snowdog

I struggle so hard in the evenings to resist the urge to drink and some nights like last night I am practically pulling my hair out..... but it occurred to me as I sit at my desk this morning, that it is so worth it for the MORNINGS!! Although I am tired from fitful sleep and crazy dreams, I am not hungover! Wow! What a difference to my productivity. Truly amazing. I feel like a completely different person. Something for me to remember when the imp comes calling...

TryingSoHard

Absolutely. Sober mornings are so nice. I might be incredibly tired, I might not want to get up... but it sure is nice not to feel horrible, emotionally and physically, because my drinking the night before.

Here's to sober mornings!

James13

I have such vivid dreams, and get into some really deep REMs now that I am not using. I feel more rested in the mornings.

Good to hear you are feeling better.

Horselover

Good job snowdog! I agree the nights "used" to be quite a struggle for me and I had to change routines so I wasn't fixating on the alcohol I was no longer drinking. Now I pour myself a piping hot cup of coffee with some really good flavored creamer and I am in heaven. It was keeping me up at one point and so I sometimes have decaf now, which is okay too. I'm starting to enjoy tea as well. Find a treat that you really look forward to and make that an evening ritual after the dishes are cleaned and put away. Bubble baths are awesome too, but I don't have a tub in our bathroom. Someday though!! Used to have an old claw foot tub that I adored and would give anything to have once again. Spoil yourself I say!!

heidicldwll

Hey snowdog, Glad to hear you are fighting the urge and taking it one day at a time, Keep up the good work and keep coming back there is alot of support here.

Heidi

Isaiah

Oh, yes!

I'm finding that more and more the nights are just becoming boring--much more tolerable than the hair-pulling nights. Don't know what comes third in the sequence, but one day at a time and all us newbies will figure it out I'm sure.

ToABetterMe

I agree, My hardest is when my husband makes a drink & I think, I could have a couple.
But more & more I have to remember how I feel in the morning after a good bender.
If I didn't have a sick kid I bet I could actually have a full night sleep by now!

Hang in there

ViciousCycle

Evenings are tough....I think it was the "ceremonial" time for alot of us.......we looked forward to it all day long while at work. The carrot at the end of the stick.......run home and melt into the bottle........

I love my mornings too much to ruin......I am positive and hopeful for a change of pace. At this point in my life, I will stick to the path I am on..........

KenL

I agree with VC. Get home after work, get a drink, watch the news. It was just like a ceremony.

Now that I am sober I go to bed and sleep like a baby. I wake up and it seems like 2 minutes later but in reality it is 7 hours. I feel rested and peaceful. I don't want to give that up for the 3 am heart pounding and racing thing ever again.

NAP

Geez that would be hard to live with someone who drinks, so good on you for sticking with it! That's why I moved out on my own because I was living in a real alco flat before this. It has its ups and downs - no distractions, and also, no distractions. Maybe you could take a part time course, or pick up an instrument you've always wanted to learn? Write a book? Take photos & edit them? Get a part time job a couple nights a week?

Good luck to you! I just had a conversation with someone who asked me why I quit drinking - I told her about the blackouts and she was taken aback - she said oh wow - no wonder. I always thought they were more common than that (denial ain't just a river in Egypt!) but I'm even more convinced now.

I love the mornings because I don't have to go back into my phone to see who I texted, or if I "drunk emailed" anyone I shouldn't have (the worst)....I don't have numbers on my phone of people who I can't remember meeting! I'm not still p*ssed from the night before reeking of alcohol. I didn't just pay hard-earned money to see a great concert and only remember bits and pieces!

Good luck to all ;-)

shandi76

***nap- omg, i thought i was probably the only nerd that ever did that! (drunk emailed), i'm so over the drunk dialing.
***classical- "and trying to pretend like I felt normal", wow. that is a powerful statement to me, maybe because thats what it feels like i'm doing.

coffeenut

Yep, sober mornings are so worth it! And really, it does get a lot better!

gonzo9730

Sober mornings are great. I still tend to feel a little foggy/tired in the morning, but once I eat and have a couple of glasses of water, I am primed and ready to go. Beats battling a hang-over, that is for sure.

I found the nights get easier as you go along if you try to follow a routine. Its called keeping good sleeping hygiene. ie: going to bed / waking up roughly around the same time; an hour on either side during the weekends is ok. Also, working out for at least a 1/2 hour midday or a few hours before bedtime definetely helps set the tone.

There are many other things that can help to, such as restricting caffeine and sugar at night time. THere are plenty of good sites that offer sleep tips and advice out there,