Class of January 2013 pt 5
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 69
Firstly - Congratulations Sobrietygrl4 31 days 
YouRmySunshine I believe we are both on day 24!!
9years we will all probably fall off the bus at some point but its great to know we can dust ourselves off and jump back onboard...keep focused on the journey ahead - together we will make it!!!
Dee - great post thankyou. We are all here for the same reason-addiction- so like you said there is no room for anyone to be shunned or judged. I am certainly no expert but I am sure each and every one of us will react differently to our new sobriety both physically and mentally. Im thinking we need to be able to try and empathise with all our travel buddies
Reeny - Im glad your ok..I love reading your posts!!! Its strange but I think I know how you feel..when im having good days I could write an epic..just want to spread the love... but on occasions when I feel exhausted or (dare I say it) paranoid ,I feel like im being all me me me and boring the pants off everyone or that Im being excluded...I guess its new to all of us to write down our emotional state..makes us feel bare and vulnerable. BOUNCED perhaps you have some words of wisdom on this subject...is it part of recovery?? You have such a wonderful way of conveying your experiences and I am very thankful that you do. Big hugs Reeny - hope you have a good day today honey :ghug3
Carlotta - hope you feel better today - AV is so insidious...with you it was Grandma..last night for me it was food!! went to cook ribs for hubby and blow me if the sauce didnt contain VODKA!!!! I mean VODKA...never, ever seen that before...that was my nasty little habit - well, I just couldnt believe it..was having a great day even went to the shop to get ciggies for hubs and it didnt even cross my mind to sneak down the alcohol isle...I have the week off and usually that would be an excuse to "party"..Anyways, there it was on the label..VODKA..yunno, I looked to the ceiling, shook my head and realised temptations will be put in our way in the most strange ways...needless to say I didnt share the ribs!!! Didnt think about that - do we have to abstain from food that contains alcohol too?? Can that undo all the good we,ve done?? (im thinking the paws thing).. Sending healing hugs Carlotta
Alison/Blondsober - didnt get to the meeting - hubby says I dont need to go unless Im feeling that im gonna have a drink...at least I know where/when it is now if I need it..I guess I was thinking its something we HAVE to do. To be really honest.. Im in a happy place at the moment, SR gives me the inspiration I need , when I feel the AV I just think of all you guys or read some posts...for the present its working - so dont fix it right??
Like I have said before AA didnt really push my buttons before but I know its important to socialise eventually but for now I feel safe in my bubble. Got loads of studying to keep me occupied too.
BIG SHOUTS to ALL (wish I knew how to clip posts and answer them like some of you clever peeps out there)
Rosie, Doris,half,nel68,lunetta,lisamum,soberck1,woody,me lacole,newlife and to everyone else who my alcohol soaked memory has blanked..Have a happy, sober day...if your feeling low big big hugs..be kind to yourself today
YouRmySunshine I believe we are both on day 24!! 9years we will all probably fall off the bus at some point but its great to know we can dust ourselves off and jump back onboard...keep focused on the journey ahead - together we will make it!!!
