Try again?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tempe, Az
Posts: 34
Try again?
Hello. At the end of last year I decided it was time to get sober, I had had enough. I had been drinking almost every day for twenty years and the depression in isolation was getting unbearable. Being stuck in the Midwest during the middle of winter wasn't helping. I felt I was ready and decided to hit a meeting . I went to two meetings a day for thirty days. I was feeling better, had a sponsor and a few sober friends. On day 31 without an internal argument with myself I stopped and got some beer. It was really depressing as well as relieving. I felt as though all of my energy was revolving around trying not to drink where as just drinking was easier, less stressful. Has anyone else been dealing with this situation? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,534
Hi DJSid, I did not experience this but it does not strike me as crazy. Were you working the steps? What sorts of other changes had you made in your life? Are you ready to try again? What will you do differently this time?
I am glad you are here. You did 30 days before; you can do 30 days (and a lot more) now!
I am glad you are here. You did 30 days before; you can do 30 days (and a lot more) now!
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Originally Posted by DJSid 
I felt as though all of my energy was revolving around trying not to drink where as just drinking was easier, less stressful.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 9,029
I felt that way a lot. I spent all this energy fighting the urge to drink and wasn't really enjoying life. When I stopped fighting the urge and rode them instead it got easier. I Realize that they are going to happen. I Understand that they will pass if I focus on something else for a bit. It isn't easy but when I gave in, it got better. Like the advice they give if you are caught in a rip current. Don't fight it. You will only exhaust yourself and be at a huge risk of drowning. Follow along with the current sideways. It may take you away from the point where you want to go, but you stand a better chance of surviving.
Like being angry. I can either hold on to my anger and be miserable and yet still relishing it, or I can take a deep breath, surrender to the fact that I am angry, take a walk around the block. It helps.
You did thirty days which is great. Did you feel really overwhelmed with two meetings a day? Maybe one a day? Hang in there.
Like being angry. I can either hold on to my anger and be miserable and yet still relishing it, or I can take a deep breath, surrender to the fact that I am angry, take a walk around the block. It helps.
You did thirty days which is great. Did you feel really overwhelmed with two meetings a day? Maybe one a day? Hang in there.
Marchia in Aeternum
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Georgia
Posts: 11,094
I don't think drinking is easier. Convincing ourselves that self-destruction is good for us takes a lot of mental gyrations. But, we're acclimated to it.
Sobriety is so much easier. But we're not acclimated to it.
When people climb tall mountains there are always days spent not climbing. Those are acclimation days. You hang around camp and acclimate to the altitude. Then you can go higher.
We have to acclimate to sobriety from chronic drinking. It takes time and you might have to take a day off from the climb. As long as you don't head back down the mountain, you're fine.
Crawl out of the tent, lace up your boots, start climbing again. You can reach the top of the world.
Sobriety is so much easier. But we're not acclimated to it.
When people climb tall mountains there are always days spent not climbing. Those are acclimation days. You hang around camp and acclimate to the altitude. Then you can go higher.
We have to acclimate to sobriety from chronic drinking. It takes time and you might have to take a day off from the climb. As long as you don't head back down the mountain, you're fine.
Crawl out of the tent, lace up your boots, start climbing again. You can reach the top of the world.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: North salt lake
Posts: 3,325
It helped me a lot to understand that alcoholism doesn't define me. I'm a lot more than that. And so are you. I don't have to think about it every single second. There is more to me than that. And there is more to you also. Occupy your head with all those other things that you are. No it's not easy.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
For me I had to not merely abstain from drinking and cling on for dear life, instead I needed to start a new lifestyle, new activities, new things to do in life, sitting thinking about drinking in all the time we now have is very difficult, whereas if you have new activities planned and fill your evenings/weekends with things to do then longterm results are more likely!!
Go at it again, you'll get there!!
Go at it again, you'll get there!!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tempe, Az
Posts: 34
Thanks for all of the replies and encouragement! There are a lot of meetings in the OC area and Im planning on going to one tomorrow night after work. I was going to two meetings a day because I was trying to occupy my time and that seemed to be a good distraction. I think I will start hitting daily meetings, I know I need to stop isolating and being antisocial even when Im not drinking. I have also been looking into sober groups on meetup as well as getting back into martial arts. My problem is I drink when Im bored then I start to isolate and repeat. I really need to get out of this self-destructive cycle and start enjoying life again!
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