Just saying hello
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,518
Welcome, streetsnake. It's great to have you with us.
I didn't know what to expect when I first found SR. I couldn't imagine how an online community would be able to help me quit - but it did. I read great advice & grew strong because I was no longer alone. After I was here a short time, I felt ready to let go of it. You can do it.
I didn't know what to expect when I first found SR. I couldn't imagine how an online community would be able to help me quit - but it did. I read great advice & grew strong because I was no longer alone. After I was here a short time, I felt ready to let go of it. You can do it.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Right here, right now
Posts: 3,963
Hi streetsnake, all of us have been where you are. Have you thought about a plan? What have you already tried? My will to no longer drink was not enough. I had to change myself. I started therapy, yoga and meditation, journaling, exercise, and I come here regularly. Some folks join AA. There’s no one right way for everyone.
This is a supportive and inspiring forum with lots of ideas on getting and staying sober. Hope to see you around.
This is a supportive and inspiring forum with lots of ideas on getting and staying sober. Hope to see you around.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,872
At some point you have to help yourself. That's why this forum is here, to help people who want to stop drinking.
What are you doing to help yourself that this forum can't help you with?
It's called taking responsibility.
I am responsible for my alcoholism. I'm also responsible for my recovery from alcoholism.
It took action.
Are you ready and willing to go to any length to get sober?
You have to save yourself, friend. And this site is here to help.
If you don't want the help this site can offer you, I wish you the best.
All I know, is that to get sober I had to take action and this site was part of it.
I hope you stick around and do find help here.
What are you doing to help yourself that this forum can't help you with?
It's called taking responsibility.
I am responsible for my alcoholism. I'm also responsible for my recovery from alcoholism.
It took action.
Are you ready and willing to go to any length to get sober?
You have to save yourself, friend. And this site is here to help.
If you don't want the help this site can offer you, I wish you the best.
All I know, is that to get sober I had to take action and this site was part of it.
I hope you stick around and do find help here.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by Fearlessat50 
Hi streetsnake, all of us have been where you are. Have you thought about a plan? What have you already tried? My will to no longer drink was not enough. I had to change myself. I started therapy, yoga and meditation, journaling, exercise, and I come here regularly. Some folks join AA. There’s no one right way for everyone.
This is a supportive and inspiring forum with lots of ideas on getting and staying sober. Hope to see you around.
This is a supportive and inspiring forum with lots of ideas on getting and staying sober. Hope to see you around.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by Ghostlight1
At some point you have to help yourself. That's why this forum is here, to help people who want to stop drinking.
What are you doing to help yourself that this forum can't help you with?
It's called taking responsibility.
I am responsible for my alcoholism. I'm also responsible for my recovery from alcoholism.
It took action.
Are you ready and willing to go to any length to get sober?
You have to save yourself, friend. And this site is here to help.
If you don't want the help this site can offer you, I wish you the best.
All I know, is that to get sober I had to take action and this site was part of it.
I hope you stick around and do find help here.
What are you doing to help yourself that this forum can't help you with?
It's called taking responsibility.
I am responsible for my alcoholism. I'm also responsible for my recovery from alcoholism.
It took action.
Are you ready and willing to go to any length to get sober?
You have to save yourself, friend. And this site is here to help.
If you don't want the help this site can offer you, I wish you the best.
All I know, is that to get sober I had to take action and this site was part of it.
I hope you stick around and do find help here.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,872
I understand completely.
I did choose alcohol over girlfriends and friends who didn't drink like I did.
Soon, I was alone with fellow alcoholics and then I was just alone. With booze.
Man, figuring out how to not start drinking is a tough one. A really tough one.
I found AA helpful. Here was a room full of people with the same problem I have who were getting sober by not taking that first drink.
Others were like me. Wanting to quit, but not knowing how.
The group dynamic of a room full of people with the same desire was palpable.
It took me a very long time to quit drinking.
Until I was told, and learned, that by not taking that first drink I would not get drunk.
It's not the last drink, it's the first one.
I talked myself into it at first, too. Then, when things got bad, I had no control over taking the first drink.
