Awake early but refreshed.

Plan for today is set, meals now also sorted as at the looooooonnnng meeting someone is bringing a home made lasagna. Happy days!!

My major relapse was after the same meeting as this on about 10 September. Lesson learned from that, I’m leaving early today for a next appointment to swerve any trigger

Have a good day all

I went through years of cycles where I'd get very sick, have horrible withdrawals, then stop for awhile. Or even "drink normally" for long periods of time, years sometimes.

It took waking up in inpatient rehab not quite remembering where I was and how I got there to realize that this was in no way under control.

I hated the 12 Step meetings, but it was during one that a light went on. Step 1. Realized I can't control my drinking and using once I took a sip or a line, and the only way to avoid being back in inpatient rehab was to completely take drinking off the table, for life.

So I did.

But I had a plan. Finish inpatient, do meetings, do IOP, get therapy, get the body into shape, and find a new career. Although the decision was sudden, and final, I don't think I could have maintained sobriety without a plan.

Make a promise to yourself, then make a plan to keep it.

After many day 1's, my sobriety started with one simple sentence, which I heard on here from the mighty Dee74. It was " I never knew where one drink was going to take me" it hit home and I just couldn't argue with it. From that turning point, I made a plan and followed it . Although staying sober requires daily work, it really was that sentence that was the foundation of my sobriety.
Interesting to see that on your original post you had a similar sentence.

Thanks courage and mindful. My plan is the plan kicks in to take the pressure off my decisions and will, giving me space to move and change internally.

A really little example - I’ve been craving all morning, not going to drink but it’s pretty tiring. Luckily I’ve just eaten a huge lasagna and know where I’m going for the rest of the day until I get in tonight, so I can let those cravings be.

Hey Ben--great job on the plan and the sober time.
What about joining us in the October class thread?
We are building a nice community there and you'd be very welcome :)

Hi Hawkeye - I’m part of the September group! I’m sticking with them and my plan (that plan again!) is to re-join them fully after 14 days of journaling in this thread. I still keep up with them from time to time

Good luck octoberians

A plan is what works :)

Good day, few cravings this morning but nothing to act on - or think about acting on really.

I am realising I need a bit of "breathing space" in a day - when these thoughts come in I need a few minutes to breathe, and think, and reflect. Finding that is not always easy!

Tomorrow I have the whole day working from home by myself. Danger time...not for me. Being indoors is my safe space and I have loads of quite positive stuff to plough through. I am looking forward to relaxing a bit. I also have to go and pick up a kitten (don't!) with my daughter at 5pm, so a good driving time to protect me.

You wont believe it but I had a Krushem today, from a famous fast food chicken restaurant...equally delicious !!!

whats the motivation behind that plan of action, ben?

D

Morning all. Awake early again but sleeping well, nice to wake up feeling refreshed.

The 14 day thing - it’s just me setting little mini targets alongside the overwhelming one of staying sober for life. Its a big conflict for me, balancing the forever-sober with my normal preferred way of working of targets and trying to achieve things in timescales.

The obvious smallest one is committing to the day - and at times breaking that down into minutes if needed. I’ve then got various things in my head based on my experience and what I hear on here. So for me it’s 14 days (the time it took me last time for withdrawals to go, sleep to settle, everything to settle and me to feel ‘normal’); 53 days to go above my longest ever sober stretch; 6 months as that’s when people say things really begin to change; 2 years to start being a ‘sober person’ (in one sense, you know what I mean).

The group I still read and post occasionally, I just want to re-join it having gone through this first mini-stage and being at a point where I’m beginning to face the longer term issues, rather than the immediate withdrawaly bits.

I’m also going to launch a new group/thread at six weeks (the six weeks to six months thread) as my experience and, from watching others, it’s a real danger time. Just me mixing it up and keeping fresh.

That’s my reasoning, it makes perfect sense to me 😂

Glad I’m working from home today, it’s pouring out, cats and dogs.

Have a good day

Faor enough :)

Feel absolutely free to start as many threads as you feel you need Ben but I do recommend the existing One Year and Under Thread to everyone :)

https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...ml#post7031174

you'll not only find folks there 6 weeks to 6 months but a little 'younger' and 'older' than that too - I think it's a great mix of experience and empathy :)

D

Good day today, no real cravings to speak of, ran a mile and a bit, followed the plan nicely.

Tomorrow I’m up a bit later, off to pharmacy then football coaching. Dangerous time at end of football as it’s already culture to have a ‘couple of pints’ - I’m taking food with me and have a get out ready to avoid that. And when I avoid that I’ve got a beautiful afternoon of food shopping and cooking, largely by myself!! What a treat

(How daft I have to think to avoid the drinking bit when I’m looking forward to the afternoon so much 😮 )

Then Saturday night in watching nonsense on tv. Standard Saturday sober stuff

Morning all, an amazing uninterrupted eight hour sleep. Sleep and food on their own make sobriety worth it

Night all, I’m signing off and re-joining the September group again

A week of sobriety - I’m cured 😂😂😂

Thanks for your support and see you all soon