Ruby2

Welcome to SR. You're at a great place and there is a ton of support and information to be had if you seek it. I agree with the "just for today" advice, wholeheartedly. Just for today I won't drink. Forever was too scary for me to handle. But I could handle today. Well done on 48 hours. Give yourself a fighting chance at living a better life.

Solarion

Sparksz, sorry to hear about your troubles and losses, but glad you have decided to change course.

There are lots of helpful threads at SR for people at different stages of developing a sober life.

Wishing you the best!

PurpleKnight

Welcome to the Forum Sparksz!!

Latte

Welcome, I am so glad you are here. SR has been a huge part of my recovery.

Sasha4

Go have a big glass of coke with lots of ice and a doughnut or something sweet.
When my blood sugar starts dropping and I am tired, I get the same thoughts.

You are still thinking of drinking as a reward.
I did too.
It was no reward because it was never just one drink.
If it was one drink, I felt more wound up, because the minute I finished it I just wanted another.
It was just easier not to have the first one.

It's not an easy task giving up drinking.
If it was there would be no need for AA or for this forum.
It won't come easy overnight, but I promise it does get easier.
I am over 3 years now and it would seem unnatural to drink alcohol.

However I had to work it at first - work at not drinking.
Find stuff to do - the gym, the cinema, a nap after work, take up golf, become the best male knitter London has ever had!!

There is a saying/acronym that we talk about here that I keep in my head.

HALT

This stands for hungry, angry, lonely and tired.

When we let ourselves get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired, that's when thoughts of a drink creep in.

Getting a good meal, some company or a supportive phone call with a mate can help divert thoughts of a drink. A good sleep helps too. And keeping calm and trying not to get too wound up.

Those thoughts are completely normal.
Like a voice urging you to have a drink or pushing you towards one.
Things like 'you have done 2 days, you can't have a problem, have a drink'. Or 'everyone drinks on a Friday, you work hard, go have just 1. Or 2'.

There is a theory that we have an addictive voice and this is what sends us these thoughts.
If you have a read of avert (addictive voice recognition technique) then that might help too.
Learning to ignore your addictive voice could be key for you.

I wish you the best xx

txsobernurse

I started drinking again this time around and lost my boyfriend of five years because of it. I still have so much regret to this day. I empathize with you.

But we have to do this!

mraouf

Awesome what you are doing...you need to go to an AA meeting pronto bro.. Youll find the program that has changed thousands of lives and youll get to know and identify with people who know and feel exactly what ur going through...we've all been there brother..hang on!!!!

gettingsmarter

Welcome sparksz. SR has been a life saver.

Sparksz

Thanks for all your nice words everyone! I'm still going strong but tonight is my first Friday. All my friends drink so I'm gonna have to go it alone at home.

The problem is having too much time to think. I don't think much when I'm hammered... what am I meant to do will all these extra 'thought hours' I have acquired!? I'm using them to think about all my mistakes in the past (the most recent on in particular) rather than the good things and it's driving me insane.

gettingsmarter

Sparks the obsessive thinking will diminish.
Reading and exercising helped me the most. Reading not only takes your mind off thinking about the crazy things but it helps rewire parts of your brain to think again.
One day at a time Sparks.
We are here when you need us.

ccam1973

Welcome Sparksz. Your description of reading some of the posts here at SR for the first time brought back memories of when I stumbled across this community. You are not alone!

Like ZAB said, take baby steps. Don't think about forever, just about today, or about this hour... what ever it takes to not drink. I promise you won't regret this decision.

You've got the power to get your life back. Our stories sound similar, but I've got an extra 10 years of drinking on you. I wish I would have made the decision you are making when I was 30.

Great job on finding SR, stay close and just take it hour by hour if you have to.

It will get easier the more time you have under your belt. Just never let your guard down.

You can do this.

Sasha4

If you really hate and cannot bear not drinking on a Friday night, you can always go back to it.
You could drink every single Friday night forever more if you want to.

It's 1 Friday night.
Why not see how you feel tomorrow?

I 'm not drinking either if you want to know you are not alone and where I am the booze is flowing fast and free!

Delilah1

I have found it important to plan what I am going to do when my kids go to bed. I have been drinking lots of water, reading, and have been binge watching Netflix. I also have been checking in on SR.
I have been under the weather,nut once inam feeling better I will be adding hiking and yoga back into my routine.
Hope the weekend went well.
Glad you are here. :-)