18 Days
The opposite of addiction is connection.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 373
18 Days
On Day 18 here- this is as long a stretch of sobriety I’ve had in a while. I feel free, and for the most part I feel good.
I’ve firmly established a morning meditation practice. It’s only 10-12 minutes and guided using an app, but it’s very helpful. My sleep is markedly better in the last 2 nights. I’ve been eating better, more veggies and less fried stuff. Posting here today because my IOP Group isn’t meeting today because of the US Labor Day holiday.
I’m still quite tired during the day. I’ve been intending to get out for a long walk and some exercise but I’m just feeling lethargic. Did others have that at 18 days? Not sure if I should push myself or rest.
Mood wise, a bit cranky today. A bit down but no desire to drink. I think the naltrexone is still helping. Just wish I was springing out of bed with boundless energy and enthusiasm.
How was your Day 18? Do you remember? Please share.
I’ve firmly established a morning meditation practice. It’s only 10-12 minutes and guided using an app, but it’s very helpful. My sleep is markedly better in the last 2 nights. I’ve been eating better, more veggies and less fried stuff. Posting here today because my IOP Group isn’t meeting today because of the US Labor Day holiday.
I’m still quite tired during the day. I’ve been intending to get out for a long walk and some exercise but I’m just feeling lethargic. Did others have that at 18 days? Not sure if I should push myself or rest.
Mood wise, a bit cranky today. A bit down but no desire to drink. I think the naltrexone is still helping. Just wish I was springing out of bed with boundless energy and enthusiasm.
How was your Day 18? Do you remember? Please share.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2,872
No help here on eighteen days as that over ten years ago for me.
Sounds like you're doing very positive things for your recovery.
Remember, things will keep getting better and that you never have to drink again.
Sounds like you're doing very positive things for your recovery.
Remember, things will keep getting better and that you never have to drink again.
saoutchik
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Posts: 16,202
Congratulations on 18 days Pinnacle. I cannot remember exactly how I was but I remember thinking things were going OK and being really worried it would get harder and although it did get harder once or twice, mostly it didn't.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
Hi Pinnacle - I can't remember exactly either but your posts seems to have some familiar elements for me from that time...mosty the lack of energy and the mood swings...
hang in there - it gets better
D
hang in there - it gets better
D
Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London, England
Posts: 7,060
Originally Posted by PinnacleOR 
I’m still quite tired during the day. I’ve been intending to get out for a long walk and some exercise but I’m just feeling lethargic. Did others have that at 18 days? Not sure if I should push myself or rest.
If you really don't feel up to a long walk, go for a short walk instead. I think it will be good for you.
18 days is fab ~ keep going.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,217
I do not specifically remember day 18 but I can recall the first month itself being a tough one. You are really doing great- be gentle and listen to the needs of your body. So happy for you and your new life ahead. You are free...
The opposite of addiction is connection.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 373
Thanks everyone. Day 19 now, been a long time since I got this far. Slept well last night, in fact overslept this morning but waking up clear headed is such a gift.
Beautiful weather, so I’m bringing walking shoes to work for a lunchtime walk. The exercise and sun on my face should help!
The one thing I’m a bit disappointed about is weight loss, or lack of it. I would have thought 19 days with 1300 less calories a day would show results, but I’m the exact same weight I was 19 days ago. I’m eating well, so how is that even possible? Food calories if anything have gone down with better food choices.
Beautiful weather, so I’m bringing walking shoes to work for a lunchtime walk. The exercise and sun on my face should help!
The one thing I’m a bit disappointed about is weight loss, or lack of it. I would have thought 19 days with 1300 less calories a day would show results, but I’m the exact same weight I was 19 days ago. I’m eating well, so how is that even possible? Food calories if anything have gone down with better food choices.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,598
A couple quick observations.
1. You sound immeasurably better than I was at day 18.
2. You said you were meditating “only 12 minutes”. That sound like negative self talk. Truth is, that’s more than a lot of us and if that’s what you can do today then that is excellent.
3. About the motivation to walk, yes, I had and continue to have that as well. Mainly because it’s so hot where I live but also because of low level withdrawal symptoms and low grade depression. Ironically, the walk would help depression, but that’s how that goes.
Anyway, you sound like you are doing great. Give yourself a hand, be kind to yourself and Kenyon the good work! You’re on your way
1. You sound immeasurably better than I was at day 18.
2. You said you were meditating “only 12 minutes”. That sound like negative self talk. Truth is, that’s more than a lot of us and if that’s what you can do today then that is excellent.
3. About the motivation to walk, yes, I had and continue to have that as well. Mainly because it’s so hot where I live but also because of low level withdrawal symptoms and low grade depression. Ironically, the walk would help depression, but that’s how that goes.
