Hi Felix. Love you buddy.

I'm about 15 minutes away from driving to my shop, and drink my ass off. But in 15 minutes I could change my mind. And I hope I do.

You won't go, Jeff. I believe in you.

thanks SL. I'm here fighting the good fight. Many of us needs rocks in our life. You are a rock.

In the end it's down to you Jeff.
Like I said tho - you either stand firm and make a change, or nothing changes.

I had a lot of reasons to drink - I still do.
I could get up from here and go get booze right now.

but I don't want to be that guy anymore.

I solve my problems and get my breaks other, healthier ways.

It works...and I like who I see in the mirror :)

D

When I was at my worst I wrote down hours 1 through 12 on a piece of paper and checked off each one as I got through it. It turned out I didn't need them all, as the urges eventually eased. Maybe you need every 15 minutes - but it helps to feel a sense of accomplishment (at least it helped me). Good luck.

I don't know about the time, but the AV is pestering you because in the past you have given in.

Want it to go away? Stay sober. Tell yourself you are done with drinking, for good. The AV will wither in the face of true committment to sobriety.

Take those 15 minutes, get a pen and paper, and write down the 5 worst things that will happen if you don't drink today.

Seriously - write it down.

^^^.

We'll check off those minutes and hours with you. Stick with us, Jeff.

Dee, don't give up on me. I will make it. please.

What can you get engaged in? Doing something usually helps me shut off unwanted circular thoughts. I'm so much more active sober than I was while drinking. Is there something you enjoy doing on a Sunday morning?

If you get drunk you will ruin the day for everyone! When I pull a morning bender, I end up sleeping the day away. Worse yet, you get drunk and ruin Mother's Day. Don't do that!

I'm not giving up on anyone Jeff :)
I am tired and going to bed though.

Make this day count, mate. :)

D

I already had mothers day. Might be why I am the way I am. Everyone's been fed and home.

Giving in to the AV is like giving in to a child that whines to get his way.
Do it once, and the AV child cries harder and louder next time .....because he knows he will get his way! :gaah

Hang tough, stay strong, laugh at your AV, he is giving his all.....but you are stronger! He can't pick up the bottle!

And next week, when you aren't having a crisis, get the booze out of the shop. You won't be needing it!

Everyone has a different way of dealing with a strong AV. Keep in mind it's strong because you fed it for so long.

Give strength to your inner voice and allow it to speak. Some tactics that really do work:

Imagine yourself as a mediator between your AV and your REAL inner voice. Your AV is being a total jerk and and crybaby. It's not giving your true inner voice a chance to speak.

Tell them both that you will give each a chance to express their opinions and that you'll write them down. Grab a pen and paper. Then say "ok AV, since you have no patience, concern for others, and act like a cry baby when you don't get your way, I'm going to let you go first".

Ask your AV to tell you all the reasons you should be a drunk. As many as it possibly can. Let it talk itself out. When its done, ask it "are you sure? that's it?" Force it to come up with one more reason.

Ask your inner voice to tell you all the reasons you want to live a sober life. (Not should, not need to, not have to, but WANT TO). As many as it possibly can. No reason is too small. Everything. When done, ask it "are you sure that's it?" Force it to come up with a few more reasons.

Now...as the mediator, review each list. Which one is riddled with lies and deceit? Which won has some short term benefits and which one has long term benefits. Which one seems more concerned about YOU and YOUR wellbeing? which one is RIGHT and which one is wrong?

Taking a break involves doing something good for yourself. Drinking would be the exact opposite of that. Take a look back through some of your threads that you wrote while you were still drinking if you need a clear picture of what will happen if you pick up again. It will get that bad again, probably worse actually.

Take a walk, get some food, read a book, take a nap, anyting but alcohol.

30 minutes - check. -:)

we are ok. Made it through the bad stuff. Going back to bed, which is good. My wife and my dog are waiting for me. I love them both.

You can do this Thomas! We are here!!

I hate AV--sneaky, ugly and wants me to drown. But I deserve better from life than to drown and so do my children. Hang in there and keep posting!!

That's great news, it passed and you're all good :-)