Dee - great post thankyou. We are all here for the same reason-addiction- so like you said there is no room for anyone to be shunned or judged. I am certainly no expert but I am sure each and every one of us will react differently to our new sobriety both physically and mentally. Im thinking we need to be able to try and empathise with all our travel buddies
Reeny - Im glad your ok..I love reading your posts!!! Its strange but I think I know how you feel..when im having good days I could write an epic..just want to spread the love... but on occasions when I feel exhausted or (dare I say it) paranoid ,I feel like im being all me me me and boring the pants off everyone or that Im being excluded...I guess its new to all of us to write down our emotional state..makes us feel bare and vulnerable. BOUNCED perhaps you have some words of wisdom on this subject...is it part of recovery?? You have such a wonderful way of conveying your experiences and I am very thankful that you do. Big hugs Reeny - hope you have a good day today honey :ghug3
Carlotta - hope you feel better today - AV is so insidious...with you it was Grandma..last night for me it was food!! went to cook ribs for hubby and blow me if the sauce didnt contain VODKA!!!! I mean VODKA...never, ever seen that before...that was my nasty little habit - well, I just couldnt believe it..was having a great day even went to the shop to get ciggies for hubs and it didnt even cross my mind to sneak down the alcohol isle...I have the week off and usually that would be an excuse to "party"..Anyways, there it was on the label..VODKA..yunno, I looked to the ceiling, shook my head and realised temptations will be put in our way in the most strange ways...needless to say I didnt share the ribs!!! Didnt think about that - do we have to abstain from food that contains alcohol too?? Can that undo all the good we,ve done?? (im thinking the paws thing).. Sending healing hugs Carlotta
Alison/Blondsober - didnt get to the meeting - hubby says I dont need to go unless Im feeling that im gonna have a drink...at least I know where/when it is now if I need it..I guess I was thinking its something we HAVE to do. To be really honest.. Im in a happy place at the moment, SR gives me the inspiration I need , when I feel the AV I just think of all you guys or read some posts...for the present its working - so dont fix it right??
Like I have said before AA didnt really push my buttons before but I know its important to socialise eventually but for now I feel safe in my bubble. Got loads of studying to keep me occupied too.
BIG SHOUTS to ALL (wish I knew how to clip posts and answer them like some of you clever peeps out there)
Rosie, Doris,half,nel68,lunetta,lisamum,soberck1,woody,me lacole,newlife and to everyone else who my alcohol soaked memory has blanked..Have a happy, sober day...if your feeling low big big hugs..be kind to yourself today
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 458
What a beautiful post B, sounds like you and your wife had a wonderful moment last night. I hope today brings you some smiles 
Sober1ck, I knew I had to change something in my life because it was so out of control so chose to quit smoking. I decided on a date a (Tuesady after a busy weekend) and went for it cold turkey. My determination also desperation to change for the good, kept my will power strong. I struggled more with the the side effects rather than the craving(not sleeping and heart burn was tough to deal with). However when I decided I was still as miserable as syn, I knew it was time to quit the drink and it is only now am I craving for a smoke, when my AV get to loud I SV want to shut him down with a cig. I have had three fags since I quit drinking in January.
It all depends on the person and if you believe it would have an effect on your soberity I would leave it a little longer before you take on the challenge of quiting smoking. Some like Alisonw is attacking both at the same time which also works well for some.
Take care all xxx
Sober1ck, I knew I had to change something in my life because it was so out of control so chose to quit smoking. I decided on a date a (Tuesady after a busy weekend) and went for it cold turkey. My determination also desperation to change for the good, kept my will power strong. I struggled more with the the side effects rather than the craving(not sleeping and heart burn was tough to deal with). However when I decided I was still as miserable as syn, I knew it was time to quit the drink and it is only now am I craving for a smoke, when my AV get to loud I SV want to shut him down with a cig. I have had three fags since I quit drinking in January.
It all depends on the person and if you believe it would have an effect on your soberity I would leave it a little longer before you take on the challenge of quiting smoking. Some like Alisonw is attacking both at the same time which also works well for some.
Take care all xxx
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 69
Originally Posted by bounced 
Excellent stuff, glad to hear it Reeny. You are the leader of the pack and we don't want you going awol, ok? Now, how do you imagine the pommies would survive if the aussies didn't pontificate? It is what keeps us going every time the Ashes series comes around!! What, with you pontificating and Dorris procrastinating, I am going to have to come up with something to do.
I bought myself a pair of trainers and then it dumped a load of snow overnight and has been snowing ever since so my plans for stepping up the exercise regime is on hold.
