Ragsdash

Day 18, WAY better than week one but still a lot of anxiety, have a feeling the beast is biding it's time and is coiled like a snake.

least

Welcome to the family. There's going to be some anxiety until your brain is able to adjust to functioning without alcohol. It takes time to heal.

january161992

how are you today Ragsdash ?

Dee74

Welcome to SR Ragdash

D

Ragsdash

Thanks for welcoming me, I truly appreciate it and am so glad I found this forum, site. Was fine all day until it got dark. Then for some reason I got really restless, it is Friday, feel like I am missing out. The beast wants to get drunk! Not r todaygoing to happen and I am not changing my mind. Wish it would shut up and leave me alone. I went to the bar today and drank juice, maybe that was a bad idea, just wanted to see some old friends and observe them drinking. Nobody but the bartender knows I quit. Found it boring without drinking. Just by writing the craving is passing. Thanks again.

Silverback4

Warm welcome Rags and well done at the bar.
Stick with it it will get easier.

Sobriety2018

The anxiety will pass. Just stick with it! Congrats on 18 days!

Ragsdash

Day 22, new years eve, sober and won't be going out tonight. AVRT is working. However, since I believe in God I wonder if AA and AVRT can in some way be synthesized.

Dee74

I know a few AVRT members who believe in God. Belief in a higher power doesn't really come into AVRT so its not like believing in God makes the technique any less effective?

D

Ragsdash

Thanks for the reply. Happy New Year.

Inchworm

Happy New Year, Rags!

Ragsdash

27 days sober using AVRT. So, this is sobriety? Better than being drunk by far. A lot of boredom to deal with. Turned 58 today, wow that happened fast. Have to get used to life on life's terms instead of hiding in a bottle. Could have done so much more but I just wanted to get high. Onward.

tekink

I had a ton of boredom at first, drinking was my go to passtime, ever situation was measured by my ability to drink while doing it. I've been using AVRT also, anxiety and mood swings were off the charts for a good 6 months but I have 331 days sober now and it's getting a lot easier both to fill my time with stuff to do (that I can actually enjoy and do well) and my mind has stabilized for the most part. I never went more than a day without a drink for 23ish years and those days I skipped fit in one hand and happened due to extreme illness only.

Done4today

Congrats Ragsdash on 27 days!

It gets easier. I know I wonder how much different my life would be if I got sober in my 20's instead of 40's. But I have learned to not dwell on the past and enjoy the present. My past does let me know where I will be if I pick up again. good luck

biminiblue

Happy Birthday! Better to be 58 and sober than 58 and still drinking.

Onward, indeed!

I believe in God, and I don't go to AA - but I just use a synthesis of many schools of thought. I think AA's basic program is good (The 12 Steps) and is a good common sense way for people to live. Some people get a lot out of meeting face to face with other recovering alcoholics. There is a lot about AVRT that resonates with me, too. Same with Buddhism, Christianity, Native American teachings, parts of Muslim teaching, Science, fictional works, and some other out-there New Age stuff. Whatever works, I say. Sober Recovery is great because there's a little something for everyone.

least

Congrats on nearly a month sober! Keep going, it gets better.

Ragsdash

What bothers me is I knew in my 20's I had a problem, I knew in my 30's and 40's I had a problem but I didn't do anything about it. Tried AA about 10 times but never made any friends there and didn't stop drinking. Wish I had known about AVRT.

tekink

Better late than never! I knew I had a problem in my 20s but didn't even think about trying anything until now in my mid 40s. The way I was going I'd probably not have made it to the mid 50s tho, my liver already had enough.

Dee74

Try not to regret the time taken
It is what it is.

I got sober at 40 - I've done more in the last ten years than I did in the 20 before that.

Never too late for Chapter Two.

D

Ragsdash

Day 28. I figure if I went to a treatment center they would have detoxed me, given me some therapy, A A meetings, fed me and tomorrow I'd be going home-back to the mean streets. As it is I read a book, rational recovery, detoxed myself, went through the torture of withdrawal, and here I am-home. I really want to thank people on this website that respond and post. It has helped immensely having somewhere to go to connect with fellow addicts.