Hi, everyone!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Midwestern U.S.
Posts: 33
Hi, everyone!
I'm really excited to join you all. I've read many posts here and found comfort in difficult times, not to mention that it's also allowed me to focus on something other than a bottle. So thank you. You've helped me more than you know.
Dee was gracious enough to say "welcome" in another thread that I joined, so I really appreciate that. I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone. I'm male, early 30's, married with kids. I started suffering from mood disorders in childhood, which led to clinical mental health problems by adolescence, chronic alcohol abuse and self-medication by early adulthood, and alcoholism by the time I became a dad and husband. I'm into the recovery process, but it's early.
I know that I'll inevitably be asked: what's the plan for continued sobriety? A good question indeed.
From a physical health perspective, I've started running competitively again (an old passion since high school) and renewing my commitment to nutrition. I have constant energy that needs to be put somewhere, and running is a good place for it to go, instead of quelling it with alcohol. Good nutrition has been the fuel that allows me to keep going. I've also stoked some creative fires by getting into music, writing, and various other art forms.
Mentally, I've gotten better over time with a few counseling stints and mindfulness training. So the disorders that led me here in the first place have vastly improved.
Still, I know that even in a better mental state, the urges to drink are likely to come back. I did, after all, transition from occasional self-medicating to full-fledged alcoholism over time, so I'm looking into a variety of recovery options. I've attended an AA meeting but am not convinced that it's the path for me. I am considering SMART, but if anyone has other recommendations, I would greatly appreciate it.
I hope to offer support to others, as well as receive it in times of need.
Thanks for letting me join your loving and supportive community - I look forward to the exchanges.
Dee was gracious enough to say "welcome" in another thread that I joined, so I really appreciate that. I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone. I'm male, early 30's, married with kids. I started suffering from mood disorders in childhood, which led to clinical mental health problems by adolescence, chronic alcohol abuse and self-medication by early adulthood, and alcoholism by the time I became a dad and husband. I'm into the recovery process, but it's early.
I know that I'll inevitably be asked: what's the plan for continued sobriety? A good question indeed.
From a physical health perspective, I've started running competitively again (an old passion since high school) and renewing my commitment to nutrition. I have constant energy that needs to be put somewhere, and running is a good place for it to go, instead of quelling it with alcohol. Good nutrition has been the fuel that allows me to keep going. I've also stoked some creative fires by getting into music, writing, and various other art forms.
Mentally, I've gotten better over time with a few counseling stints and mindfulness training. So the disorders that led me here in the first place have vastly improved.
Still, I know that even in a better mental state, the urges to drink are likely to come back. I did, after all, transition from occasional self-medicating to full-fledged alcoholism over time, so I'm looking into a variety of recovery options. I've attended an AA meeting but am not convinced that it's the path for me. I am considering SMART, but if anyone has other recommendations, I would greatly appreciate it.
I hope to offer support to others, as well as receive it in times of need.
Thanks for letting me join your loving and supportive community - I look forward to the exchanges.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Midwestern U.S.
Posts: 33
Thanks! I'm roughly a month in, but I've found myself getting stressed by the day-counting so I try not to focus on it too much. It makes everything seem to go by slowly. I suppose that's another question I have for everyone...merits of recognizing an exact sobriety date, or not?
Left the bottle behind 4/16/2015
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 1,416
Originally Posted by DJSobriety 
Thanks! I'm roughly a month in, but I've found myself getting stressed by the day-counting so I try not to focus on it too much. It makes everything seem to go by slowly. I suppose that's another question I have for everyone...merits of recognizing an exact sobriety date, or not?
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Originally Posted by DJSobriety
I've attended an AA meeting but am not convinced that it's the path for me. I am considering SMART, but if anyone has other recommendations, I would greatly appreciate it.
I and many others needed more than a meeting to be informed about a program that has helped millions and is world wide.
For me there was fear involved in seeking help from people who I didn’t know but they were knowledgeable and understood me. There were things I didn’t like or understand but that was far more tolerate able than the inner pain I felt.
There are many different types of meetings around and I’d recommend some beginner meetings for adjustment.
