Lots of "why" to stop drinking, not so much "how"
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 93
I'm on day 2 (like my 100000000000th day 2) and I am literally taking it one hour at a time. Last night when I got home from work I wanted to take my usual shot of vodka so bad...and it was there in my house. So I went for a walk instead. With me I think I have to try and re-work my routines. I have said the serenity prayer about a million times the past two days to myself and I say it slow and concentrate on the words. It's an uphill battle but I would rather be fighting upwards then falling downwards. Good luck to us all
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by stark6935 
Make a list of everything in your life that alcohol has ruined for you, and get MAD.
I can think of probably 50 things that are a direct effect of my drinking that are not good in my life that would **** me off right now. I am starting to loathe alcohol.
I can think of probably 50 things that are a direct effect of my drinking that are not good in my life that would **** me off right now. I am starting to loathe alcohol.
I think at this point I can be even more honest about the mistakes that I made because of my drinking.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by RightLAine
I'm on day 2 (like my 100000000000th day 2) and I am literally taking it one hour at a time. Last night when I got home from work I wanted to take my usual shot of vodka so bad...and it was there in my house. So I went for a walk instead. With me I think I have to try and re-work my routines. I have said the serenity prayer about a million times the past two days to myself and I say it slow and concentrate on the words. It's an uphill battle but I would rather be fighting upwards then falling downwards. Good luck to us all
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
I quit drinking one day, and decided I was going to do everything to make it as easy as possible for me. I met with my family and then got rid of all the alcohol in the house. I started being respectful and gentle with myself. I gave myself a pass on the past, with the proviso that that page had been turned, that I would never drink again. I read and read and read about alcoholism and addiction and got involved here to offer my experience to others.
I don't know if I can say that it was easy, but the degree of difficulty was immaterial. I had decided that I had quit (not that I was going to quit some nanzy panzy time in the future, or for just a fixed time period). I was going to stay quit, dammit. And I was not ever going to change my mind about it.
I believed in myself, Ms. Lanter, in my ability to make changes in myself. I believed that I didn't have a disease that needed any superhuman power to cure, I believed I had an addiction that was within my power to end. I believed that I deserved to be sober and to have a life with a home, a marriage, a family, some mental health, and my own measure of peace of mind.
Because of those beliefs, I am sober. Best to you.
I don't know if I can say that it was easy, but the degree of difficulty was immaterial. I had decided that I had quit (not that I was going to quit some nanzy panzy time in the future, or for just a fixed time period). I was going to stay quit, dammit. And I was not ever going to change my mind about it.
I believed in myself, Ms. Lanter, in my ability to make changes in myself. I believed that I didn't have a disease that needed any superhuman power to cure, I believed I had an addiction that was within my power to end. I believed that I deserved to be sober and to have a life with a home, a marriage, a family, some mental health, and my own measure of peace of mind.
Because of those beliefs, I am sober. Best to you.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by freshstart57
I quit drinking one day, and decided I was going to do everything to make it as easy as possible for me. I met with my family and then got rid of all the alcohol in the house. I started being respectful and gentle with myself. I gave myself a pass on the past, with the proviso that that page had been turned, that I would never drink again. I read and read and read about alcoholism and addiction and got involved here to offer my experience to others.
I don't know if I can say that it was easy, but the degree of difficulty was immaterial. I had decided that I had quit (not that I was going to quit some nanzy panzy time in the future, or for just a fixed time period). I was going to stay quit, dammit. And I was not ever going to change my mind about it.
I believed in myself, Ms. Lanter, in my ability to make changes in myself. I believed that I didn't have a disease that needed any superhuman power to cure, I believed I had an addiction that was within my power to end. I believed that I deserved to be sober and to have a life with a home, a marriage, a family, some mental health, and my own measure of peace of mind.
Because of those beliefs, I am sober. Best to you.
