Breaking the routine is hard
 

Yesterday was only day 2 for me and after a 13 hour work day it was so tempting to stop at the gas station to buy beer but I didn't. I work most of the time 10 to 14 hour work days so stopping to get beer after work is normal for me. I past many gas stations on the way home but I fought the urge off. Today is day 3.

Awesome...keep it going and get as much support as you can to help you when it gets more difficult to drive past those gas stations. Best of luck :)

:c011: Good for you, TG and congrats on day 3! So glad you didn't give in!

It takes time to get used to being sober - I felt like a fish out of water for a while. The good news is that it gets better - a little bit each day - so hang in there!

(For the first two weeks, I got carryout from a good restaurant each evening - it was something different to look forward to, and eating helped take the cravings away).

We all have to get gas in our cars, trucks, motorcycles,
boats, lawnmowers, powered tools. It's a necessity in life.

I remember way back when when you could just drive up
and let the service station attendant fill it up for you so you
never have to get out of your car. :)

Now you drive up and get out put ur card in the machine
and then your ready to fill up hoping the machine isnt malfunctioning
and in that case you have to go in. Yuk!!

Avoiding to walk in if all possible, get ur gas with a card. Grab a
can coke or something to drink on the way home or before so
thirst isnt an issue.

Going a different route away from all the stations you see along
the way. Maybe have someone fill ur car up with gas when u get
home if you are really squirrely to stop.

When urges pop in my head I emmediately begin saying the
Serenity Prayer I quickly memorized so its on hand anytime
I need it. Saying it over and over till the urge leaves.

A meeting at noon would calm you down during the day. A
evening meeting would also help.

I went to any lengths to drink during my drinking career, so
I go to any lengths to stay sober because my recovery is very
important to me.

Life continues to get better as the promises come true the longer
one stays sober.

Yes, breaking the routine IS hard. I bought beer EVERY DAY for 10 years. I thought I'd be in that routine for the rest of my life. That was until the day I ended up in the hospital with severe anxiety and dehydration. I figured I had to change my routine or die. I hope you don't have to get to that point, but that's what it took for me. That was nearly two years ago.

I feel ya! I'm on day 3 myself, and fighting the urge to stop on the way home from work is tough. But we did it, right? I mean, it's difficult, and its a somewhat unpleasant feeling, but its totally doable because, well, we did it and didn't like explode or anything!

Nice going, keep it up!

You still can in New Jersey, in fact it is the only way you can get gas, there is a law that you can't pump your own.

I have been toying with other daily rewards that I never treated myself to before. It seems to work fairly well. For instance, I love smoothies, but I never bought them because they are expensive. Of course they are cheaper than alcohol so I can justify it now. And it just so happens that our local smoothie shop is two doors down from our local liquor store. The end of the day reward is hard wired into my brain for some reason.

The temptations are all around but so far I have said know.one the guys wanted to go get lunch and a beer but told him I'd pass. So far so good. I have been reading thw board today and it help. There are alot of positive people here that has gone thru the same as me and that helps me :)