I get the "one glass of wine" concept. I really do. Progress not perfection. As someone said, though, the step from one to zero is small.
I'm with you Hamartia. We can do this. My trigger will come this evening. The plan is for ceremonial green tea, matcha, instead of the wine in Waterford.

15 years. Wow. *applaud*

You are right, freshstart, in that alcohol doesn't help anymore -- it never did. But getting that in my head has been difficult. I am dying for a drink right now -- so stressed about a meeting I have to go to in a few minutes. But if I took a drink, I would be done for -- absolutely finished and destroyed. Somehow, I know that, and I will not cross that line.

Tempe -- Did you enjoy the tea? Did you make it? If I could do one glass of wine, I would -- I cannot! I just cannot do that. Glad you're with me here, 'cause I'm dying to have a drink right this minute, but I am not going to do that.

Hamartia, I really wanted a glass of Chardonnay tonight. Wasn't feeling sick and thought i could have just one. Wanted to believe I could. And maybe I could have. But that's not my usual pattern. 1 turns into 3 or 4.
So I took a shower, made some chamomile tea and went to bed early. Can't have wine if I'm asleep. I'm turning in now. Stay strong. You can do this.

Nice going Tempe.

You Rock!!! You are doing this. That is exactly what I try to tell myself, I will just have one glass of wine -- really -- I can do this. (Has never happened -- one glass turns into 3 or 4). My weight has suffered because of the added calories, too. Hope we can talk tomorrow.

When I quit before, I lost 15 pounds without changing anything else in my day. I looked and felt great. Time to do it again.. You too.

I followed your lead last night -- I knew if I stayed up longer, I would eventually want that glass of wine, so I went to bed -- slept well and feel great!

Yes

Hamartia, hope you're doing well today. I saw your post that you wanted a drink, you were stressed about a work meeting. What about it was stressful that triggered the drinking thought? These are the sorts of things I had to think about when I quit. And in facing them I grew in my confidence to stay sober.

Thank you to all who responded to my cries for help last night. I still do not have any idea how to do this -- how to quit drinking. This is the worst battle of my life. You who have quit drinking -- you are heroes to me! The wine -- the alcohol is slowly working its way into my work day. It doesn't seem so bad to have a glass of wine at 11:00 a.m! How crazy is that! I do not want to pity myself, I did this -- no one else! I just don't know if I can do this -- My father couldn't and it destroyed his life -- and I consider myself a smart woman? I am following in his footsteps, and I always hated the fact that he was never there for me-- now I know why. I have to make a plan -- something that I will follow. What can possibly take the place of alcohol?

Extremely dark chocolate, a square or two, often kills an urge for me. Ice cream has worked also. I didn't worry about the calories at all, whatever it took not to drink. I still have lost a size!

I know it is very difficult to do this by yourself. The recovery plans that others have given to you early in this thread really do work. But you have to do the action, it won't just happen. AA/SMART both are great recovery tools. By doing those - you are not saying you are weak. You are actually saying you are strong enough to do whatever it takes. When you're ready to do that - it really does get easier. Action. You can't just say - I'm not going to drink anymore and think that you won't. What can take the place? Doing the work. Hugs to you, Hamartia.

Hamartia, have you ever considered rehab? I know that sounds drastic but hear me out. I fought going for years and when I finally went, it was so much better than I'd dreamed. I was like you, couldn't imagine a day -- much less a month - without alcohol. AA made me cringe. I found a non 12 step place that was wonderful, and made me realize I had the power within to stop my self-destructive behaviors. I have 4 kids so it was not easy to go. I've been sober for over a year now and feel great. You CAN do this!

I felt just like you. Some nights I dreaded going home as I carried yet another bottle of pinot noir into the house - knowing I would drink the whole thing, and have to slog through another stressful day at work hungover, anxious, tired and fighting like hell to seem "normal".

Eight months on Nov 15 since my last drink, and my life has been transformed. Truly - from the inside out.

I do it one day at a time. "Today, no matter what happens, I will not drink."