Struggling on day one
 

Haven't been here for a long time. Doesn't take much to work out why.

I am in the worst state I have ever been in. I desperately need this to be day one but it's 10am and I'm struggling already.

I *really* need some guidance.

That's all - sorry for whining.

Welcome back :)

I can't remember what you've tried in the past, Smudg3r?

I think seeing your Dr could be a good first step if you've been drinking hard and regularly for a while.

Have you thought of a recovery group - AA etc?
tried Counselling?

Sticking close to SR is not a bad idea either - reading and posting here got me through many of those early days.

You're not alone here :)

D

Hello, Smudg3r.

Talking to a doctor is good. You can hang around SR all day and night if you need to. Hang in there.

Thanks. This last hour and a half feels like a day and a half.

It WILL get easier with each passing day. Just don't drink today. And when tomorrow becomes today, don't drink again - just for today. That's how I did it and I have 11 months today!:) You CAN do this!:)

Smudge, that is exactly how I felt on Day 1. I couldn't believe that time was moving so slowly.

You can make this your last Day 1!

Thanks guys, your comments are really helpful.
At the moment I'm in a place where it's not possible to drink. As sad as it sounds, I am grateful for that fact...
Just got to contend with the long hours of this evening...

But thanks again, your comments have really lifted me. :)

Make a plan for the evening Smudg, it might help.

Call someone, go out for a walk, plan to be doing something different tonight.

Stay as comfortable as you can under the circumstances. Watch tv, the internet, read, pray do anything distracting. I hope you come thru this a stronger and more determined person.

Trust that they won't seem that long for long! The first days are just so hard because your body is so messed up with the chemical that you literally cannot think straight. You have to just have blind faith that you're doing the right thing.

agree 110%!! get that poison out of you! i am on day one myself.....one day at a time, baby. peace

I don't know if it will help you but I find eating a good hot meal helps. I love spicy food. I find it balances my blood sugar levels and gives me a fighting chance.

Stay strong.

Smudg3r,

When I am at my lowest, there is nothing like an AA meeting or 2 to help me to see that there are many people out there like me, and when we get together and talk it just makes me seem a bit more at ease and able to move on to another day without drinking. Keep trying...

Best wishes,
Rich

Recovery is hard, drinking is harder
 

Hi Smudge,
If you think about it. All the horrible feelings you have while drinking can be solved by a few sucky days getting sober. Then you have to just suck up a lot of stuff you don't like.
The thing about mind altering substances is you feel nothing. (Except of course the fear, selfloathing, physical sickness etc.)
When we sober up, we have to face ALL the emotions and everything is magnified x 10000! It scares the bejesus out of us!
This is what I have learned.
1. It sucks, suffer through it. I can do this TODAY.
2. Stop any thoughts of drink. change the subject. It (Thought) will grow and become inevitable.
3. Avoid being alone or idle at trigger times. (evening for me).
4. If you are heading out the door to buy, STOP and wait an hour. Repeat.
5. Avoid people who trigger cravings. Family?
6. Do not get Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.

HALT

7. Eat sweets or savory, be really generous to yourself with everything besides drink.
8.Go to AA or similar face to face and talk to someone. SR site is great for wisdom, advice and easy company.
9. For me, I got caught up in the day count thing and it was not good. The temptation to "reward" after x amount of days is strong. Now, I just keep it in the day. I can tell you my sober date but not the day count.
10. Go easy on yourself and put the stick down!
:day6

Your responses are fantastic. Really!

You have given me a great deal of strength.

There is no doubt in my mind that if I hadn't remembered this forum at 9.45 this morning I would have lost another day of my life.

Thank you so much for getting me through the first nine hours.

Made it!
Who could know day one would be so hard...

Thanks so much for the support. :)

Well done! Im with you on sobriety days but think I will try and take HollyAnne's advice on board - day count doesnt seem to work for me and I spend too much time thinking about things coming up in the future (kid free weekend/Office Xmas Party/Xmas!) I think I need to do this on a "today" only basis. Hope you are feeling a lot better today? Very best of luck to you.

PS

Thanks Pumpkin :)
Yes, I agree that it's not such a good idea to count days - but at day two - it's a little difficult not to ;)

Feeling better? Definitely.
...well actually I feel like hell; bad stomach, headache, zero sleep etc etc - but at the same time, I am elated to have gotten through the first day!

Feeling a little trepidation now for this evening - but on firmer ground thanks to this forum :)

I know its almost impossible not to count days - I hope I can get to the point when I cant remember how many days but just do it in weeks - months even!

Off to work now - will be checking in later - if you start to wobble come on here and talk it out someone will be here!

PS x

That's exactly what I'm talking about :thanks