I don't know if I can say that it was easy, but the degree of difficulty was immaterial. I had decided that I had quit (not that I was going to quit some nanzy panzy time in the future, or for just a fixed time period). I was going to stay quit, dammit. And I was not ever going to change my mind about it.
I believed in myself, Ms. Lanter, in my ability to make changes in myself. I believed that I didn't have a disease that needed any superhuman power to cure, I believed I had an addiction that was within my power to end. I believed that I deserved to be sober and to have a life with a home, a marriage, a family, some mental health, and my own measure of peace of mind.
Because of those beliefs, I am sober. Best to you.
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
Sarah, I didn't pick a date in the future, after some more drinks, I picked a 'now', and this meant that I had already taken my last drink. It was gone and done, and I was now looking at its backside. The rest and the best of my life was already underway.
That was the last I would ever see of my drinking. Done.
It was terrifying at the time, but it had to be. You can do it too. You can make that decision to be done with this. Believe in yourself. You deserve this.
Onward!
That was the last I would ever see of my drinking. Done.
It was terrifying at the time, but it had to be. You can do it too. You can make that decision to be done with this. Believe in yourself. You deserve this.
Onward!
Re-Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 7,583
Originally Posted by SarahLanter
I was 4 1/2 year sober, very active member in AA then my thinking began to shift. I went out mid-2010 and have regretted it every day since. I hope with God's grace I can find my way back. Every stage brings its own challenges. Right now, it's one day at a time without vodka.
Well did you learn that you cannot ever again pick up just one saying it will be just one because you have proven you can do not one for so long that just one should be easy, even though you knew that you can never have just one.
Sarah,
You already proved that AA worked for you for awhile.
I can tell you the how of how I did it. Got sick and tired of being sick and tired. But for two more years I bemoaned that I wasn't rich and could not afford the rehabs and detox centers. My doc warned me about how dangerous quitting could be for mid 50s people like I was. BTW when I got off my duff and talked with my doc he didn't realize either that I qualified with my medical insurance/retirement coverage for two full rehabs. I didn't find that out until I found the VA had an in hospital detox for me lasting 7 days with a follow on 28 day rehab. I set my home affairs in order and once my SH (Significant Harassment) and my two grown boys knew where I was going to be and that their mom would need them to check in more often than the then once a week. I figured if I could just detox safely I would never take another alcoholic drink or cigarette. Hey! They gave me drugs to make it easy so I quit both things killing me, smokes and booze!
I quit the Rehab after 5 days as it was not needed and I knew it then. Hated the idea of AA as Rehab forced me to a weird meeting. I joined SR, and some AArs here told me to go try several meetings until I found a more compatible group which I did. I liked the idea of face to face support, and it was way cheaper than the co-pays for my counselors. I stayed with AA for three months and then didn't need them any more either so just stayed here on SR as I had it licked. I read all of the online SMART books and started helping others who had problems too.
That is the how for my three years of not being a drunk anymore for life.
The short version is two simple steps.
1. Don't drink alcohol.
2. Repeat as necessary.
I do not want to ever go through all that again for anything. The drinking and dying was easy. The detox and struggle through PAWS is never going to be repeated by me like some bizarre repetition a la the movie Groundhog Day.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by Itchy
Well Sarah we have that in common! We changed our drinking habits in mid 2010, well me in September. I quit then and you picked up.
Well did you learn that you cannot ever again pick up just one saying it will be just one because you have proven you can do not one for so long that just one should be easy, even though you knew that you can never have just one.
Sarah,
You already proved that AA worked for you for awhile.
