Class of June 2015 Part 2
 

this is the support thread for everyone who wants to quit drugs, alcohol or any kind of addiction this month of June2015

[CENTER]The latest May thread is now here:




Here is the last part:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...2015-a-25.html

Well done livingnow on not sending that email. I have woken to a lovely email from the person I was about to send that horrible one to (but didn't) and am so glad I didn't send it now. So the HALT thing is good and I get about the mood swings.
Welcome to all the new people, so good to see you. It took me forever to join and then when I did I didn't post except a tiny bit and then blew it at 12 Days. Now I am reading all the posts and posting more and am on Day 12 again so am going to be very wary not to slip and stay close to here.
Troy, I think it is good that you are away from it while you try to give up and being sober makes you so much more aware.
Carly, meant to say well done on ditching all the bottles. I did my big ditch and have found a couple more!
I am hoping for a big work day here.
Very best wishes to all
Mayg

Hello shiny new thread. :-)

Last shift of the week tonight. I'm back for 3 days next week, then after that, vacation. RV road trip to New York (upstate) where my SO grew up. I'm not sure what the alcohol situation will be there. We are going with his parents, who do not drink that often, but maybe let loose once in a while, much like him. There's going to be a family reunion. Drinking is not an option for me anymore. Guess I will have to brace myself for the token "you're not drinking, are you pregnant?" Question.

I'm strong enough to say no.

Thanks for starting the new thread Anna :hug:

'Drinking doesn't agree with me any more is another valid response BBF :)

D

Yep I like the 'drinking doesn't agree with me anymore' one too. I've basically been saying to people that 'drinking was starting to make me anxious and depressed, so I've had to stop'. It's the truth, without having to go into too much detail.

Good morning. Starting Day 6 today. Just moved a bunch of rocks given to me from a friend. Couldn't do that at 9 am two weeks ago. Actually getting a lot more things done and feeling more organised. I caused myself so much unnecessary stress while drinking.
I'm excepting the same question bblackbird. Although I wish I could say yes.
One of the main reasons for sobriety.
Congratulations to everyone making it each day.
Welcome to all the newcomers facing the initial days. I did the Wellness Toolbox activity suggested on here. It is very helpful putting things down on paper. Its focus is very positive. You list happy feelings and positive things to do for yourself. Very helpful. I check it everyday.
Enjoy your day today. I need to apologise this afternoon to some clients whose meeting I misscheduled. Yes, because I drank all the time and was not organised. There, said it! But I won't tell them that!!!!! Hopefully last of the drink related excuses.
Take care today everyone.

Its very quiet here, only lonely old me, I guess you're all sleeping! Well I played my best game of netball last night. Didn't realize how much the hangovers and tiredness were affecting my game. I had so much energy!!!
Welcome to all our newbies, and congrats to all those who made it through another day!

I'm here chanty:) I find it's very quiet on this thread around this time , must be different time zones. Yes, I am also realizing every day how much alcohol and hangovers were affecting my energy level, moods, attitudes, and even confidence level

Nice dinner with my boyfriend and one of his sales reps. Interestingly, they both drank! I wasn't expecting that since my boyfriend is not a drinker. The other guy sort of encouraged it. It was fine for me though because I know my boyfriend would be furious with me and it would cause all sorts of problems. My worst time is being alone when I think I can "get away with it".

Ready for some real sleep! I love my sober sleep!! Goodnight friends, no matter what day you are on, don't give up!

I'm having a rough day 2. I've got a broken arm, and my employer won't take me back to work, and is giving me no end of trouble getting disability. I'm preparing a financial affadavit for family court child support. It's really tough. One day at a time. I've got to face reality.

Sleep well forabetterlife, sober sleeps are the best!
Yuri, sorry to hear you are having a hard time. At least you are facing it sober, which has to help. Hang in there, I hope things work out for the best.

