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-   -   One Year and Under Club Part 47 (https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/newcomers-daily-support-threads/371633-one-year-under-club-part-47-a.html)

Dee74 07-15-2015 12:21 AM

One Year and Under Club Part 47
 
Last part here:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...t-46-a-20.html

D

Saskia 07-15-2015 12:39 AM

Shotgun!

amp123 07-15-2015 01:02 AM

Just jumping onto the new thread! Thanks Dee! Have a great sober day!

site1Q84 07-15-2015 01:52 AM

Thanks for the new thread Dee!

nymets, sorry to hear you drank but nice job on coming right back on here. I think everyone else already said what I would say, so I have nothing else to add :)

I'm in Portugal today with a day off. Going to finish this book, I only have 20 pages left. It's not a very good one, but it's entertaining enough. After that I have a new Murakami book to read, so yay!

Hope you're all enjoying your Wednesday!

Gilmer 07-15-2015 02:01 AM

(((Mets))) If we are truly committed to sobriety, every time we fall off the wagon we learn something valuable. Sounds like you have learned it! :)

Welcome, Nick!

nymets86 07-15-2015 04:31 AM

Thanks for all the kind words everyone.

It's now about 7:30AM. I guess it's good that I'm up this early. When I was actively drinking, I never was. I think that since my body isn't used to the alcohol, it woke me up.

In summary, I feel like crap right now. I am angry as heck at myself and had to take Advil to get rid of a headache, which I haven't had to do since February. It's also such a horrible feeling to check the outbox on my personal email, work email, school email and texts. As of now, I haven't found anything that is bad/embarrassing, so there's some relief.

Day 1, again. Stinks, but I am 100% determined to make last night a one-off and not a pattern.

Saskia 07-15-2015 05:32 AM

Mets, your determination and attitude will take you far! You "done good" getting right back on the wagon instead of going into a long dive. I also believe that we often can learn the most from our mistakes.

Welcome, Nick!

BoozeFree 07-15-2015 02:41 PM

Amp I love collecting vinyl. I bought some hardcore and punk albums.

NYM glad your back fighting for your sobriety.

On my lunch break. Only 2 more hours of womp today

gleefan 07-15-2015 04:53 PM

Nick - Welcome! Congratulations on 11 days sober. I know what you mean about feeling antsy doing activities that you associate with drinking. Like Amp said, eventually the associations go away, but in the mean time you've got to figure out new ways to get through. Some folks handle it by avoiding activities, people, and situations that are connected to drinking. Others kind of steel up and fight their way through it. I've done both. What's important isn't so much which method you choose to stay sober, but just that it keeps you sober.

Mets - I hope that you're finding inspiration to stay sober today. I found that I had to reach out to other alcoholics to keep inspired when my well was running dry. (I still do!) I'm glad I did.

Dee - I really like your gate analogy.

Petals - Congratulations on approaching a full year sober. Stick close if you need help getting through tricky days.

BoozeFree - I guess your nicknames can be NicoteneFree and CaffieneFree! :) Way to embrace a healthier way of living. Think of all the extra cash you'll have from not buying cigarettes and Red Bull. :)

Casey - Your attitude of gratitude is so sweet. Thanks for sharing your experience, strength and hope with us.

Amp - It looks like you're hitting your sober stride.

Saskia - My inner child is inspired by your realization that you deserve a peaceful, happy life.

As an alcoholic, I find that I have to be vigilant. I don't have the luxury of letting things slide for a little while. For me, experience has shown that easing up for a little while can create a tidal wave. I am learning, ever so slowly, to accept this about myself, and work with my nature instead is fighting it, complaining about it, and feeling ashamed of it.

I am incredibly grateful to my comrades in recovery, all of you, who continue to light my path.

BoozeFree 07-15-2015 08:34 PM

Hi undies.
Survived wompland. I was planning on staying home but my friend talked me into going to the casino. Having some cravings to smoke a cig but chewing some gum instead.

Saskia 07-16-2015 10:28 AM

Casey, congrats on 70 days sober!
:nyae

CaseyW 07-16-2015 10:46 AM

Thank you, Saskia! I won't lie--it feels darn good to finally get to uncharted territory. Looking forward to day 71 but in the meantime I'm off work today and headed to the pool right now to do a little swimming and a lot of reading.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and sober (the two go naturally together, don't they?) day today!

