My inspirational message from someone who is 11 days sober
 

I am 37 yrs old, been an alcoholic (daily drinking 9+ units per day) for 11 years and i have given up and relapsed 3 times.

I am now on my 4th time being sober and it has been 11 days and i reckon i have kicked it for good. I know this because i know i cannot moderate my drinking hence i am going to be teatotal. I want to do other things than drink.

I want to share a mind trick i play on myself whenever i feel i miss the drink. This is what i do. i say to myself:

"i can do everything i did before but without the drink!"

Thats it.

So this means i can keep the same friends, go to the same places and pretty much do the same things. Therefore there is no radical change in my life. i know my life will change however at the minute i am doing everything i would have done before without the drink.

So i have gone down the pub and drank soda.

I have gone to a party tonight and drank 0% lager.

I will go to the restaurant and have a laugh with everyone who are getting drunk and watch them get drunk while i drink diet coke.

It involves me being strong but for some reason i feel completely strong to battle this addiction.

I love this forum!

Good for you Leo hope you stay strong, you sound really determined.

If things turn out not to be so clear cut (I really hope they dont) keep reading and keep posting.

Look forward to getting to know you.

Leo -- I'm right behind you on Day 10. I like your outlook on acceptance and getting back to your life.

Watch yourself, listen for the lies and push them back.

I wish you well my friend - just as I am doing the same for myself.

Way to go Class of December 2008.

I did have to make drastic changes in my lifestyle
to protect my early fragile sobriety.
If you find that is true for you
don't hesitate to change and move forward.

Welcome to our recovery community...:wave:

I cannot live the same as I did. I don't want to. This is a whole life change, I can't fake myself thru it. That's just me... whatever works for you works for you!!

Congratulations on your sobriety!

I like the determination you have for your sober life!

Keep on keeping on!

Welcome Leo! Congratulations on beginning a sober life!

Welcome! Keep reading....it's good here!

That's how I played it, too leo2leo, but many will warn you it's safer to stay away from the temptation. For me, I knew I wasn't going to stay out of bars, or stop visiting with people who drank, the rest of my life - I didn't want to have to deny myself everything I enjoyed - so I do all the same things too. It was only awkward & uncomfortable in the very beginning, and I would have tried a different plan if I felt I was weakening. I hope it works for you, but as Carol said, be open to changing your approach if it becomes too challenging.