WEEKENDERS - Running the Weekend Gauntlett 8-10th Sept
WEEKENDERS - Running the Weekend Gauntlett 8-10th Sept
This thread is about offering extra support to drugs and/or alcohol abusers at the weekend because the weekend is often the time of the week when our lying AV (Addict or Alcoholic Voice) says that getting wasted is "totally acceptable."
One of the many lies I used to tell myself was that I had a tough week and so would drink this weekend but quit on Monday. Just writing this here is making me smile. It was a lie I told so many times I could have run for office.
The thing is how often on a Monday morning have you ever thought "I'm really glad I spent the last two and a half days wasted, hungover and blacked out?"
Our culture does not make it easy on non-drinkers. At first stepping off that spiral can seem daunting and disorientating, so much extra time for a start but hang in there. The feeling of achievement you get from a sober weekend is something you will never get from a bottle or a pill.
I mentioned our lying AV at the top of this post. Ultimately it wants us dead and unfortunately is all to often successful but it can only do so with our help. This weekend tell it to.......... insert the words you feel are appropriate.
One of the many lies I used to tell myself was that I had a tough week and so would drink this weekend but quit on Monday. Just writing this here is making me smile. It was a lie I told so many times I could have run for office.
The thing is how often on a Monday morning have you ever thought "I'm really glad I spent the last two and a half days wasted, hungover and blacked out?"
Our culture does not make it easy on non-drinkers. At first stepping off that spiral can seem daunting and disorientating, so much extra time for a start but hang in there. The feeling of achievement you get from a sober weekend is something you will never get from a bottle or a pill.
I mentioned our lying AV at the top of this post. Ultimately it wants us dead and unfortunately is all to often successful but it can only do so with our help. This weekend tell it to.......... insert the words you feel are appropriate.
congrats on shotgun lunar.
Strange, but I have no idea where all that extra time has gone? Yea at first they seemed to drag 'cause I didn't know what to do with myself and sure, I'm getting things done but.... I wish the days didn't go by so fast.
Strange, but I have no idea where all that extra time has gone? Yea at first they seemed to drag 'cause I didn't know what to do with myself and sure, I'm getting things done but.... I wish the days didn't go by so fast.
Sober since October
Join Date: Oct 2012
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I am in!
Thank you, Sao, for the intro.
Definitely don't miss those hangovers, regrets, shame, guilt, comatose mornings, and endless "why agains".
As for how to fill in all this liberated time - it's just a question of time and dedication. There are thousands things to do on a weekend instead of drinking. Shame that modern cultures tries to convince us otherwise.
Have a good day, weekenders.
Thank you, Sao, for the intro.
Definitely don't miss those hangovers, regrets, shame, guilt, comatose mornings, and endless "why agains".
As for how to fill in all this liberated time - it's just a question of time and dedication. There are thousands things to do on a weekend instead of drinking. Shame that modern cultures tries to convince us otherwise.
Have a good day, weekenders.
I like the intro I am still grateful on the weekends for not having to deal with the hangovers and the regret and shame!!! Even if I'm feeling lazy and not really doing anything, I can enjoy it rather then need it because I'm sick physically, mentally, and spiritually.
If anybody still going through this can take anything from my experience, it should be this: A big reason I was able to continue like that for years was a lack of accountability. I live alone, had no family in town, had withdrawn from friends for the most part, and didn't let on to anybody that I had a problem. I showed up for work Mondays, there was money in the bank, and the bills got paid, so I was left alone. That's a dangerous mix for an alcoholic. I only got better after I let people know I had a problem and they held me accountable for my own recovery.
That was a first class post DesertDawg, I really hope that people who want to quit but are still hesitating read it.
ps. The lack of accountability applied to me to, part of that was caused by my drinking which in turn reinforced it. Talk about a vicious circle.
ps. The lack of accountability applied to me to, part of that was caused by my drinking which in turn reinforced it. Talk about a vicious circle.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,518
I like this ! weekend starting on a Thursday . My weekend was Thurs to Mon then as if that wasn,t bad enough would keep going an extra couple of days till I was well and truly F£$%$£ up mentllay and physically .
I'm exited at the idea of sober weekends now .
I can drive ,help,read,write ,eat,walk,talk,cut grass,prune flowers,paint fences,clean floors ,varnish tables,fix computers,hang washing, wash me,trim big toe nails................................. the list is endless . But drunk I could do nothing , nothing worthwhile or meaningful .
I'm exited at the idea of sober weekends now .
I can drive ,help,read,write ,eat,walk,talk,cut grass,prune flowers,paint fences,clean floors ,varnish tables,fix computers,hang washing, wash me,trim big toe nails................................. the list is endless . But drunk I could do nothing , nothing worthwhile or meaningful .
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,246
Thanks Sao. Great post as always.
