Tendencies

Since I've gotten sober the last 5 months. A lot of good things have been happening. One of which was the sale of my home for a great price and a positive change in my life. While packing I found a list I made for myself when I was drinking. It's at least a year old.

The title of the list was:
Reasons Not to Drink

Can't lose weight
Costs more than I can afford
Have a $#&# self image
Wrecking my health
Can't quit smoking
Work is suffering
Can't write (I like to write fiction)
Can't move on (issues I have)
Can't sleep
Strange chest pains
Look like crap
Aging too fast.

So I just found that list. Interesting. I've quit smoking since I quit drinking. My health has improved. I have money again. My self image is better. I'm still overweight. That's something I have not tackled yet. Sleep is good. Not sure about the aging. All my strange pains have gone away.

So I thought I would share that.

Still struggling but still sober.

AmericanGirl

Nice. How cool that you found this list. I relate to many things on it -- the good ones and also not losing as much weight as I thought I would, lol.

Auggie

Thank you for sharing your list. I too can relate to many things on it also.

Bikeguy

Great list of reasons, thanks for the reminder!

jessiecat777

well i actually gained over 100....but i am happier fat and sober than skinny and sick

coffeenut

I think your post is a perfect example of how powerful journaling can be. Awesome!

Tendencies

Think it was good to find that list. When I first quit I had some dark thoughts.

I only needed a break form drinking to get my life together. Three months or so would do it. Fix everything and drink like a normal person after that.

I don't think that anymore. I see the drinking for what it really was. Me for what I really am.

Did anybody else when they first quit think it was just going to be for a little while?

MsCooterBrown

I had to quit...I couldn't live like I was living any more..and people that I surrounded myself with (other hard core drinkers) were having catastophic consequences (DUI, Jail, death) so I seriously started feeling gloom and doom. I found my list..made it back in August..by the way..the list is really a good start to quit for good. I haven't looked at it in quite awhile but I am happy you reminded me by your post that I had one.

Reasons to quit:
Anxiety
Hangovers and withdrawals
Drunk Driving (yeah..not one I am proud of)
Blackouts
Weight gain
Bloating
Broken blood vessels starting
Liver disease (scared the hell out of me all the time)
Foggy thinking..dazed until at least noon daily
No appetite but you know you have to eat
Perceptions, high drama (I was a victim from hell!)
Bruises (mainly on my legs-looked like I just got done kick boxing on many nights)
Lack of responsibility
Falling (started tipping over alot)
DUI

Results I hope to accomplish by NOT drinking (and they have happened! YAY!)
Calmness feeling of well being
Weight loss (45 lbs to date) still want to lose around 15 more
Responsible
Strength of character
SLEEP! I love it.
Respect (giving and receiving)
Self esteem
Feeling normal (I was getting jumpy..like fight or flight syndrome)
Memory (mine was shot to hell)
Morality (don't ask)

See I am just so content..I can't imagine ever going back to drinking..I know everyone says stay on guard. But I just hate it now..I was letting it destroy me! I wish everyone struggling could see the pros and if they think about drinking LOOK AT YOUR LIST!

Missy7

Thank you for sharing. I'm glad the weird pains went away! I always attributed them to drinking but I'll bet most alkies are hypochonriacal--I certainly am--so I kept thinking I would die. That would be a good reason to drink!

I didn't make such a list--actually I did. There's a little book by my bed, still there, in which I wrote in such generalities that it is practically a code, every morning I woke up sober. I haven't looked at it ever. I'll bet I never went two days. I'll check it when I'm done with SR this morning.

Thanks again. Great post.

LaFemme

Great post.

To answer your question...when I quit I knew it was forever.

Missy7

LaFemme--you are amazing. I'm a very strong woman. But I don't know anything is forever. I don't know how that happens. I know I won't drink before noon today. Noon. At noon I need a new strategy.

Sorry. first sober weekend in three or four years.