Been planning to quit drinking tomorrow... for months. Can't get through day 1.
 

I have been a drinker for awhile. About 20 years. After my divorce about two years ago, I fell apart. I went from drinking 1-3 nights a week with friends to drinking every day, sometimes starting early in the morning. My life has gotten better, my depression has decreased, but I still keep thinking I don't really need to quit, just cut down. I was able to control my drinking in the past. I am into working out and fitness. I did a fitness challenge for 90 days where I only drank 1 Saturday per month. It went great. I want to start cutting down by only drinking on Saturday nights if I go out with friends. I keep pushing it back because every day something seems to come up where I feel I should have a few drinks and relax and start tomorrow. I know how this sounds. I just can't imagine doing total abstinence. I am thinking of committing to thirty days and going from there. I just got a new job that will keep me really busy so that will be helpful. The last year I had inconsistent work and too much time on my hands! This should really help me. I am sure of it! Any advice is appreciated.

Welcome to the family. :) Quitting for a month is a noble goal, but why not make it for 3 months, so you'll really see how different living sober is from the drinking life. At any rate, I hope our support helps you get sober. :hug:

My drinking was progressive. My abstinence is also proving to be progressive. I went from having trouble imagining never drinking again, to having trouble imagining that I would ever drink again. That is freedom. Not drinking is perfectly acceptable behavior and there is nothing wrong with. I repeat...there is nothing wrong with not drinking. I can't say the same thing is true for me about drinking.

Why not repeat the fitness challenge? Can you do that? Sounds like you did good then....

I know it is hard to stop....I have been where you are...and kept saying tomorrow...tomorrow...I just had to really have a tomorrow "finally"....and how I got thru that was NOT PRETTY......Horrible withdrawals (I had)…..

But for me at 55 now...it was continue to drink and die.
Or quit and live....

Hello and welcome . um thats cool on your intentions however like some said give sobriety a longer test run if you will. Me I'm at 102 days and I wouldnt trade it for the world. I cut that ball and chain out of my life. And no regrets. But it is different strokes for different folks. Keep coming back

i love this

Of course many here are going to say quit for good and get it over with. But that's a daunting thought for many people, hence the slogan "One day at a time."

I think committing to thirty days is an awesome idea. Like you, I couldn't even manage facing that 1 day for the longest time. I also used to be able to control my drinking, but that ship sailed quite some time ago and it's never coming back. Do the 30, then reassess. I'll bet you'll feel great and be motivated to continue.

What's your quit date? How about tomorrow (assuming you've already started today)? That would be an awesome way to start the weekend, wouldn't it?

FiF,
I continued to drink for a very long time after admitting to myself that it was a problem. I drank while pondering, “Am I an alcoholic?” I drank while reading about sobriety. I drank while reading the stories of others. I drank while watching myself get older. And on and on.

I didn’t decide to quit for good, and I didn’t decide I was an alcoholic. Drinking was doing me no favors, so I set it aside and worked to do something different.

I don’t have to experience the most dreadful consequences of problem drinking to make a change. “Rock bottom” is not a requirement. I was still “functioning “, but being a bit higher up on the hill still meant I was careening towards the bottom.

I encourage you to read the vast experience here. And as nez wisely said, sobriety has its own momentum. 2 years in, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. And 2 years ago, I couldn’t imagine saying that.
Best wishes,
-bora

I am of the mind that if you think you might have a drinking problem, you probably do. That being said, I can certainly relate to the feeling of not really wanting to quit, thinking I could moderate, white knuckling through "moderation" and being miserable.

It's a lot easier to just not do it. You save so much money, and since you're into "fitness" (I'm athletic myself), you will see big returns in the form of better physical performance, better body image, better skin -- everything. People were randomly telling me how great I looked and asking what had changed within two weeks of quitting. I'd just shrug, say thanks, and say I was on a diet or whatever, but it felt really good.

Committing yourself to 30 days is a good idea, but you might want to consider that everything you love to do drunk, you can do sober without the hangovers and shame and all the other crap.

