What do people do when they start thinking about drinking?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 14
What do people do when they start thinking about drinking?
This is my 3 day sober and mainly content. Have not had too many thoughts/cravings about drinking. But like people said, I was thinking it's Friday and why night get some beer (since I really only drink vodka). If I buy a single beer and enjoy it later during basketball, wouldn't that be nice. But then I think when did I ever enjoy a single drink?
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Join Date: Sep 2010
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One beer is pure torture if you're used to drinking to excess regularly. One beer is like eating one bite of a nice steak and then throwing the rest out.
It's tough at the beginning. I think you really have to tough it out. Find something to do that can take up lots of time, especially if you have lots of time.
I read almost a book a day the first month I was sober. That worked pretty well for me. If you don't like reading maybe you can rent a whole season of your favorite TV show or something like that.
Congrats on 3 days! Keep it up, things only get easier from here.
It's tough at the beginning. I think you really have to tough it out. Find something to do that can take up lots of time, especially if you have lots of time.
I read almost a book a day the first month I was sober. That worked pretty well for me. If you don't like reading maybe you can rent a whole season of your favorite TV show or something like that.
Congrats on 3 days! Keep it up, things only get easier from here.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,444
This was a technique useful to me in the early days with cravings
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...e-surfing.html
Generally tho I think you just have to keep focusing on the fact that drinking hasn't worked - it's time to give sobriety and recovery a go
D
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...e-surfing.html
Generally tho I think you just have to keep focusing on the fact that drinking hasn't worked - it's time to give sobriety and recovery a go
D
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
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Hi mhgone. There was never one drink for me either. Loved it and couldn't get enough of it right from the beginning. It was tragic that I ever picked up.
Glad you're sharing these thoughts with us. Great job on your 3 days - soon it will be 4.
Glad you're sharing these thoughts with us. Great job on your 3 days - soon it will be 4.
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 443
Hey mhgone
Personally at Day 3 I was still detoxing pretty bad. What helped though was losing myself in something. Books, video games, TV, AA meetings, just about anything that would keep my mind occupied. Slept a lot as well. Once I started feeling better I started going for long walks with a treat on the way back. Chocolate, a 'nice' coffee, usally something sweet.
But in all honesty, you pretty much just have to suck it up, stay strong and don't give in. All the best.
Oh yeah, almost forgot, I spend lots of time on SR...JD
Personally at Day 3 I was still detoxing pretty bad. What helped though was losing myself in something. Books, video games, TV, AA meetings, just about anything that would keep my mind occupied. Slept a lot as well. Once I started feeling better I started going for long walks with a treat on the way back. Chocolate, a 'nice' coffee, usally something sweet.
But in all honesty, you pretty much just have to suck it up, stay strong and don't give in. All the best.
Oh yeah, almost forgot, I spend lots of time on SR...JD
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 14
I have no detox problems and feel pretty good. I have read the urge surfing article and I totally agree with it. I have been doing a lot of cognitive work and reading a book called Feeling Good (which everyone should read). It's an amazing book and discusses that all depression is caused by illogical thinking.
I am sitting on my couch and the urge has passed. So onto day 4 of sobriety tomorrow.
I am sitting on my couch and the urge has passed. So onto day 4 of sobriety tomorrow.
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Randolph NJ
Posts: 70
Early on in my sobriety I would just tell myself "Remember how bad your last hangover was, and how tough it was to detox..." that would get me through every time. I never, ever want to feel like that again.
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 879
I don't think about it too much at all & never in any sort of favorable light because I know better. On the rare occasion that I find myself fantasizing about alcohol I always remember waking up in the middle of the day in a total stupor, sick, from getting drunk early in the morning (after being drunk the night before). So sad and gross. Never going back. When you think about drinking, remember why you quit.
Last edited by MsJax; 03-23-2012 at 05:19 PM. Reason: took a word out that didn't belong.
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 139
I don't know. But I understand!!! I am at day 6, and I didn't have withdrawal either. I think that almost makes it harder because it's that much more easy for us to say, "why not?". But there is a reason you are looking at this, and have decided to stop drinking right now. Hold on to that reason. That's what is getting me thru.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 14
Agreed with what everyone has said. The worst feeling in the world is going through detox. I went on a 4 day bender and on the 5th day was throwing up all day at work. I tell myself every day I will never go to that place.
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