My wife and I did a timeline last night of everything that has happened which might have significantly influenced our lives over the last 20+ years. We wrote down things like when one of us was made redundant, when we were under money pressures, when we had great holidays, when we lost relatives, when we emigrated plus loads of other stuff. What was really interesting was that there were only a very few instances where things were really negative AND we didn't manage to share our feelings with one another and work as a team to get to a new place. I think it is those times when I turned to alcohol as an escape and unfortunately, as we know, it can become habitual over time. We ended the evening by going over some photo albums and it was really nice to see how happy we have been over the years. It is so easy to get into a depression with alcohol and it gets really difficult to look back and remember all the really good bits. So I have woken with a resolution to look on the bright side (Monty Python moment!)
I bought myself a pair of trainers and then it dumped a load of snow overnight and has been snowing ever since so my plans for stepping up the exercise regime is on hold.
My wife and I did a timeline last night of everything that has happened which might have significantly influenced our lives over the last 20+ years. We wrote down things like when one of us was made redundant, when we were under money pressures, when we had great holidays, when we lost relatives, when we emigrated plus loads of other stuff. What was really interesting was that there were only a very few instances where things were really negative AND we didn't manage to share our feelings with one another and work as a team to get to a new place. I think it is those times when I turned to alcohol as an escape and unfortunately, as we know, it can become habitual over time. We ended the evening by going over some photo albums and it was really nice to see how happy we have been over the years. It is so easy to get into a depression with alcohol and it gets really difficult to look back and remember all the really good bits. So I have woken with a resolution to look on the bright side (Monty Python moment!)
Bounced, what a wonderful evening you and your wife had..I agree we do tend to forget our blessings..Hubby and I were looking over our photos the other day..We came to England last year after being in the middle east for 3 years..some lovely memories..and most of it spent sober !!!!
:ghug3 Big cwtch for Serenityforme
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: California
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Hi all, another late night/early morning (almost 1am) catch up on posts. I'm posting from my phone as usual plus im exhausted so can't get too crazy in detail though I appreciate everyone's insight and experiences and it really helps me through my day.
Update on me: Work is nuts. Husband is laid up with a hurt leg. Going to a company mixer tomorrow (err, tonight technically) already told someone who "wanted to have a drink" together ill be having a soda, I'm not worried as ive said before, it was the being alone that got me drunk so it's weird that social situations are almost better for me to deter drinking. I'm starting to not constantly think of not drinking and/or drinking and more of a calm is seeping in that I've accepted that it's not an option. I just say "no I'm not drinking" and you know what, the world goes on and doesn't end.
Have a great day everyone!
Update on me: Work is nuts. Husband is laid up with a hurt leg. Going to a company mixer tomorrow (err, tonight technically) already told someone who "wanted to have a drink" together ill be having a soda, I'm not worried as ive said before, it was the being alone that got me drunk so it's weird that social situations are almost better for me to deter drinking. I'm starting to not constantly think of not drinking and/or drinking and more of a calm is seeping in that I've accepted that it's not an option. I just say "no I'm not drinking" and you know what, the world goes on and doesn't end.
Have a great day everyone!
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 23
Originally Posted by AlisonW
Bunny, you sound a lot like me. I wasn't an every day drinker, more of a social drinker that would get out of control. I haven't had any physical withdrawal symptoms - it's more the mental game of thinking about not drinking at social events and with friends. Sober for 19 days so far though, and feeling really good about it and really positive about the idea of a sober future. No more worrying about what I said or did the night before, no more nervously checking for texts and emails I might have sent, no more hangovers. I too have taken myself out of situations that could possibly be tempting at this point, and plan to continue to do so at least for the near future. Those situations are just not important enough to me to chance the tempatation. I feel strong now, but I might feel differently sitting on a bar stool surrounded by drinking friends. Better to be safe than sorry while I'm still getting used to my sober feet.
Congrats on more than 30 days!
-Alison
Thanks for your support everyone
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 69
Originally Posted by Bunny7
It's amazing hey, people think to have a problem with drinking you like have to wake up to a bottle of vodka & be physically dependent on it - but there seems to be so many more people with the same sort of problems/issues as me!