I drank like that for thirty years.
It's hard my friend. And that's why this place is here. To share our experiences, strength and hope.
Especially to the newcomer.
I was confused. I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to stop drinking despite swearing it off, dumping it out and solemn vows. Still I drank.
For me, it took something greater than myself. A higher power.
I found one and it's been ten years since this alcoholic has had a drink.
And I was a bad drunk.
You've admitted you have a problem. That's the first step. I feel it is required for progress.
We're here to help. And your post has helped this drunk stay sober today by being reminded what those days were like, so thank you for coming here.
I hope you stick around. Because there is hope. And it starts with you.
I did choose alcohol over girlfriends and friends who didn't drink like I did.
Soon, I was alone with fellow alcoholics and then I was just alone. With booze.
Man, figuring out how to not start drinking is a tough one. A really tough one.
I found AA helpful. Here was a room full of people with the same problem I have who were getting sober by not taking that first drink.
Others were like me. Wanting to quit, but not knowing how.
The group dynamic of a room full of people with the same desire was palpable.
It took me a very long time to quit drinking.
Until I was told, and learned, that by not taking that first drink I would not get drunk.
It's not the last drink, it's the first one.
I talked myself into it at first, too. Then, when things got bad, I had no control over taking the first drink.
I drank like that for thirty years.
It's hard my friend. And that's why this place is here. To share our experiences, strength and hope.
Especially to the newcomer.
I was confused. I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to stop drinking despite swearing it off, dumping it out and solemn vows. Still I drank.
For me, it took something greater than myself. A higher power.
I found one and it's been ten years since this alcoholic has had a drink.
And I was a bad drunk.
You've admitted you have a problem. That's the first step. I feel it is required for progress.
We're here to help. And your post has helped this drunk stay sober today by being reminded what those days were like, so thank you for coming here.
I hope you stick around. Because there is hope. And it starts with you.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 11
gotta have 15 posts for a private message. LOL
I just told my wife earlier that I dont know if things will get better. I've promised and promised and wanted and wanted to make things better but I haven't fulfilled. I don't know what to do at this point.
I just told my wife earlier that I dont know if things will get better. I've promised and promised and wanted and wanted to make things better but I haven't fulfilled. I don't know what to do at this point.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 14,902
My wife feels I've chosen alcohol over her.
I sort of hate to say this, but I agree with her.
You see, I cheated on my wife. I didn't quite realize it at the time, it really was an insidious kind of thing. But at some point I cheated on my wife with another lover, and her name was alcohol. At first, we would meet secretly and share experiences just between the two of us. It was fun and exciting and we kept our little relationship secret from my wife. I would spend a lot of money on her, which I also managed to keep hidden from my wife. I really fell for her and begin to spend more and more time with her. She was always available, and always willing to comfort when I was down or help me to celebrate when times were good. I must have really fallen for her because I would do crazy stuff when I was with her, stuff I would never do when it was just me and my wife.
Eventually the relationship changed and I realized that I was on the receiving end in an abusive relationship. Man, this alcohol woman turned out to be a real bitch! Then my my wife caught me in my affair with alcohol, and her world was rocked. I felt guilt and shame for what had happened. And despite the fact that my relationship with Ms. Alcohol was toxic, she kept wanting to hang on to me and be a part of my life. I've finally managed to get this bitch out of my life, but now I have the creepy feeling that she might be stalking me. I think I'm always going to be looking out for her.
I sort of hate to say this, but I agree with her.
You see, I cheated on my wife. I didn't quite realize it at the time, it really was an insidious kind of thing. But at some point I cheated on my wife with another lover, and her name was alcohol. At first, we would meet secretly and share experiences just between the two of us. It was fun and exciting and we kept our little relationship secret from my wife. I would spend a lot of money on her, which I also managed to keep hidden from my wife. I really fell for her and begin to spend more and more time with her. She was always available, and always willing to comfort when I was down or help me to celebrate when times were good. I must have really fallen for her because I would do crazy stuff when I was with her, stuff I would never do when it was just me and my wife.