Dharma33 07-16-2015 08:26 PM

Hi Undies!!!! Hope everyone is well. NYMets, like everyone I'm glad you are back in to fight the good fight.

Below is a copy of my post to my May Class, just wanted to share the update with you as well. I met a group of friends tonight for dinner, we have known each other since our kids were babies. Historically wine has always been a part of this group, so I was nervous to meet up with them (which is about every 2-3 months).

Hey Class!

I'm home and sober. I had a very nice time. Beyond that, I actually had fun. Yes, fun without drinking! We talked, laughed, caught up and after a while, I forgot all about drinking/ not drinking.

When I got there, the 3 ladies I am closest with were already seated. After I ordered sparkling water, one said- "I sure hope you are ordering something stronger than that!" So I told them no, this is all I am having because I don't drink anymore. The questions began- pregnant, something medical? Not drinking ever again or just for a while?

So I explained I was drinking just too much- it was getting way beyond what is considered normal consumption, so I decided to just stop altogether. And yes, this is a permanent lifestyle change.

The conversation that ensued was everyone else chiming in as to how much they drank (some members told me this would happen, and it certainly did). However, they were also very supportive.

Anyway, then that was that. My Voss sparking water with lime suited me just fine.
I had planned an early exit, only to order appetizers, but after I settled in I felt comfortable enough to finish dinner with them.

Today was a good day.

Saskia 07-16-2015 08:47 PM

Dharma, that's great! I'm happy that it worked out so well :-)

BoozeFree 07-16-2015 09:27 PM

Casey congrats on 70 days! That's awesome. Hope you enjoyed your wompfree day today.

Dharma that's rad you were able to be honest about not drinking and have fun at your dinner.

Wompland kicked my butt today! Super tired and sore. Ended up feeling stressed and buying some cigs. I guess it's way better than drinking. Still gonna work on quitting smoking too tho.

tootsl1 07-17-2015 12:06 AM

Casey, you are now an intrepid explorer - uncharted end waters- just watch out for dragons! (AV) you are doing great.

Dharma it's great you were able to be honest about your reasons for not drinking, I say the same thing. I have a couple of friends that when I have said I've stopped drinking said ' oh I wish I could but I need it'. Er...is that not the definition of an alcoholic?? No they are just middle aged middle class ladies who over indulge a little too frequently!! Go figure.

The weekend approaches Undies, make your sober plans and keep you recovery tools to hand. Xx

site1Q84 07-17-2015 02:56 AM

Happy Friday everyone!

Just stopping by to say hello. Glad everyone is doing well!

Saskia 07-17-2015 05:23 AM

Toots, those middle-aged ladies become old ladies who indulge a bit too much! I've seen that where I live. People are generally careful about public behavior but the number of liquor bottles in the recycling is sometimes amazing.

I'm beginning to realize that alcohol use and abuse covers a very wide spectrum and is not a simple yes/no situation. As I've thought about my own struggles as I read and sometimes respond to the Newcomers' threads, I think I'm also seeing that spectrum. For some of us, when we keep relapsing, I'm not so sure that it's lack of will as much as perhaps it's a particular variety of brain chemistry. I used to be one of those people who could stop drinking on a dime and stay sober for a number of years. This last time was completely different and took me totally by surprise. I think I've become a bit less judgmental about people's struggles. We truly are all different.

BoozeFree 07-17-2015 07:15 AM

Good morning undies
Hi toots!
Off to wompland

nymets86 07-17-2015 07:27 PM

Hey undies,
I'm checking in now before starting a two week vacation. Head out soon for a red eye to Europe and then have awesome plans. I'm very confident that I will stay sober. It's a two-week trip that spans many nations and I planned all of it while sober, so very excited for it.

I will be sharing a room in every hotel with my cousin, who doesn't drink much. If temptations do arise, I'll check in here, but I'm pretty confident that these last 21 weekends around my family while 100% sober will make it easier.

In all honesty, my biggest worry is that I just got a huge offer from a competing firm. With the trip starting, I'm a bit tied up in logistics, but it's a major salary raise and includes full reimbursement for the rest of my grad school and an up front cash bonus that will pay for all forfeited stock, bonus, 401k, etc.

I am not going to drink to celebrate, but it crossed my mind. For now, I'm focusing on how to come back from the trip and get a counteroffer that is palatable. My parents know about it, but my brother, cousin, aunts/uncles don't and I'll leave it at that.


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