Thanks for your support everyone
Thanks for your support everyone
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Posts: 609
Originally Posted by bounced
Excellent stuff, glad to hear it Reeny. You are the leader of the pack and we don't want you going awol, ok? Now, how do you imagine the pommies would survive if the aussies didn't pontificate? It is what keeps us going every time the Ashes series comes around!! What, with you pontificating and Dorris procrastinating, I am going to have to come up with something to do.
I'm off to bed. I hope all of you across the oceans have a happy and sober Thursday.
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Illinois
Posts: 397
Hi class, hope to check in a little later; good day to dorris, alison, carlotta, melacole, nel, reeny, rosie, serenity, bounced, lunetta, 9, half, woodhead, blond, sobrietygrl, yrmsunshine, newlife, bunny... and everyone out there thinking about changes.
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by Serenityforme
AV is so insidious...with you it was Grandma..last night for me it was food!! went to cook ribs for hubby and blow me if the sauce didnt contain VODKA!!!! I mean VODKA...never, ever seen that before...that was my nasty little habit - well, I just couldnt believe it..was having a great day even went to the shop to get ciggies for hubs and it didnt even cross my mind to sneak down the alcohol isle...I have the week off and usually that would be an excuse to "party"..Anyways, there it was on the label..VODKA..yunno, I looked to the ceiling, shook my head and realised temptations will be put in our way in the most strange ways...needless to say I didnt share the ribs!!! Didnt think about that - do we have to abstain from food that contains alcohol too?? Can that undo all the good we,ve done?? (im thinking the paws thing).. Sending healing hugs Carlotta
I don't know whether I'm right or not, but I think the alcohol content evaporates during the cooking. I know a few people who are strict teetotallers (I should mix with them more often!) and they don't mind alcohol that's added to cooking. But I think you should do what feels right to you.
I feel a bit the same as you and a few other Januarians about AA - ambivalent but feel like I should go. I certainly hesitated before I signed up for SR (lurked for a while and even then had to take a leap of faith) - and look how great this experience has been!
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Good morning everyone! Day 21 for me.. three whole weeks! Woohoo!! Honestly, I feel great. Better than I have in a long, long time, even with everyone going on with the DWI. Serenity, I totally agree with this- "To be really honest.. Im in a happy place at the moment, SR gives me the inspiration I need , when I feel the AV I just think of all you guys or read some posts...for the present its working - so dont fix it right?? Like I have said before AA didnt really push my buttons before but I know its important to socialise eventually but for now I feel safe in my bubble. Got loads of studying to keep me occupied too."
I'm not opposed to getting involved with some kind of meetings or program, but I'm trying to do my research now and not just jump into AA because it's the most popular. I just finished reading Jean Kirkpatrick's book Turnabout, about the Women For Sobriety program, and started a new one about SOS. I have to do an alcohol evaluation with a counselor on Tuesday next week as part of the DWI, so I'm looking forward to talking to her and seeing what she recommends. For now SR seems to be enough and as Serenity said, don't fix what's not broken! I also have a regular therapist that I see, we talked about everything last night for the first time and she thinks I'm doing really well and have a good attitude about everything. I'm ready for whatever the next 3 weeks brings!
Sounds like everyone is doing really well today, so glad. And thanks for the info on alcohol burn-off in cooking Dee, I never would have guessed so much remains. I think I will be skipping those dishes for now.
Have a good thursday January friends!
-Alison
I'm not opposed to getting involved with some kind of meetings or program, but I'm trying to do my research now and not just jump into AA because it's the most popular. I just finished reading Jean Kirkpatrick's book Turnabout, about the Women For Sobriety program, and started a new one about SOS. I have to do an alcohol evaluation with a counselor on Tuesday next week as part of the DWI, so I'm looking forward to talking to her and seeing what she recommends. For now SR seems to be enough and as Serenity said, don't fix what's not broken! I also have a regular therapist that I see, we talked about everything last night for the first time and she thinks I'm doing really well and have a good attitude about everything. I'm ready for whatever the next 3 weeks brings!
