EmeraldRose

Only you hold your secret.
Although our common ground is being users...each and every one of us walks their own path...follows their own journey...and ultimately has to stop on their own!
After endless years of promises to family, promises to myself, my secret was that I was completely lost as a soul. I had gone through all the motions of life...marriage...child rearing...but didn't know who the person was -who's body I was in.
I headed to rehab...indulged in AA...started reading 'the book'. Worked on 'the steps'.
But it wasn't until I had time to get into my own self and learn who I was and why was I so out of control for so many years -did I end the madness. It was more of a spiritual enlightenment for me.
2 1/2 years sober I have no desire to drink...life is just so much more than that.

Everyone has to follow their own path...the secret you hold within yourself.

Peace.

Fallow

Keep it simple.

Nighthawk8820

You have to gain something in sobriety for it to stick, which usually means changing everything. Your perspective, your mind set, and how you view yourself and self worth. Its not just setting the bottle down, its revamping your entire being. Its worth it.

lovejava

Alcoholics Anonymous --I went to 90 meetings in 90 days...actually most days I went to two a day.

Got a sponsor

Working the steps

Turning my will and life over to my Higher Power (I was Agnostic when I got to AA)

alcoholic123

Not picking up that first drink. You have to want to be sober.
This site is full of help.

GracieLou

I think the first secret it to no longer keep it a secret.

I had to admit I had a problem and seek help and accept help for that problem before I could learn about the tools to stay sober.

mecanix

Don't pick up the first drink ,
then go about learning how to deal with life , it's up's and down's , without using something external to change my internal feelings .

Bestwishes, M

Nonsensical

I burn live chickens in my garden and took up synchronized swimming.

Oh, and I quit drinking alcohol.

If you read around the various forums here at SR, you'll find that recovering alcoholics don't actually keep secrets.

freshstart57

You are getting good responses here, but you must read them with the understanding that it is not the method that works, it is each of these good people that has worked. They did it, not some magic formula. They made a decision to demand a better life for themselves, and they believed they will have it, dammit.

You must make your own decision, your own choice, and find your own way. Believe that you deserve to live a life without the garbage that necessarily accompanies addiction. And then believe in yourself. You can do this because you must.

Are you ready to make your plan about continuing to drink? I believe you can do this and succeed, Lizella. Once you have quit, you will wonder why you have waited so long and endured so much. It really is an easier life, and one that has its own measure of joy and happiness and peace.

lessgravity

Freshstart says it all.