I can tell you the how of how I did it. Got sick and tired of being sick and tired. But for two more years I bemoaned that I wasn't rich and could not afford the rehabs and detox centers. My doc warned me about how dangerous quitting could be for mid 50s people like I was. BTW when I got off my duff and talked with my doc he didn't realize either that I qualified with my medical insurance/retirement coverage for two full rehabs. I didn't find that out until I found the VA had an in hospital detox for me lasting 7 days with a follow on 28 day rehab. I set my home affairs in order and once my SH (Significant Harassment) and my two grown boys knew where I was going to be and that their mom would need them to check in more often than the then once a week. I figured if I could just detox safely I would never take another alcoholic drink or cigarette. Hey! They gave me drugs to make it easy so I quit both things killing me, smokes and booze!
I quit the Rehab after 5 days as it was not needed and I knew it then. Hated the idea of AA as Rehab forced me to a weird meeting. I joined SR, and some AArs here told me to go try several meetings until I found a more compatible group which I did. I liked the idea of face to face support, and it was way cheaper than the co-pays for my counselors. I stayed with AA for three months and then didn't need them any more either so just stayed here on SR as I had it licked. I read all of the online SMART books and started helping others who had problems too.
That is the how for my three years of not being a drunk anymore for life.
The short version is two simple steps.
1. Don't drink alcohol.
2. Repeat as necessary.
I do not want to ever go through all that again for anything. The drinking and dying was easy. The detox and struggle through PAWS is never going to be repeated by me like some bizarre repetition a la the movie Groundhog Day.
Well did you learn that you cannot ever again pick up just one saying it will be just one because you have proven you can do not one for so long that just one should be easy, even though you knew that you can never have just one.
Sarah,
You already proved that AA worked for you for awhile.
I can tell you the how of how I did it. Got sick and tired of being sick and tired. But for two more years I bemoaned that I wasn't rich and could not afford the rehabs and detox centers. My doc warned me about how dangerous quitting could be for mid 50s people like I was. BTW when I got off my duff and talked with my doc he didn't realize either that I qualified with my medical insurance/retirement coverage for two full rehabs. I didn't find that out until I found the VA had an in hospital detox for me lasting 7 days with a follow on 28 day rehab. I set my home affairs in order and once my SH (Significant Harassment) and my two grown boys knew where I was going to be and that their mom would need them to check in more often than the then once a week. I figured if I could just detox safely I would never take another alcoholic drink or cigarette. Hey! They gave me drugs to make it easy so I quit both things killing me, smokes and booze!
I quit the Rehab after 5 days as it was not needed and I knew it then. Hated the idea of AA as Rehab forced me to a weird meeting. I joined SR, and some AArs here told me to go try several meetings until I found a more compatible group which I did. I liked the idea of face to face support, and it was way cheaper than the co-pays for my counselors. I stayed with AA for three months and then didn't need them any more either so just stayed here on SR as I had it licked. I read all of the online SMART books and started helping others who had problems too.
That is the how for my three years of not being a drunk anymore for life.
The short version is two simple steps.
1. Don't drink alcohol.
2. Repeat as necessary.
I do not want to ever go through all that again for anything. The drinking and dying was easy. The detox and struggle through PAWS is never going to be repeated by me like some bizarre repetition a la the movie Groundhog Day.
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
SMART is Self Managed Addiction Recovery Training. It's a type of CBT and puts you in charge. Self Help Addiction Recovery | SMART RecoveryŽ
Re-Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 7,583
Originally Posted by SarahLanter
Wow! You know how to weave a tale. What do you mean by SMART books?
SMART RecoveryŽ - Tool Chest and Homework
Hang in here kiddo, you have a lot of experience to offer. The definition of experience is the ability to recognize a mistake when we make it again!
dbrunton,
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by Itchy
Freshstart had it right but on the SMART website I found this page buried that is a gold mine:
SMART RecoveryŽ - Tool Chest and Homework
Hang in here kiddo, you have a lot of experience to offer. The definition of experience is the ability to recognize a mistake when we make it again!
dbrunton,
SMART RecoveryŽ - Tool Chest and Homework
Hang in here kiddo, you have a lot of experience to offer. The definition of experience is the ability to recognize a mistake when we make it again!
dbrunton,
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