ShaneW

Just picked up my 2-month chip yesterday. One of my good friends, Ive known 15+ years, is moving away from VA to Texas & there is a plan in the works for a bunch of us to hit a nearby casino for a day/night.

I have volunteered to be designated driver & 1-2 of the guys going know my ENTIRE drinking/AA story so they will def have my back on the no-drinking thing. Also 2 of the other guys know that I did quit drinking. I plan to tell the others at least that I quit before we go, so no chance for any dumb peer pressure stuff (not that they would, since Im DD).

But I can def recognize that going to a casino with old friends, who plan to get wasted themselves, isnt the smartest idea for a 2-month sober dude. Id like to just get some feedback...either suggestions for what to do while in casino - if urge arrises (it hasnt really much at all since I got sober, knock on wood)...or Im a big boy, if you think its a horrible idea and I should change plans, please share.

Thanks

camedown

Out of all the chips you gamble away, make sure the 2 month isn't one of them. One day/night shouldn't be too hard if your sobriety has been good so far. Just make sure ot have your sponsor's and maybe other AA peep's numbers on you. Usually just the act of dialing an AA person can get me out of a craving, even if I only hear a message. A good trick I used in early sobriety in tough situations like this one is to wear a tight rubber band around my wrist, the constant annoyance of it is a constant voice against the alcoholic voice inside. As to whether or not you should go at all, only you can answer that one, if you feel even a bit unsure about it, maybe give it a second thought.

Dee74

I think it's a horrible idea Shane and you should change your plans - hanging out in a casino is dangerous enough for early recovery - doing it with old drinking buddies is pretty much foolhardy IMO.

You're the designated driver sure - but you have to stay there until they're done....and I've seen many des. drivers fall...

Nope.

D

Hollyanne

Hi Shane,
I just got an instinctive feeling after reading your post.
For me, the danger of your Vegas trip would be getting home after the trip and feeling immense relief and pride and THEN drinking.
The "reward" drinking. Lots of people will tell you, they made it through the holidays and drank in January.
Perhaps go for coffee and a chat with a couple of the guys as a sendoff instead?
When you have built up a bit of time, you can go visit the friend with another of the buddies regularily. That is the new freedom of being sober. Making plans and having the means to do them.
Congratulations on two months.
Brilliant!

ShaneW

Brutal honesty. LOVE IT. Thank You Dee.

Dee74

I wasn't going for brutal...but you're welcome Shane LOL.

D

ShaneW

Actually I encourage brutal honesty. I want to get to 3-4-5-720 months, so I need to hear it.

Ive been having too good a week and am worried kindve about the other shoe dropping. Either that or how I feel is the product of the work Ive done and I am just not used to feeling good most of the time, so its scaring me.

Dee74

Feeling good was new for me too - and a little worrying...deep down I think I wasn't sure I deserved it. y'know?

You'll grow into it, like I did, I think

D

Peter G

OK, here's me sharing. Don't go. Full stop.

EDIT: Just read the replies after your OP. Listen to Dee Shane, he's spot on (as always ). Being a designated driver is basically taking the "quick exit" option off the table. And yeah, drinking buddies + casino is just about a perfect storm.

Of course there will be those who may come along and tell you "life doesn't stop because we stop drinking" and all that happy horse puckey. They're right, for someone with at least 10 to 22 more months than you have. For now though, 60 days down and this comes up? IMO I wouldn't go unless someone had a gun pointed at my head.

ShaneW

Yeah, exactly. I dont feel I deserve anything...very low self worth. I am working on that.

Part of me is worried about the pink cloud thing...and how they dont hand out pink parachutes for when ppls cloud blows away. I dont know if this is that, or if quitting drinking, being MUCH more social, eating better, sleeping better, working a good AA program, and exercising just have me feeling good legitimately. I also tend to overthink things...haha.

michelle01

My general rule in the first few months was if in doubt, don't do it. Sometimes you just have to put the recovery first and be firm with a line. Without doing that I wouldn't have made it long term sober.

Sapling

I don't think it's a good idea either Shane...Did you run this by your sponsor yet?....The question I'd have to ask myself...Is how much fun would that be for me?...Driving around a bunch of people on a mission to either lose money or get drunk...Usually both. I think I'd find it depressing....You've mentioned your employment status...Which was a lot like mine at that time...I wouldn't have had money to gamble for one....And I don't even like to gamble for two...I don't know.....I just don't see anything positive you can gain by making this trip. Definetly nothing worth losing the two months of hard work you've put in. It's a no for me.

ShaneW

Yeah, I actually like to play Poker & Blackjack, but dont have much money that I could spend. I sent an email to my Sponsor a couple hours ago...pretty sure he will say no.

Man, Im just kinda p-ssed at myself. I get excited by an idea, and commit before thinking it through. I always do that.

Although, I think the possibility of me actually drinking on this trip is basically zero, I have to account for the "basically" in that statement. Sobriety comes first. Man I hate letting people down though. And Ive let these old friends down a lot over the years (I would regularly talk a good game about getting together and then cancel because my drinking got in the way).

Sapling

Do you think that stopped them from getting drunk?....I doubt it. Time to start thinking about you Shane....Hook up with em if you want in a year or two...You can live without em.

dawnrunner

I completely agree with this and have done this on several occasions: Oh what a good girl am I! time to stop by the liquor store. It is insane but easy to fall into.

langkah

I've been a bunch of times without any problems, and like any out of town trip I like to hit meetings and get to know the local scene at a deeper level than the usual tourists.

Meeting Schedule | Las Vegas Central Office

The meetings in the hotels are filled with casino workers, late night when they stop work they often hit meetings and talk about that gig and the usual. The off stip meetings are about what you'd find anywhere.

Some long term members like everywhere, once ran into a guy who was sponsored by Dr Bob and around when he passed.

Not a place to get a HALT thing going, so relax and enjoy yourself.

sugarbear1

What step are you working on? Get through those steps! Then see how you are doing. If you aren't working, where's the $ coming from? If your sleep hours are during the day, how are you going to do this trip? Where's the sober thinking here? Sounds like your priorities are still serving self-centered wants....brutal honesty here....

soberred

I agree with Dee on this one. I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole.

langkah

If we have a sufficient answer for our problem then it doesn't matter where we go, we're in no danger of drinking.

Shane, if you do or don't go hopefully that decision will be based on other factors than that you believe you'll have to drink if you're around it or happen to see others drinking. That's a variety of the same craziness as those who believe that alcoholics shouldn't watch movies wherein people drink. We needn't lie in our beds in 4-point restraints just because there is alcohol out there in the world.

I wanted to be free instead of living in the fear of situational drinking, and doing the AA stuff you're doing allows that. Of course many don't know how sufficient an answer it is, that it allows many of us to work daily in distilleries or bars or casinos without a 2nd thought. Nor should we expect them to understand that if they aren't involved.

Chloe03

I agree with Peter. I hope you put your sobriety first and make other plans.