Welcome to SR femaleinflorida :)

I couldn't imagine total abstinence either but my drinking got to a point that I had change or die.

I didn't die...and I found that not only did I survive not drinking, but I thrived :)

I hope you'll find that too :)

D

Here is the highlight of my day today.

I didn't drink.

I'm going to go to bed sober in a few minutes, and tomorrow, I'm going to wake up and spend the day not drinking. Just by accomplishing that one thing, for one day at a time, my life is pretty great.

Now, I have a multitude of other things I've accomplished, and continue to accomplish in my life. But none of that matters if I drink, because alcohol can sabotage my life very quickly if I let it. I know myself well enough to know that if I have one beer, it won't be enough. And beer itself won't be enough, I will need to add vodka to the party. And soon I will circling the drain and running the risk of losing everything I value in life.

To avoid this devastating scenario I only need to do one thing. Don't drink today (and everyday when you wake up, it's "today" so you do it again).

how are things femaleinflorida?

D

Day 1 done
 

Thank you to everyone who posted and gave me encouragement. It's 9pm and about to go to bed without having had any alcohol today 😁 It was a busy day off and on so that helped. I gotta keep busy, always feel like I need to be being productive, usually the only time I can let myself relax is sitting down to have some drinks but anyways...I found myself stressing about a couple things I can't do anything about, including not knowing for sure where I am going to be working this fall. I did an interview two days ago and anxious about if I'm getting the job or not. Anyways, I drank lots of water, green tea, water with ACV, and a strawberry soda. I almost drove to the store to just buy two beers but it was raining, and by the time it stopped I had decided that would be stupid. I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would but I'm sure I'll have more stressful days coming up. I'm sick of disappointing myself and really want to follow through on getting myself in a better place mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Thanks again guys!!!! Much appreciated.

Day one is tough, so glad you got thru it sober. :hug: Do it again tomorrow. After a while, it will be the new normal. :)

Way to go Femaleinflorida!!! Congrats on day 1. Try not to worry and stress too much. Rejoice in the accomplishment of today. Whenever I start to run into the future and begin to stress and worry, I just remember that neither stress nor worry will take away tomorrow's challenges, but they will take away my chances for peace today.

Great Job!!!

Read Nez's post again - maybe even print it out so you can pull it out of your wallet and read whenever. It's a great way to approach sobriety & life in general.

Day 2, here you come!

O

Zebra’s post is profound. With drinking even good achievements pale into insignificance. The shame, horror and anxiety overpowers everything.

FemaleinFlorida- welcome to SR and great job getting through day 1.

When I quit I couldn’t imagine never drinking again. I didn’t really want to give it up for life but after several months sober and realizing how much better I felt mentally and physically I couldn’t imagine ever drinking again.

I have a hard time sitting still too. I go to the gym every day and burn off my extra energy. I joined the classes and met friends. I love getting in the pool too. I learned how to relax without drinking. Hot tea in the evenings, a good movie or book, a hot shower etc. Just think about all the things you can spend the extra money on. (School, trips, self care)

At first take it day by day. Remember HALT. Don’t let yourself get hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. That way it is easier to beat those cravings. I am three years sober but I still don’t go near the alcohol isle If I am hungry because I want those carbs!!

New Day 1
 

So....I was thinking about just drinking on Saturdays and I went out with the guy I'm dating and met my best friend (who drinks a lot regularly) for kareoke. I know I need to only drink light beers but when I am telling myself this is the only night for a week I'm going to drink, I go overboard. I drank IPAs and blacked out at least the last hour before I went to bed. My brain just can't do this anymore. I feel like such an idiot when I back out. It doesn't even take many drinks for me lately. So anyways.... Today is day 1. I started an 8 week fitness challenge today and no alcohol is part of the nutrition plan. I'm determined to stick to this plan. My birthday is coming up in about 6 weeks and I want to feel mentally and physically strong. I really need to post and use this site for support regularly. Also journaling helps me. And meditation. I know what I need to do. I just need to consistently do it!!!!