Eventually the relationship changed and I realized that I was on the receiving end in an abusive relationship. Man, this alcohol woman turned out to be a real bitch! Then my my wife caught me in my affair with alcohol, and her world was rocked. I felt guilt and shame for what had happened. And despite the fact that my relationship with Ms. Alcohol was toxic, she kept wanting to hang on to me and be a part of my life. I've finally managed to get this bitch out of my life, but now I have the creepy feeling that she might be stalking me. I think I'm always going to be looking out for her.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: New England
Posts: 1,224
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-far-gone.html (Cannot quit - too old, too far gone!)
This post struck a chord with me. When I just couldn't find that thing to get me to stop starting, this made sense. It's about taking action. Doing without thinking yourself out of it. I was drinking heAvily daily and just couldn't stop myself. After reading this post, I dug my bike out of the shed, inflated the tires, blew off the dust and went for a bike ride. Almost puked the first ride and my legs hurt and lungs burned. I was too tired and nauteous to drink that night. Then I did it again the next day. Decided to double down and made a healthy meal. Then I slept. For the first time in a long time. Then just kept adding each day. One at a time. I stopped THINKING of reasons not to take action. I shut my brain off and just did.
And I checked in here every morning and every night. By listening to others And sharing my thoughts, I came up with a plan that works for me.
You could start there.
This post struck a chord with me. When I just couldn't find that thing to get me to stop starting, this made sense. It's about taking action. Doing without thinking yourself out of it. I was drinking heAvily daily and just couldn't stop myself. After reading this post, I dug my bike out of the shed, inflated the tires, blew off the dust and went for a bike ride. Almost puked the first ride and my legs hurt and lungs burned. I was too tired and nauteous to drink that night. Then I did it again the next day. Decided to double down and made a healthy meal. Then I slept. For the first time in a long time. Then just kept adding each day. One at a time. I stopped THINKING of reasons not to take action. I shut my brain off and just did.
And I checked in here every morning and every night. By listening to others And sharing my thoughts, I came up with a plan that works for me.
You could start there.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 611
Hi Streetsnake. Personally, I wished and hoped for sobriety for years, all while continuing to drink. I was only able to stop when I accepted that the problem was real, stopped ingesting alcohol, and sought support for my decision.
It's definitely not easy, but it is pretty straightforward. One small thing I found helpful is to recognize the value of any amount of sobriety. A day, an hour, a year ... it's hard-won, and worth defending
You can do this.
It's definitely not easy, but it is pretty straightforward. One small thing I found helpful is to recognize the value of any amount of sobriety. A day, an hour, a year ... it's hard-won, and worth defending
You can do this.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,755
In order to stay sober, you have to want to be sober more than you want to drink. Sounds like you still want to drink more than you want to be sober. I hope the support here can help change that.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 11
Finalround...thank you very much. I wish you continued success. I'm in sales, so I'm out driving throughout the day. My problem is the the way home...talking myself into it. I do need to figure out how to replace the alcohol with something constructive. I have so many things I could be doing...running, biking, woodworking, etc. but I DON'T.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: New England
Posts: 1,224
[QUOTE=streetsnake I have so many things I could be doing...running, biking, woodworking, etc. but I DON'T.[/QUOTE]
Exactly! Just "DO".
Don't make me come over there and make you do it! Cuz I will.
Exactly! Just "DO".
Don't make me come over there and make you do it! Cuz I will.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 28,637
WELCOMKEEP READING AND POSTING - LOTS!!!!!
Join a monthly thread (Dec 18?, read the Sticky's to see how to mAKE A RECOVERY PLAN- MINE JUST NOT JUST 'HAPPEN', VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH LUCK, JUST WILLPOWER OR Stuff
and I am crap with caps lock
Welcome and keep posting
Join a monthly thread (Dec 18?, read the Sticky's to see how to mAKE A RECOVERY PLAN- MINE JUST NOT JUST 'HAPPEN', VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH LUCK, JUST WILLPOWER OR Stuff
and I am crap with caps lock
Welcome and keep posting
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