ogpr54

wuts up guys....well as the title reads, this is my FIRST WEEK SOBER!!!!.........i know i have'nt won the battle yet, all i can do is take it day by day....i want to thank everyone in my first thread, all your posts were very positive and it help me get through the tough first couple of days of alcohol withdrawal....thank the lord i didn't have any serious withdrawals except high anxiety on day 3 and the insomnia that i still have to get through....i visited my doctor today for a follow up and he was happy to see that im taking this seriously..... like he told me, most young people my age fail to admit or dont even think they have a problem, so im guessing he thought i was gonna slip but hes supporting this very much and wants to help me as much as he can.....i finally experienced a obstacle that i knew i was gonna run into soon enough which was the beer aisle in the supermarket...i had to go through it to get some chips and i had a panic attack at the supermarket, but i rather had gone through that than giving in....sorry for going on for so long, but im really excited about this sobriety....i dont know how to describe it, but things are different...i feel miserable that i cant drink but a the same time i feel good that i dont have to worry about a dui, the hangover the next day and all the anxiety/acid reflux problems i would go through......

sugarbear1

Keep moving forward. Do you have a plan?

artsoul

Congratulations, ogpr! Getting through the first week is huge! It's definitely different being sober and I still miss the buzz every once in a while, even after a year and a half. But I've also found that it's being replaced with better things and genuine rewards: like feeling good about myself and being more connected to the people in my life. Even just getting through the tough days sober makes me feel like I've accomplished something.

So glad you're staying sober - Keep up the good work, one day at a time!

Animal454

Well done..Keep up the good work.

ogpr54

thanks alot guys.....to sugarbears question about having a plan, at this moment i really dont....im waiting to see situations that i would usually drink, like going out with friends and seeing how i bad my urges are.....if they are to the point that im contemplating relapsing, then ill truly know i can't do this on my own and i would seek AA or a program of some sort........i hope everyone elses sobriety is in control....we are strong people, we can get through this.....

ReadyAndAble

Congrats on that first week! That's a huge milestone!! It gets easier, just give it time. It took me a while to acclimate, but just 10 months later, and my sobriety feels comfortable and broken-in, like an old pair of jeans.

Have you examined why you're miserable you can't drink? It took me a while to realize that the thing I missed was a fantasy—a romanticized image of myself enjoying a drink now and then. The truth is there was nothing enjoyable about the impact of my drinking, and it had been years since I only drank "now and then." I missed a fairytale. The reality, I don't miss at all.

Are you sure about going to a bar this soon? I waited a few months before I went near a boozy scene. Is there any chance you might be on some level setting yourself up to drink?

I'm really glad you found us. This place has been a tremendous help to me.

eJoshua

Congrats on one week!

I found that for a while I didn't think my sobriety was real unless it was "tested" -- for example, I didn't think that I was strong in my sobriety or my sobriety was somehow not valid unless I could manage to hang out with my friends while they were trashed and still stay sober. I found out after failing many times that I was setting myself up for failure again and again. That's when I realized that success is determined by planning and planning to keep yourself safe. For me, this means I can't put myself in compromising situations where I would be tempted to drink. This doesn't mean that my sobriety is weak or that I'm weak, it means that I am smart and plan ahead well. Remember the 7 P's: Proper Prior Planning Prevents **** Poor Performance.

Best wishes to you in your continued success!

just42d

Congrats ! I am proud of you and keep up the good works

Tiki

Congratz. I've hit the one week mark; yesterday my first Friday without drinking. It was tough.

Mersault

congrats also awesome first step. I can sympathize with you on anxiety I get that feeling passing a strange medicine cabinet. Just keep in mind what you really want and where you really know the wrong choice will take you. Friends are a funny lot and a term we oft apply too hastily. If their the friend you need around they'll help you not to slip up. If they aren't you likely need a new crew. A plan is excellent if this is your first real time quitting it's stats to seen deceptively easy sound the 6-8 month point where I'd always feel "I've got this wrapped, I'm totally in control" Always followed shortly buy a relapse. Be strong, but be even smarter, and God Speed on your journey.

Anna

Good for you!

It sounds like you're doing well.

I actually avoided the beer/wine aisle in the supermarket for a long time.

One thing I would suggest is that stopping drinking is not the whole solution. Alcoholism is a symptom and we need to deal with the underlying issues in order to recover.

Mersault

Please excuse my typos, I was typing on my phone this morning.

ForeverDecember

Grats!!! The first week is hard!

Dee74

congratulations ogpr

D

YVRguy

Congrats and yes , week 1 is a tough one to be sure....I m revisiting a week one again myself! Err not even sure now how many week one's I have but I'd liek to work to making this the last :-)

I'd agree with Ann , there is a chemical/physiological/body side and then there is other mind stuff that either drinking brought or brought the drinking ...

I am depressed as expected , but working with my GP and counselors and friends in the know at least lets me take some of what I am journaling and share. Meetings are always good for that too!

Keep on the good path!

least

Congrats on your first week sober of many weeks to come.

LittleSparrow

Congrats on getting through the first week! Keep up your momentum! And good job getting through the supermarket aisle to get the chips. I think I would've had to pass on the chips to keep myself out of there.

Hevyn

I remember how hard that was! Great job ogpr54. Be proud.

ogpr54

thank you guys...i decided to stay in tonight....you guys are right, me trying to test the new me in my old environments is as stupid as a gambling addict going to the casino to watch others play...as far as my reason to drink, its pretty much depression brought on by a rare condition that i have( the clinical term is "Chronic Urticaria") my condition is not life threatening, is just very uncomfortable to deal with and when it gets the best of me and people noticed, i hate explaining it. I'm so used to masking the condition that not even my real good friends know i have it. Alcohol would numb everything and keep my condition in a halt which gave me some relief but when i wasnt drinking it made it worse. i ended up developing a horrible relationship with socializing and alcohol, thats why anything social that i encountered i would drink to it......but right now my doctor is trying to help me find a healthy way because drinking everytime i go out is the wrong way.

ReadyAndAble

Good for you, ogpr. I really admire your commitment, especially given the added pressures of your condition. Quitting made some things more difficult for me at first, but ultimately made life in general a whole lot better. Hang in there. I think you should be really proud of yourself.