Anyway, you sound like you are doing great. Give yourself a hand, be kind to yourself and Kenyon the good work! You’re on your way
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,909
I was combination between... hopeful and scared sh**less,... wanting to communicate about how/ what I was feeling and be left alone,...exhausted and wound up,...over thinking and mindless,...basically, I was all over the place because it was all still so new.
My best bet at the time, although it eluded me, was to...trust the process, participate in the process, give the process permission to happen without my supervision.
My best bet at the time, although it eluded me, was to...trust the process, participate in the process, give the process permission to happen without my supervision.
The opposite of addiction is connection.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 373
End of the day, made it through but man I was cranky today. Felt pretty good when I woke up but somewhere at work my mood shifted. I think it was when I received some critical feedback on an email I wrote, I blew it out of proportion in my mind and it set the tone for the rest of the day. I just didn’t want to talk to anyone, I wanted them to get out of my way and leave me alone.
No desire to drink though. Probably go to bed early and look to reset for tomorrow. I’d like my pink cloud now please.
No desire to drink though. Probably go to bed early and look to reset for tomorrow. I’d like my pink cloud now please.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,138
Congrats on making it through day 19, Pinnacle. Yes, I remember those days and I can say my moods were all over the place, and I was exhausted, too. Listen to your body and let yourself rest, and know that the mood swings and irritability will pass -- and it's amazing when they do.
As for weight loss.... I thought the same thing as you, and in fact I barely lost anything until 7 weeks in... and then I lost 20 pounds in a month. The weight will come off... you just have to give your metabolism a chance to catch up
Keep going! That pink cloud is just around the corner (it hit around day 30 for me).
As for weight loss.... I thought the same thing as you, and in fact I barely lost anything until 7 weeks in... and then I lost 20 pounds in a month. The weight will come off... you just have to give your metabolism a chance to catch up
Keep going! That pink cloud is just around the corner (it hit around day 30 for me).
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Big City
Posts: 3,895
I wanted to go back and see what I was going through, this is what I wrote 3 days later at week 3:
3 weeks today - growing up
I've been very active on SR in 2018, after years of coming and going, drinking and "quitting", knowing deep down or maybe not all that deep down, that I needed to get alcohol out of my life for good.
As Nonsensical said on another thread today, it's amazing to me I kept it going for that long.
Been thinking this time, again, about responsibility, obligation, adulthood and how drinking subverts all that we are meant to be or can or should be. My son, my wife, my parents, my community, my co-workers, my fellow big city dwellers - everyone is injured, in minimal to maximal ways, by me giving into my addiction. Not to mention my self - the person I want to be, the person I wanted to be when I was my son's age.
I'm done with betraying myself.
I'm done with it for good. I'm never drinking again. I'm a guy who just doesn't drink.
It's amazing to me how simple the cure for this addiction is. What's not amazing is how hard it is to get to the point where it becomes clear - I know for myself and so many intelligent, good people on this site, that it takes years for most of us. If we get there at all.
And I'm no fool that there won't be times of weakness or suffering or just plain woe-is-me-ness. I have problems with the concept of permanent "recovery" but I do know that I will always have this demon inside of me and I'll be with it for the rest of my life.
But I'm feeling grateful this morning. Grateful that I don't have to drink today. Grateful that I have this crazy online community filled with people who are struggling or have struggled and want to get/be/stay better.
Grateful that I caught my self before it was too late. I've paid enough to the poison, I've got some paying back to do in the rest of my life.
Thanks again SR, could not have done it without you.
3 weeks today - growing up
I've been very active on SR in 2018, after years of coming and going, drinking and "quitting", knowing deep down or maybe not all that deep down, that I needed to get alcohol out of my life for good.
As Nonsensical said on another thread today, it's amazing to me I kept it going for that long.
Been thinking this time, again, about responsibility, obligation, adulthood and how drinking subverts all that we are meant to be or can or should be. My son, my wife, my parents, my community, my co-workers, my fellow big city dwellers - everyone is injured, in minimal to maximal ways, by me giving into my addiction. Not to mention my self - the person I want to be, the person I wanted to be when I was my son's age.
I'm done with betraying myself.
I'm done with it for good. I'm never drinking again. I'm a guy who just doesn't drink.
It's amazing to me how simple the cure for this addiction is. What's not amazing is how hard it is to get to the point where it becomes clear - I know for myself and so many intelligent, good people on this site, that it takes years for most of us. If we get there at all.
And I'm no fool that there won't be times of weakness or suffering or just plain woe-is-me-ness. I have problems with the concept of permanent "recovery" but I do know that I will always have this demon inside of me and I'll be with it for the rest of my life.
But I'm feeling grateful this morning. Grateful that I don't have to drink today. Grateful that I have this crazy online community filled with people who are struggling or have struggled and want to get/be/stay better.
Grateful that I caught my self before it was too late. I've paid enough to the poison, I've got some paying back to do in the rest of my life.
Thanks again SR, could not have done it without you.
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