BE WELL
pray for strength
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: New England
Posts: 2,414
Hey DJ - how is your day?
As far as timekeeping goes, my curiosity is just for perspective as as a reader and supporter. The first few weeks were a frenzy of physical activity for me and then that chilled giving way to a much different experience...where I still needed to chili out but in a different way. Nice job!
Originally Posted by DJSobriety
Thanks! I'm roughly a month in, but I've found myself getting stressed by the day-counting so I try not to focus on it too much. It makes everything seem to go by slowly. I suppose that's another question I have for everyone...merits of recognizing an exact sobriety date, or not?
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,313
Originally Posted by DJSobriety
Thanks! I'm roughly a month in, but I've found myself getting stressed by the day-counting so I try not to focus on it too much. It makes everything seem to go by slowly. I suppose that's another question I have for everyone...merits of recognizing an exact sobriety date, or not?
My sobriety date is the day my life changed so that's important to me and I'll never forget it.
I counted days in the beginning because I could never get more than 3 days sober for a number of years.
That mounting total was a quantifiable measure of my success in the beginning.
Later on, I stopped counting days
D
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: canada
Posts: 7,242
welcome, DJS.
in the secular connection section you can find a couple of threads where people talk about why they count or not.
you'll also find info on non-step programs, and depending on where you live, you'll have a variety to choose from.
good to have you here.
in the secular connection section you can find a couple of threads where people talk about why they count or not.
you'll also find info on non-step programs, and depending on where you live, you'll have a variety to choose from.
good to have you here.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: CA
Posts: 176
Hi DJ! I used alcohol to self-medicate too; it was always the easiest, no effort way to get rid of feelings I didn't want.
I kind of approach this quitting business a little unconventionally, which is to frame it in a way that doesn't make it this huge Herculean task, because that makes it worse for me. So I don't see quitting alcohol any harder than losing weight and keeping it off. More is at stake of course (unless a person is clinically obese), but the process itself isn't that different. From my experience, the beginning is the hardest part; that is when the habits you formed while drinking excessively works against you, and you have to be on top of being mindful during this period to get through.
I don't have a formal method I'm using, but I use ACT therapy to help with cravings. It sounds like you're already exercising, which is another component I suggest to people. Spirituality seems to be a big piece in recovery literature, but since I'm not religious, I instead do outdoorsy things (preferably in unspoiled nature), which I guess is the equivalent of my church. That's when I feel the most awe, wonder, and connection with life and the universe, the base of spiritual feelings I believe. So find whatever gives you those feelings and seek them out. Connection with others is also vitally important; maybe do more activities with your wife, kids, friends, etc where you can bond. That means watching TV together doesn't really count. Unless you spend a lot of time afterwards dissecting and analyzing what you just watched together.
That's it for now. You'll find things that work and don't work for you through this process. Anyway, welcome! Glad you're here.
I kind of approach this quitting business a little unconventionally, which is to frame it in a way that doesn't make it this huge Herculean task, because that makes it worse for me. So I don't see quitting alcohol any harder than losing weight and keeping it off. More is at stake of course (unless a person is clinically obese), but the process itself isn't that different. From my experience, the beginning is the hardest part; that is when the habits you formed while drinking excessively works against you, and you have to be on top of being mindful during this period to get through.
I don't have a formal method I'm using, but I use ACT therapy to help with cravings. It sounds like you're already exercising, which is another component I suggest to people. Spirituality seems to be a big piece in recovery literature, but since I'm not religious, I instead do outdoorsy things (preferably in unspoiled nature), which I guess is the equivalent of my church. That's when I feel the most awe, wonder, and connection with life and the universe, the base of spiritual feelings I believe. So find whatever gives you those feelings and seek them out. Connection with others is also vitally important; maybe do more activities with your wife, kids, friends, etc where you can bond. That means watching TV together doesn't really count. Unless you spend a lot of time afterwards dissecting and analyzing what you just watched together.
That's it for now. You'll find things that work and don't work for you through this process. Anyway, welcome! Glad you're here.
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