Hope it all works out Yuri - we're behind you :)

congrats Chanty :)

D

Have a lovely sleep forabetterlife.
Yurio, it is so hard what you are going through but you shall get more done sober and we are all here if you need to vent.
Mayg

I'm going to take you up on your offer soon. I feel the need for some major ventilation coming on. Thanks.

Do so. WAY better than picking up a drink. Mayg x

Hello fellow June people.

I'm jumping in a little late here, but I am on day four and doing well. History is in my first post here if anyone is interested, but I feel that this time I am going to do well.

April last year - stopped for first time ever - wild rollercoaster ride - especially first few weeks.

Six more stops / relapses with sober periods ranging from 77 days to 3 days.

I have always done it alone before - now I have the support of the lovely citizens of the " Independent Republic of SR " .

My AV is ever-present, but I can tell he is rattled by my decision to hook up with some buddies who are wise to his tricks.

I also know my triggers better ( I am sure there will me many more challenges ) but with your help, I'm going to avoid ever picking up that first drink and ask

"How is this possibly going to help make anything better ?"

June means the start of winter where I am, so log fires, hot tea and walks/runs in the rain are what I am looking forward to instead of rumbling along with a hangover.

Oh - and I have started to play the piano at night rather than glug wine. What an infinitely more pleasurable thing to do !

So - I'm in ! Look forward to hanging out !

Welcome Fradley playing the piano seems a much better way to spend an evening.

Had a stressful morning but I coped still feeling calm trying to learn to switch off from things I can't control and take life one day at a time for now. We see how long it lasts.

Energy levels up a bit from zero to one getting there lol might get into second gear by the weekend. It's still easier to do everyday tasks tired than hungover.

Oh, this is me too. As soon as I am left alone, I start scheming whether to drink. The sad thing is that I think if I drink alone, then I can fool them when they return. Yep, the reek of booze, slurred speech, and sloppy movements - I'm sure I can cover that up by brushing my teeth and focusing really hard. Blah...glad I don't have to do that anymore.

As for telling people/turning down drinks, I am going to stick with "It was causing to many problems." This is true. Let's see, there was insomnia, weight gain, poor skin, neurotic excorations, plantar facitis, greatly diminished cognitive ability, unpredictable angry man, unpredictable sad man, memory issues... I'm sure there are other things. It's frightening that even with all those issues, the thought to drink can still come to mind strong and clear. Anyway, more stuff that I don't have to do and is all getting better.

I am committing to not drinking for the next 500 posts.

Welcome Fradley :)

D

Good morning! Start of day 4! Planning on going to a local park to listen to a live outdoor concert with my hubby tonight. Looking forward to the weekend. I am going to Florida with my daughters. It's a girls weekend trip to Universal to celebrate my youngest daughter (24) getting her bachelors degree in May. This trip will help me get through my first weekend with no alcohol. I need this:)

Welcome fradley. My history is similar to yours, many stretches of sobriety but struggling to make it last. But I've been at it longer, about 3 years. I hope you stop that rollercoaster sooner than me!

Rah, that sounds like a great weekend with your daughters. And the fact that drinking won't even be an issue makes it even bette :)

Day four for me as well. Lots on my to-do list today and my daughter has softball game in the evening so that hopefully will help me with those afternoon cravings.

Things are really going well for me.. A few things have relieved some of my financial struggles and my relationship (which is actually a rekindled old relationship) is really going well. Dare I say, I might be .... Happy? An easy way to blow it would be to drink- sabotage the whole thing like I've done before. Not doing it. Alcohol is poison for my mind, my body, and my life.

Hey TiredofMe - you haven;t heard my piano playing :)

Seriously - I suggest coming on here at anytime you try to 'switch off from things' - In my experience, the craziest, most powerful impulse to head for that drink will diminish quickly if you can just communicate with someone who understands. When ( and it is when ) the moment has passed - head off and do anything you want while congratulating yourself for heading off the enemy.

Re your comment: " It's still easier to do everyday tasks tired than hungover."

Absolutely - I have a sh*tload of work to do right now - a lot of it caused because I was too exhausted/depressed from poor sleep and drinking.