Sounds like everyone is doing really well today, so glad. And thanks for the info on alcohol burn-off in cooking Dee, I never would have guessed so much remains. I think I will be skipping those dishes for now.
Have a good thursday January friends!
-Alison
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Serenity, Hope your blood work was good. It's hard to behave diet-wise at work since people tend to bring unhealthful foods in to share like doughnuts. Of course, I don't HAVE to eat them... meetings aren't for everyone, but good that you know they're out there
Alison I hope your dog overcomes the tummy issues. On therapy... for whatever reason it took me a long time to open up about things to my therapist, turned out he's hard to shock. He also doesn't speak AA-ease, so it opened my thinking up to choices about lifestyle, and I started to see my problems from different angles; differing perspectives don't have to really oppose or "win" to be helpful.
half, for the most part people I hurt know about it; that you stop doing hurtful things is most of the amend in my opinion, always depends... "follow your heart, but take your brain with you," right?
Reeny glad you came back out, missed ya.
Melacole I wouldn't worry about hiding your recovery, it's your safe bubble right now. Not everyone wants to be out about that aspect of life right away if ever.
bounced sounds like a nice evening you described; it's important to remember that every minute wasn't a disaster, that there are some very beautiful things to smile about
Dorris thank you so much for the quit tips; sounds like it will be hard no matter what, but that's OK. That's ok, that's ok, that's ok... do mantras work?
Thanks Lunetta for the perspective, crazy that the world keeps spinning !
Hi to YTF and shapeup, too.
Alison I hope your dog overcomes the tummy issues. On therapy... for whatever reason it took me a long time to open up about things to my therapist, turned out he's hard to shock. He also doesn't speak AA-ease, so it opened my thinking up to choices about lifestyle, and I started to see my problems from different angles; differing perspectives don't have to really oppose or "win" to be helpful.
half, for the most part people I hurt know about it; that you stop doing hurtful things is most of the amend in my opinion, always depends... "follow your heart, but take your brain with you," right?
Reeny glad you came back out, missed ya.
Melacole I wouldn't worry about hiding your recovery, it's your safe bubble right now. Not everyone wants to be out about that aspect of life right away if ever.
bounced sounds like a nice evening you described; it's important to remember that every minute wasn't a disaster, that there are some very beautiful things to smile about
Dorris thank you so much for the quit tips; sounds like it will be hard no matter what, but that's OK. That's ok, that's ok, that's ok... do mantras work?
Thanks Lunetta for the perspective, crazy that the world keeps spinning !
Hi to YTF and shapeup, too.
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Hello Everybody,
Went to my friend's funeral yesterday afternoon - the one who committed suicide Sunday night. There were tons of people there, as he was a well known and popular contractor in these parts. I still can't figure out why he did it, as he did not have a terminal illness, and apparently his family life and financial situation were ok. But, I do know that alcohol was involved after talking to several friends who saw him Sunday afternoon. I'm still reeling from the shock of this, and find myself in a state of denial, i.e., no way this guy took his own life. Anyway, nothing to be done about it now except to miss him and learn what lessons there are to be had from this tragedy.
Day 26 here. Glad I've got SR.
Best,
W
Went to my friend's funeral yesterday afternoon - the one who committed suicide Sunday night. There were tons of people there, as he was a well known and popular contractor in these parts. I still can't figure out why he did it, as he did not have a terminal illness, and apparently his family life and financial situation were ok. But, I do know that alcohol was involved after talking to several friends who saw him Sunday afternoon. I'm still reeling from the shock of this, and find myself in a state of denial, i.e., no way this guy took his own life. Anyway, nothing to be done about it now except to miss him and learn what lessons there are to be had from this tragedy.
Day 26 here. Glad I've got SR.