I am committing to a sober weekend. I certainly don't miss feeling at deaths door on Saturday morning, unable to move until I had another drink in the afternoon. It really is a kind of hell in the end. Despite knowing this, weekends are still the hardest for me but it is definitely getting easier.
I am committing to a sober weekend. I certainly don't miss feeling at deaths door on Saturday morning, unable to move until I had another drink in the afternoon. It really is a kind of hell in the end. Despite knowing this, weekends are still the hardest for me but it is definitely getting easier.
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Canada
Posts: 251
This is my first sober weekend in a long time- but I do remember when I was sober a year back I would be like who dis?? Getting stuff actually ready for the week ahead, doing hair and face masks, going to the gym and actually going grocery shopping. Those are the best of days, walking into work Monday morning, who dis!
Hey all ,
i hope everyone is prepped for that Friday feeling, it happens. It's up to us how we deal with it .
I made sure shopping was done thursday night so i had no excuse to loiter or do a slow drive by the shop on a friday afternoon .
I used to leave money and cards at home .
I made sure there was a chocolate bar or ice cream in the early days so i had a surrogate treat to spoil myself with .
It wasn't a walk in the park but it took the edge off enough , getting through is ok , when i first rode a bike i wobbled and had to put my feet down a lot .
early sobriety doesn't need to be full of grace and glory but that will come with time if you stick with it ..
keep on , m
i hope everyone is prepped for that Friday feeling, it happens. It's up to us how we deal with it .
I made sure shopping was done thursday night so i had no excuse to loiter or do a slow drive by the shop on a friday afternoon .
I used to leave money and cards at home .
I made sure there was a chocolate bar or ice cream in the early days so i had a surrogate treat to spoil myself with .
It wasn't a walk in the park but it took the edge off enough , getting through is ok , when i first rode a bike i wobbled and had to put my feet down a lot .
early sobriety doesn't need to be full of grace and glory but that will come with time if you stick with it ..
keep on , m
Oh God. I'm back to work with a bang after 3 days annual leave. I do not get paid half enough for all the things I have to do.
After work I went to town to buy a book and I was standing in the queue to buy a book. Some guy merrily skipped by me which I was annoyed about then he began shouting at a pal of his who was outside the queue. The cashier came back and looked at the two of us and said "who is next?" The guy strode up merrily to the cashiers desk. At that point I arrived beside him and told her "I was actually queuing but yet he arrived before me". The guy turned to me and said "oh excuse me. You go ahead" in an extremely sarcastic tone and made a big show out of making a bow. I thanked him and went ahead.
The only reason I did this is because I have been through this with my therapist many many times. I always put up with this type of thing. And then my therapist would say "and when you let that behaviour go, how does it make you feel?" I would tell him "very angry, also sad. More angry at myself that I could not stick up for myself ever. And I would be angry for the rest of the night".
Today I skipped out of that bookstore with a new energy and a happy heart.
I hope you all have a good weekend too
After work I went to town to buy a book and I was standing in the queue to buy a book. Some guy merrily skipped by me which I was annoyed about then he began shouting at a pal of his who was outside the queue. The cashier came back and looked at the two of us and said "who is next?" The guy strode up merrily to the cashiers desk. At that point I arrived beside him and told her "I was actually queuing but yet he arrived before me". The guy turned to me and said "oh excuse me. You go ahead" in an extremely sarcastic tone and made a big show out of making a bow. I thanked him and went ahead.
The only reason I did this is because I have been through this with my therapist many many times. I always put up with this type of thing. And then my therapist would say "and when you let that behaviour go, how does it make you feel?" I would tell him "very angry, also sad. More angry at myself that I could not stick up for myself ever. And I would be angry for the rest of the night".
Today I skipped out of that bookstore with a new energy and a happy heart.
I hope you all have a good weekend too
Hey everyone! Hoping to stay close to you guys - hoping Irma stays far away! Also hoping we don't lose electricity ~ I guess I need to be able to fight off the AV even if I can't check in with everyone here.
I brought the cat over from Mom's since she went to my sister's to ride out the storm this weekend....kitty is hiding under the bed
I brought the cat over from Mom's since she went to my sister's to ride out the storm this weekend....kitty is hiding under the bed
Hey y'all. With football starting, be extra careful and don't get caught up in the "spirits" of things this weekend - those of you who know what football is. Best of luck to those down in the path of Irma, and to those recovering from Harvey. Don't let these tragedies influence your determination to stay on the sober path.
And what Sao sez: I never ran out of excuses to drink. Didn't really need one but always had one. Don't let the weekend or any other event become an excuse. Love yourself more better than that.
And what Sao sez: I never ran out of excuses to drink. Didn't really need one but always had one. Don't let the weekend or any other event become an excuse. Love yourself more better than that.
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