overthis

Day 3 today. Having a BIG moment of weakness. I need to go to the grocery store and I am feeling so down and out. I can't muster up the courage to get ready to go because I am too scared I won't be able to avoid the liquor aisle.

Tigger41

overthis - I'm so sorry you feel this way.

Is there anyone in your support group that can go with you? Please stay strong the first few days are so hard - stay strong.

Love your avitar by the way

sugarbear1

Please take someone with you or have them deliver, if possible. Even a neighbor...

Anna

I used to purposely look in the opposite direction of the beer/wine aisle. There was nothing in that aisle that I needed.

Hang in there!

aasharon90

The grocery isle is the POISON isle with black
bottles with the skull and cross bones on each
one. The word poison written in big bold letters.

Would you buy poison that you know would
kill you?

I made my list of exactly what i needed at
the store, went in wearing my AA recovery
amour and the Serenity Prayer imbedded in
my thoughts and mind saying it over and over
while i focused on only the items on my list
and getting out as quickly as i could.

I know there is no way to avoid the liquor
that litters each end cap or main isle, but
can ecnore it with the right thoughts and
prayers in my mind.

The devil is always lurking to strike at all
who are vunderable and weak. Wearing
a strong armor of recovery or Faith can
allow u to be strong in mind body and soul
to over power temptation.

I continue to do the same today some 21 yrs
later as those temptation r always there. However
I know without a doubt that all those pretty liquor
bottle wrapped up nicely would never be enough
liquor in all the world to satisfy my cravings for it.

So it is pointless to dream about it or fantasize
about it because it just aint gonna work sucessfully
for me.

My memorized Serenity Prayer i can take with me
wherever i go and use it emmediately when necessary.

pikkle69

Don't you have a grocery store that doesn't sell alcohol? I guess that's the advantage of living in the Detroit area, lots of middle eastern stores around...

Robbie86

Hi overthis , I totally know how you feel , I am basically a recluse through social anxiety disorder , I agree with what the others have said , maybe try an alternative grocery store that does not sell alcohol or if you can , maybe a family member can help out till you get back on your feet .

overthis

Thank you everyone. I don't know of any stores in my area that don't sell alcohol? Even our Walgreens have liquor. I may just have to wait until my husband gets home from work and go with him. Although, my poor cats have no food I know I am going to have to get used to these temptations but I don't know if I am strong enough yet. I am still feeling hungover and the urge to buy some beer just to feel better is scaring me. So disgusted with myself for coming up with all these excuses.

Robbie86

Sorry , just noticed , thought you were afraid to leave because of an anxiety disorder . I really need to read threads slower .

overthis

Robbie86- Well, my post wasn't about it but I do also have social anxiety disorder so your post made sense to me

Robbie86

Thanks Hope you feel better soon . Do you go to meetings and if so , how do you get on ???

1undone

Go with your husband! That's what I did. Your cats won't die. My husband is the best sober coach ever. Do NOT go alone you are way to new to this.

GhostDogg

i've been there. it will get better

overthis

I am waiting for my husband. Right now, I am making a grocery list and will not buy anything that isn't on it! (except maybe a little chocolate!) I haven't been interested in food in so long since I usually just drank in place of meals. I am looking up new recipes to try, I think my hubby will be impressed! The rollercoaster of emotions has been crazy for me so far. One minute I am so excited for my new life, the next I am so scared of being sober. I am so grateful to all of you for listening to me ramble on here and all the words of encouragement. It is truly amazing.

aasharon90

I learned early on that I didnt have to
go thru this recovery journey by myself
and could allow others sober before me
to carry me till I felt strong enough to
stand on my own.

I also had to be reminded that as a baby
we had to crawl before we could walk and
so is it with someone that is newly sober.

We learn to take steps, small steps with the
recovery program set down before us to help
take those little steps as we build a more stronger,
solid foundation in recovery to live upon.

This recovery journey is to be enjoyed even tho
it may seem impossible right now. Remember that
alcohol and drugs do a number on our minds, body
and souls and it will take time for us to begin to
feel normal which is also hard to imagine, but can
be as you will see many many members living a
happy life without poison destroying them, their lives,
their families.

sundancer21

Thank you all... I just needed to read a few of these and now I am NOT going to buy beer on the way home.
The grocery store is really hard. I guess I can tell myself NO beer... but you CAN go to the ice cream treat aisle. Chocolate Eclair anyone?

overthis

Robbie86- To answer your question, I don't go to meetings yet. When I was 19 and forced to go to AA meetings through a diversion program I felt I had to drink to be able to manage sitting around a bunch of people. I didn't get anything out of the meetings at that time because I was too self-absorbed in my drunken stupor. I am considering going to a meeting and just watching/listening to everyone until I get more comfortable with the experience.

overthis

"I guess I can tell myself NO beer... but you CAN go to the ice cream treat aisle. Chocolate Eclair anyone? "

Haha, I think I am going to use this theory until I am strong enough to just say no to the beer with out another indulgence!

aasharon90

Balance. Finding balance in all we do. Too
much of any one thing is not good as we've
heard a many a times.

Too much alcohol we become addicted to it,
causing all sorts of health, physical, mental
problems.

Same thing with over eating. Gambling. Sex.
Shopping. And so on. Each have their own
consequences we must face sooner or later.

Eclairs sound soooo good and could eat my
weight in gold....or eat my way into becoming
obese with numerous health problems.

Find better more satifying ways to live
life to becoming more healthy and happy
in recovery.

Music sooths the soul. Maybe reading to educate
ones self. Learn about addictions and why they
affect people differently and others around them.

And smile.

overthis

Well I got brave and went to Target without my husband because he is working late tonight. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be to not go down the liquor section. It was also super nice to save some money, too! Thanks again for the support. Hope everyone is doing well tonight.