jazzfish

Yesterday was day and went well enough until the end, then Life happened and got in the way of my plans. I became very angry and then drank. So, my question is: what did you do to achieve long-term sobriety? What should I do, specifically, and where should I look on this forum? Sorry to be so direct, but I am so tired, confused and frustrated now. Thanks for your help!

Dee74

Hi Jazzfish

I had to make changes in my life - nothing changes if nothing changes.

Some changes were big and obvious like not hanging out with the usual suspects in the usual places...but others were less obvious.

I used booze for everything - sadness, joy, anger, boredom - you name it I used it.

Life with always get in the way - if your only coping strategy is booze, you'll always have a problem jazzfish.

I had to make a meaningful commitment to solving my problems other ways.
That meant a little discomfort, but it was worth it.

Support really helped - whether it's here on SR or a recovery programme - I really encourage you to use the support you have and, if possible, find more.

You'll find that you can feel things - not act on them by drinking as we used to - and you get through it anyway.

That was a revelation for me.

D

tomsteve

what worked for me was AA.
the program and the fellowship taught me life aint gonna go as i planned and how to live life when that happens.

DarkDays

Early days and weeks where tough, but staring at a ceiling being bored senseless was better than drinking. Ride the cravings and thoughts out , they do go. Life being sober is really good, the deeper you get into it the better it gets. This run up to Christmas has been good, I have been surrounded by boring sentimental drunks on a few occasions this has really re charged by sober battery's . Never ever going back to that bs.

good luck.

buickbeast

Start up an exercise program. Take your angry out on some push ups or go out for a walk/run. Both are free to do, and it's been proven that working out combats anger and depression.

jazzfish

I was actually angry because I could not get to the gym for a workout! I suppose I could have just done some simple exercises at home or run around the block.

Lionhearted1

Accept that alcohol can never be an option so I have to,think and do things differently...

flutter

Anything would have "worked" once I was committed to it and willing to change my life. Personally I saw an addictions psychologist 2x a week for a little over 6 months, stayed close to support here, read, learned new ways to live my life, dumped my drinking buddies, found new hobbies and took drinking as an option off the table entirely.

Xune

I stopped drinking.

I sought help from my Doctor.

I sought help from an addictions counselor.

I revolutionized my life.

I am still working on myself.

I visit SR daily.

5+ months sober and strong.

jennikate

I stopped drinking. Went to AA, became involved, got a sponsor, and am working the steps. I also saw my dr and began counseling. I also come to SR every morning and every night.

aasharon90

Willingness. Willingness to go to any
lengths to stay sober. If I went to any
lengths to make sure I had my poison
close at hand, then I could and would
go to any lengths to the best of my
ability to stay sober.

I wanted to stay sober more than I wanted
to drink. No matter how hard it seemed I
tried to do the next best thing to stay sober.
Including attending the school of hard knox,
AA meetings. Just like it was in grade school
or high school, in order for me to pass each
grade, I had to attend school everyday, learn
the lessons and pass the tests.

Suit up, show up, listen, absorb, learn, pass.
One Day at a Time. Nothing more, Nothing less.

Right in the middle, balanced.

Sapling

That sounds like a pretty solid plan to me....Put half the effort into your recovery that you put into getting the next drink...And you'll be fine.

MIRecovery

This is a great plan and because it is a great plan, Congrats Jenni on almost 7 months sober. People that do what needs to be done stay sober.

Pondlady

I figured the time I usually cracked open a bottle of wine, 4 isn, was going to be a problem, so I made a plan to be out of the house. I took long walks, ran errands....put myself in places I wouldn't normally be in, that required sobriety.

Talking with neighbors, running into friends at stores, listening to the car radio while driving after all dark.....was pretty fun....something I hadn't done is a while!

sugarbear1

I stopped creating excuses and reasons to validate my drinking.

Hang tight and don't drink. By day 5, I walked to an AA meeting.

wpainterw

There are lots of things to do. Like stay on this SR forum and look at all the different aspects. Another possibility, obviously, is try to find an AA meeting which you like and which you find congenial. Another is try AVRT and get a copy of Jack Trimpey's book, "Rational Recovery". Another is a program called SMART. Click on the "Secular Recoveries" forum of SR. Another is counseling, if you can find a good one (I found the best only after 33 years and yet counseling alone did not do the trick for me. AA did although I had some problems with it and it with me). I found the fellowship of other recovering alcoholics very beneficial.

W.

2granddaughters

I believe you know what you have to do. Now you just have to do it... and do it well.

All the best.

Bob R

duane1

I think instead of "life happened", you could have just as well said, "my addiction took over". Listen to what some of the long timers have to say. They speak from experience.

IndaMiricale

Never gave up on myself. And kept going back to the rooms of AA.

And every time I would just shut up and listen..