Best,
W
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Join Date: Feb 2012
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Originally Posted by Serenityforme
Blood tests were good - just wanna work on my cholesterol level which is 5.5 - putting that down to all the cream buns and chocie I,ve been devouring since abstenance...
It concerns me a little bit that cholesterol is created in the liver -- never like to hear ANYTHING about my liver! However, your levels are not too bad. Here is what I have discovered:
1) it is often a genetically acquired condition
2) exercise will increase your "good" cholesterol level (HDL)
3) triglycerides are what makes your blood "sticky" and allows cr@p to stick on the inside of your veins -- triglycerides are affected by alcohol abuse
4) you need to avoid any "hard" fats -- stuff like any fat that you can actually see like on bacon or salami etc and hard cheeses etc
5) the best things to eat are apples, walnuts, (red coloured) berries and oats/fibre
Good luck with that -- you will be fine
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Originally Posted by woodhead
Went to my friend's funeral yesterday afternoon - the one who committed suicide Sunday night. There were tons of people there
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by woodhead
Hello Everybody,
Went to my friend's funeral yesterday afternoon - the one who committed suicide Sunday night. There were tons of people there, as he was a well known and popular contractor in these parts. I still can't figure out why he did it, as he did not have a terminal illness, and apparently his family life and financial situation were ok.
W
Went to my friend's funeral yesterday afternoon - the one who committed suicide Sunday night. There were tons of people there, as he was a well known and popular contractor in these parts. I still can't figure out why he did it, as he did not have a terminal illness, and apparently his family life and financial situation were ok.
W
You know the argument "guns don't kill, people do"? Sometimes alcohol doesn't kill... it was exposure, a fall... a bullet. Piled up problems. But alcohol and drugs are sometimes overlooked factors.
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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Woodhead - Suicide is such an awful thing for those left behind trying to get their head round it and understand why? I agree with bounced, we should celebrate peoples life, their time here on earth..sounds like your friend touched many people..that in itself is a beautiful thing...surround yourselve in the happy memories you both shared...after a while you,ll find that a memory pops in and you,ll have a giggle, look up and smile back...:ghug3 Day 26 
Thanks for mentioning the books Alison - have to go to library tomorrow so might just see if I can find any treasures there too
Bounced - thanks for the cholesterol advice...created in the LIVER!!! Omg..off to research. You,ll be pleases to know Im back to starting my day with a big bowl of porridge and Im toying with using soya milk
Soberck1 - I soooo would like to quit smoking (that will help cholesterol levels too) I just dont feel "safe" enough to tackle that yet. I am in awe of others who have given up the demon AND ciggies...I WILL do it though and Im thinking in the near future...Amen, Amen, Amen...Im with you on the mantras..lol...If nothing else they are relaxing....
Well finished todays studying so off to pamper myself in a nice bubbly bath, candles and a back rub would be lovely - have to feed hubby bear and make him happy first...
Glad to see most people appear to be having a pleasant day..that makes me smile...To any folks feeling below par...sending warm vibes... :ghug3
Thanks for mentioning the books Alison - have to go to library tomorrow so might just see if I can find any treasures there too
Bounced - thanks for the cholesterol advice...created in the LIVER!!! Omg..off to research. You,ll be pleases to know Im back to starting my day with a big bowl of porridge and Im toying with using soya milk
Soberck1 - I soooo would like to quit smoking (that will help cholesterol levels too) I just dont feel "safe" enough to tackle that yet. I am in awe of others who have given up the demon AND ciggies...I WILL do it though and Im thinking in the near future...Amen, Amen, Amen...Im with you on the mantras..lol...If nothing else they are relaxing....
Well finished todays studying so off to pamper myself in a nice bubbly bath, candles and a back rub would be lovely - have to feed hubby bear and make him happy first...
Glad to see most people appear to be having a pleasant day..that makes me smile...To any folks feeling below par...sending warm vibes... :ghug3
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