New to recovery
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Location: US
Posts: 264
New to recovery
Hi,
I am trying to quit drinking and it has been 5 days so far. That is a big step for me and I am determined to do this. I have been reading the post. What does everyone mean by do you have a plan?
I am trying to quit drinking and it has been 5 days so far. That is a big step for me and I am determined to do this. I have been reading the post. What does everyone mean by do you have a plan?
Re-Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 7,909
Welcome to SR, Sammy1980!
Basically a plan is thinking through what you're going to do to quit drinking. Things such as: What are you going to do when those thoughts of drinking come? What changes are you going to make in your life to help you not drink? What are you going to do to fill your time now that you're not drinking? What are you going to do about the wreckage that you've caused yourself and others because of your drinking? And many other possible questions.
A few good posts on the subject:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ery-plans.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...very-plan.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Congrats on 5 days!
Basically a plan is thinking through what you're going to do to quit drinking. Things such as: What are you going to do when those thoughts of drinking come? What changes are you going to make in your life to help you not drink? What are you going to do to fill your time now that you're not drinking? What are you going to do about the wreckage that you've caused yourself and others because of your drinking? And many other possible questions.
A few good posts on the subject:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ery-plans.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...very-plan.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Congrats on 5 days!
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,564
It's great to have you join us, Sammy. Well done on your 5 sober days. We all know how difficult those first ones can be. We're in this together, and we will make it. There's no doubt. 
Casey thanks for posting those links for Sammy.
Casey thanks for posting those links for Sammy.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 376
Congrats on 5 days...those days will add up to weeks and months. Casey gave you some great information.
A plan will give you a framework to help keep you accountable. That plan can include counseling, visiting this forum, changing your daily routine around 'drinking times', AA if that is your thing, learning coping skills for situations where you may be around others drinking, etc...
A plan will give you a framework to help keep you accountable. That plan can include counseling, visiting this forum, changing your daily routine around 'drinking times', AA if that is your thing, learning coping skills for situations where you may be around others drinking, etc...
Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Oxnard
Posts: 173
Welcome Sammy!
It's good to have a newcomer here like yourself. Congratulations on 5 days so far, keep focusing on one day at a time. Feel free to lean on us in SR on your road to healing. Many of us have experienced what you may be feeling or going through.
It's good to have a newcomer here like yourself. Congratulations on 5 days so far, keep focusing on one day at a time. Feel free to lean on us in SR on your road to healing. Many of us have experienced what you may be feeling or going through.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Location: US
Posts: 264
Thank you everyone!
Today is day 6. I know that this is just the beginning and it will probably get harder before it gets easy. I have tried a couple of times before and know that if I I take that first drink this time it will take me to long to start again.
I always had two beers and two shots when I would get home from work so that is the hardest time for me. Oh yeah and then there is the weekend where I would drink up to 10 beers on Saturday and Sunday. I can not take the guilt and shame of it any longer and I need to STOP.
Today is day 6. I know that this is just the beginning and it will probably get harder before it gets easy. I have tried a couple of times before and know that if I I take that first drink this time it will take me to long to start again.
I always had two beers and two shots when I would get home from work so that is the hardest time for me. Oh yeah and then there is the weekend where I would drink up to 10 beers on Saturday and Sunday. I can not take the guilt and shame of it any longer and I need to STOP.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 6,902
Hi Sammy. It's a great idea to make a plan.
One thing I learnt early on are the common HALT triggers. Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired. Part of your plan might be how to avoid these things, and what you might do in the event of finding yourself being any of these things. They're especially powerful when they join forces, so, for example, being Lonely and Tired can really cue those cravings rattling us.
Part of my plan was to ensure that I ate regular healthy meals, and that there were snacks available in the fridge or in my handbag. Another part was to have a list of people to reach out to if I got lonely, and AA meetings to go to do I could build up a network of sober friends (mine were mostly drinking buddies by the time I stopped drinking). Anger was a tricky one, as I had to learn new ways to deal with that, and AA helped with that as well once I'd started working the steps.
A book that I'd recommend is Living Sober. It is a little AA book, but even if you don't intend to go to AA, the advice and tips in there are great. You can get it at an AA meeting, or its available to buy online. I got mine for my Kindle via Amazon I think.
One thing I learnt early on are the common HALT triggers. Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired. Part of your plan might be how to avoid these things, and what you might do in the event of finding yourself being any of these things. They're especially powerful when they join forces, so, for example, being Lonely and Tired can really cue those cravings rattling us.
Part of my plan was to ensure that I ate regular healthy meals, and that there were snacks available in the fridge or in my handbag. Another part was to have a list of people to reach out to if I got lonely, and AA meetings to go to do I could build up a network of sober friends (mine were mostly drinking buddies by the time I stopped drinking). Anger was a tricky one, as I had to learn new ways to deal with that, and AA helped with that as well once I'd started working the steps.
A book that I'd recommend is Living Sober. It is a little AA book, but even if you don't intend to go to AA, the advice and tips in there are great. You can get it at an AA meeting, or its available to buy online. I got mine for my Kindle via Amazon I think.
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