But it is taking a back seat right now, because I am getting the jitters and need to read a few posts here , and post a little just to get me through.

I tell myself " no matter how close I sail to the wind with failing to fulfill business/personal commitments due to doing whatever it is I need to do to get through these first few days - it will be worth it for the longer term benefit of being free from my addiction"

Like everyone else here I guess, we are here because we are thoroughly sick of feeling like this.

I know from experience how great it feels to break through a week/ 2 weeks/ 20days and beyond.

What I don't know is why I made the decisions to start drinking again, when I did.

What I do know - is that each decision to drink again was misguided. I will never be in control once i start drinking.

But I can ( with effort ) make a decision to not take the next drink.


So you are 100% correct - it is better to do stuff tired and jittery and scared than to do stuff drunk or hungover or depressed or aching for another drink - I'm going to keep that thought with me - Thank you.



You will get there and so will we all - keep posting :)

Day 12 and I made it.
I didn't last time.
A friend called and I could tell she was a bit pissed and I'd love to say I didn't want to join her but I'd lie. BIG AV voice tonight but I did my best to ignore and am going to take myself off to be and catch up with all your posts.
Best wishes
Mayg

Congrats on day 12 Mayg, longer than you made it previously. :)

Thanks guys.
I'm very grumpy but sooo productive! Without the booze we'd rule the world :-)
Congrats all for making the leap and for those holding on. It is worth it. I must keep reminding myself that. Actually it's good to have today done and dusted. It was a tough one. We all get them though and we all have to work through them. It really wasn't all bad but I miss my reward and that really is my AV voice because I'd get zilch done tomorrow and feel as guilty as hell.
Mayg x

And another day down. Nothing to really report. Was pretty fatigued today, so slept quite a bit. Not sure, guess my body decided it was time for another round of healing.

Feel really "clean" now, or best word I have to describe it. It's almost as if I can feel that my pores have opened up more, and are breathing better now. Skin is starting to feel softer, face is clearing up nicely, etc. Plus I don't sweat as much when I'm out and about, which is a nice change.

Finally starting to get back into work mode, which is nice. Should finally have one project out of the way late tonight or tomorrow, and it's being offered for free, so will be nice to get out of the way, so I can get back to making some money. Haven't made a single dollar in probably four months, so this will be my first big test. Can I keep myself sober while putting myself through the stress and responsibilities that work entails? People love to assume working from home is easy, but that's just not true.

Nonetheless, hope everyone else is doing good, and staying strong! To a sober June! :)

Oh boy, This is the tough time. Day 4, I'm tired, irritable, feel bloated, things to do but can't get motivated, grumpy and I look icky. The past 2 days I felt great. But now that don't, my av is screaming that it's just not worth it if I feel bad anyway. I know, I know, it's just a day, one day. And i know drinking won't make an "off" day turn back on.

Hang in there forabetterlife, it only gets better as the days go by. Try to get your mind off concentrating on those thoughts. Go for a walk, watch a movie, or even just play an online game -- mahjong, solitaire, whatever's your fancy.

Heck, here's one I played for a while to keep my mind off any nasty thoughts. It's developed for 6 year olds, but I don't care, it kept my mind from thinking about the bottle, and it wasn't mentally straining while my body was healing.

Papa's Taco Mia! | Free Flash Game | Flipline Studios

Thanks Troy, that's funny! I actually play candy crush and beat myself up about that too because it's such a waste of time. But if it keeps me from drinking, so what.

Start of Day 2 for me, after a much better night's sleep. Yesterday I was so tired, and missing the new routine I'd been in with walks, exercises, gardening & household chores - I can't wait to get back to that and feeling I've done something useful with my days!
Thank you all for your honest, brave and insightful posts.

Forabetterlife, sorry to hear it. Don't fret about what you are not getting done. Sober you will be much more effective. Tell your AV that you would have had the same day if you had come down with flu, or slipped and broke your arm. Neither of this events would be fixed by starting to drink again either.

Hope you can hang in there and get to bed as early as you can.