hollyjames

I've been sober for 4 days now and it seems like FOREVER! I went to my second AA meeting today and felt very good leaving. Just purchased the "Big Book" and read a few chapters....However, it's Friday night, all my friends are out drinking, and all I want to do IS JOIN THEM! (or at least drown my sorrows in self-pity and vodka at home alone). This is much harder than I thought it would be.

Goodnfast

Welcome to SR Hollyjames, and congrats on your first 4 days! It's not always as hard as it seems now, just hang in there.

You will find some good people here.

adore79

Good job hollyjames, I know it is hard but you are doing the right thing. Hang in there!!! :ghug3

nandm

Welcome to SR!

I can completely relate. What you are feeling is the experience of many here at SR including myself. I hope that it reassures you to know that for me that feeling went away. I would not trade one day today for any of those yesterdays. You can get through this time. Keep going on day at a time and before you know it you will wake up one morning and be surprised by the fact that you have not felt this way in a long time. Glad to see you have started a program of recovery. That is a huge help with the changes you will be experiencing while getting sober. Reach out, call people, talk to people, post here, read the first 164 pages of the Big Book, get a sponsor, and get to work on the steps ASAP. The Steps are the key to relieving a lot of what you are going through as well as the obssession for alcohol. Take care.

Anna

Hi Holly,

Welcome!

You're right, it is really hard to get sober and to stay sober.

For me, it meant making a lot of changes in my life.

Dee74

good luck hj...like these other folks say it gets better...

other people will always go out drinking on a Friday night - we just have to try and remember what it does to *us*

good luck
D

Aysha

reed

I feel your pain H.

I've been off the party seen with Team Black Out for 4 months now. Who would have suspected it. Rehab put me away from my friends and fam, now I'm livin' in de halfway house with a bunch of recoveryheads. Sure does make things easier on me though. Home alone with vodka is not gonna help and we all know it. Just hang in there, try to catch a meeting, just keep busy!

nogard

Welcome

hollyjames

Thank you all so much for the support. Tonight is going to be a tough one to get through. I truly thought I may be over-exxagerating my condition until tonight. Hands sweaty, shaky, fidegety and all I can think about is drinking. WTH is wrong with me

SkippyD

hello hollyjames, I too am on day 4 and know exactly what you are going through. I am experiencing the sweating, shaking, anxiety and what the hell is wrong me with feeling! I am drinking a lot of water, eating lots of carbs, drinking orange juice and distracting myself with watching television and visiting this site A LOT. Apparently, after about day 7 we will feel a whole lot better. There is nothing wrong we are just experiencing withdrawals from the alcohol, it will get better, hang on in there you can do it.

nandm

A couple of links you might find useful.

PAWS ==== Post Acute Withdrawl Syndrome -- discusses some of the residual effects of stopping drinking.
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center

Our alcoholism 12 step study forum. === lots of good information here. Everything from explanations of how to work the individual steps, AA speakers talks on the steps, what the Big Book says about each step with references to where they are talked about, discussions started by SR members of the steps (their concerns, experiences, questions, comments); and also below the steps are threads that discuss each chapter of the Big Book with explanations included, links to speakers talking about chapters of the Big Book, and member threads about concerns and thoughts about the Big Book.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/step-study/

Hope you find these useful. Thank you for the nice note.

barb dwyer

Hi Holly - welcome to SR!

It gets easier. You sick of hearing that yet?

How about this one - you're not alone.

Both are simple - and at the same time - true.

CarolD

Welcome to SR Holly

Keep in focus...you too can have
a healthy sober future!

least

Welcome to the site HOlly. As hard as it may be to believe, it does get better. I found the first three or four days to be the worst, after day four I began to feel human again. Hang in there. The best is yet to come.:ghug2

lostmdboy

Welcome!! Just keep it simple. Just one minute ate a time if that is what it takes. Every day that goes bye you will feel better and better.