypochondriac

Good luck INH!!

What kind of meditation is it Patty? That is definitely something I want to be doing too because I just can't seem to motivate myself to meditate at home, but all the meditation classes near me are Kadampa and I have buddhist friends who really don't like them so I was apprehensive about it.

Lovely to hear from you Kapuka x

Are you going anywhere for your vacation Job? I'm off for a week now and I'm hoping this will be better than my last week off where I basically just sat here trying not to drink! I think I have got past most of my conditioned responses now so I hope so. Last night I even ate chinese food without white wine which is a first ever. I was very chuffed about that because the last time I contemplated that I thought I would never be able to eat chinese food again! I'm still proud of my small achievements

jobei

Hello Nicky good to see you!

Yes Hypo I'm going to Atlantic City again, I've been spending a lot of time at the poker table and they give me free rooms at the nicest hotel there so it's an affordable and fun time... only takes me about 4 hours to get there driving and my best friend usually meets up with me for a couple days. Want to join me? Good job on eating chinese food without the booze... I'm still working on going to my buddy's steakhouse for dinner without drinking... soon I will do it!

KaPuka

Tell you what my job is so stressful but it was double the stress when I was passed out drunk every night! Wish I'd realised that years ago

KaPuka

Job, you don't get tempted to drink at the poker table ?!
I don't know how to play myself , I know I'd get myself into a second situation

jobei

No actually quite the opposite. Drinking while playing poker is a recipe for disaster, something I learned even while I was still drinking... probably why I didn't play much at all at the end of my drinking. It was too hard to maintain myself in public so I just spent most of my time at home alone with my bottles. Now that I'm sober I can play for hours comfortably... yet another thing that alcohol took from me.

Dee74

Good to see you Kapuka

Gambling's never been something I've had a real interest in Jobei, but if it doesn't ring any of those addictive bells for you and you enjoy it...well...enjoy it

D

jobei

Thanks Dee for advice, I promise that I'll be careful! I have indeed seen many people fall victim to gambling addiction. I mostly compete in poker tournaments which are far more skill based than any other type of casino games. A federal judge in NY state actually just ruled that poker is considered a skill game which will most likely open it up to more areas here. I will stay vigilant of alter-addictions!

KaPuka

Thanks dee good to be here
Spring day in Sydney, not hungover.... Good life
I'm off the booze ATM and on the campral
Only problem is remembering to take it frequently....hope you're all kicking goals out there

jobei

I tried that campral for a stretch and it seemed like it worked well! I think I stopped taking it because I got so tired of taking such huge doses... was like 9 big pills a day or something crazy like that and it was very expensive at the time. I've heard of many people having success with it! Also like you said, I'd forget constantly!

KaPuka

Yeah that's what gets in the way of complete sobriety ( ok bit of an excuse )
But it's a bit of a hassle ( thinking of just having a big bottle of water on hand all the time and a diary to keep track )

KaPuka

We get Medicare where I live so it's about $30 -month.....

Dee74

I remember trying to keep all those many balls in the air when I was drinking tho, KaPuka - that was a real hassle, y'know?


D

Caledonia1

Hi everyone, hope you've all had a good day/evening.

I've been feeling a little restless today so decided to get an extra meeting in this evening. Just what I needed plus some posts on SR. All chilled now.

Catch you all soon.

hypochondriac

Hey Nicky, how're you doing?

Does the campral do much Kapuka? I was offered that but refused because I thought my problems were more psychological than physical at that point (3 months). I have to remember to take a pill every day now for a thyroid problem which sucks but has to be done. Better to get used to it now. It'll only get worse as we get older x

Caledonia1

Hey Hypo, doing great now, just got my 7month coin at AA last week and was on top of the world but what can I say it's like a rollercoster ride at times.

How's you?

hypochondriac

That's cool. I haven't been regular in my AA attendance but I want a coin! I passed 7 months recently too. It feels good. But I have had genuine drinking thoughts which occasionally freak me out a bit. I have been pretty good at not letting my thought patterns reach that place so far so I was a bit surprised they sneaked up on me! Still sober though x

Caledonia1

Geez the very same thing happened to me only the other week. Scary! Guess it's something we'll always have to be wary of.

Congratulations on your 7 months.

Anyway you don't need a coin to feel good about that achievment. Well done us.........lol

Catch you later.

KaPuka

Yep know too well Dee! You think a drink will relax and take your mind off but getting blind then hungover makes it so much worse!!

KaPuka

Hypo they do work I think. It's a tough one as I try to keep busy at the times I'd normally drink, so campral and a diversion ( gym, movie) seems to work for me at the moment. Touch wood!
Hope you're doing well guys

Caledonia1

Morning, afternoon or evening what ever it may be where you are.

Lovely sunny but frosty morning here.

Off to a meeting this morning and help out at kids school later. Something I never got a chance to do before. Yet another reminder why we must keep strong.

Take care and enjoy your day.