What a difference a week makes :)
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 63
What a difference a week makes :)
Hello all,
Clocking in for day 8 here and just reflecting on how I was feeling a week ago compared to today.
Feeling calmer, sleeping better, enjoyed some good sober socialising with friends who I finally came clean with about my drinking and they were very supportive and wonderful.
The only thing that worries me still is the future. I have been here many times before and the pain of last week seems to be fading. I wrote my feelings down last week and keep reading them. But I don't want to go back down that road.
Clocking in for day 8 here and just reflecting on how I was feeling a week ago compared to today.
Feeling calmer, sleeping better, enjoyed some good sober socialising with friends who I finally came clean with about my drinking and they were very supportive and wonderful.
The only thing that worries me still is the future. I have been here many times before and the pain of last week seems to be fading. I wrote my feelings down last week and keep reading them. But I don't want to go back down that road.
Sober since 10th April 2012
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 6,047
Boombox, look on this stage (starting to forget how bad you felt) as yet another obstacle to be overcome. Your body is beginning to heal, and your AV (alcoholic voice) will probably step in and suggest it's ok to start drinking again. Be ready for it; divert your thoughts as quickly as you can and don't let yourself get too hungry, thirsty or stressed.
I found setting myself a time goal helped set my sights well into the future. My first goal was 6 weeks, followed by 6 months.
I found setting myself a time goal helped set my sights well into the future. My first goal was 6 weeks, followed by 6 months.
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,496
Boombox, you don't need to hold onto the pain of last week, but hold on to the knowledge that you have to make changes in your life. Take small steps and things will begin to improve.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: canada
Posts: 748
Congratulations on 8 days! It's normal for bad memories to fade away, and that's when having a plan becomes helpful. If you don't already have a plan, a good way to start would be to make a list of immediate actions you can take when you feel the urge to drink.
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: US East Coast
Posts: 14,286
Congrats on 8 days! A wonderful beginning :-)
I keep a gratitude list. For quite awhile I added to it each and every morning to set the tone for the day. I still do that when something really strikes me. It's amazing how many things we can come up with and re-reading that list every day has been a very powerful motivator for me.
I keep a gratitude list. For quite awhile I added to it each and every morning to set the tone for the day. I still do that when something really strikes me. It's amazing how many things we can come up with and re-reading that list every day has been a very powerful motivator for me.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: California
Posts: 236
boombox,
I'm glad you posted this. I just completed my 18th day sober and was thinking the same thing as I am also feeling much better than I was just a couple weeks ago. I was going to post something similar to this. I think I'm torn between trying to forget drinking and surround myself with a much better lifestyle and remembering the drinking days as a reminder as to why I decided recovery was the best option for me. I'm thinking of making a two lists: one of the bad things that drinking brought upon me and also one of all of the good things that have happened to me since embracing this new lifestyle in recovery. Best wishes to us all.
I'm glad you posted this. I just completed my 18th day sober and was thinking the same thing as I am also feeling much better than I was just a couple weeks ago. I was going to post something similar to this. I think I'm torn between trying to forget drinking and surround myself with a much better lifestyle and remembering the drinking days as a reminder as to why I decided recovery was the best option for me. I'm thinking of making a two lists: one of the bad things that drinking brought upon me and also one of all of the good things that have happened to me since embracing this new lifestyle in recovery. Best wishes to us all.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1,914
Hang in there and good job on 8 days!
I relapsed a few times around days 7/8... I would start feeling better and my AV would say "Well if you can go without drinking for a week you must not have a problem, right?" Wrong. The fact that I was thinking about drinking at all just shows that I do have a problem. Normal drinkers wouldn't have to count days or challenge themselves in the first place.
Just try to remember HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) for triggers. Almost every time cravings hit me in those first few weeks it was for one of those reasons. I started trying out meditation for 5 minutes a day and another 5 minutes when cravings hit, and boy did that help!
I relapsed a few times around days 7/8... I would start feeling better and my AV would say "Well if you can go without drinking for a week you must not have a problem, right?" Wrong. The fact that I was thinking about drinking at all just shows that I do have a problem. Normal drinkers wouldn't have to count days or challenge themselves in the first place.
Just try to remember HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) for triggers. Almost every time cravings hit me in those first few weeks it was for one of those reasons. I started trying out meditation for 5 minutes a day and another 5 minutes when cravings hit, and boy did that help!
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 11,351
Boombox , that's an awesome effort. I think in the beginning , the hardest part is actually trying to get to the 7 days .
You've done that , so don't look back , keep going forward.
Each week it's going to get better & better. Xx
You've done that , so don't look back , keep going forward.
Each week it's going to get better & better. Xx
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