My Day three
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: by the sea in England
Posts: 13
My Day three
Hi everyone
So far so good. I got out to a yoga class with a friend, ate lunch and sat in a bookshop drinking coffee for a while. Its 5:45pm here now and I'm getting antsy, so came on here. Have my cuppa and a bar of chocolate with me.
I don't know what to do with myself really.
Last time I was sober my house had never been cleaner and there was 3 months worth of meals prepped and in the freezer! I was in a whirlwind of frantic nervous energy, needing to busy-busy- busy all the time until I crawled into bed exhausted at the end of the day (didn't sleep, mind)
feels different this time
So far so good. I got out to a yoga class with a friend, ate lunch and sat in a bookshop drinking coffee for a while. Its 5:45pm here now and I'm getting antsy, so came on here. Have my cuppa and a bar of chocolate with me.
I don't know what to do with myself really.
Last time I was sober my house had never been cleaner and there was 3 months worth of meals prepped and in the freezer! I was in a whirlwind of frantic nervous energy, needing to busy-busy- busy all the time until I crawled into bed exhausted at the end of the day (didn't sleep, mind)
feels different this time
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Great job on 3 days and what a nice day you've had!
One thing I did was go to bed early. Like 8p. Even if I got up for a bit, it still put me closer to tomorrow! In the evening like this, a movie is also a good way to spend a couple of hours. More chocolate is a-ok too.
You can do this.
One thing I did was go to bed early. Like 8p. Even if I got up for a bit, it still put me closer to tomorrow! In the evening like this, a movie is also a good way to spend a couple of hours. More chocolate is a-ok too.
You can do this.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,132
Hi albee!!!! Congratulations on day 3. It took me a while to develop new routines in the evening. That is when I usually drank. It takes time. I did things like watching TV and paying attention. Before it was just background noise. Reading helped. Listening to music helped. The important point is that these things don't happen overnight and you are not alone in how you feel. Again, congratulations on day 3.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: by the sea in England
Posts: 13
I can really relate to the watching TV and paying attention Headeast, I've watched so much and not remembered any of it or taken it in because I've been drinking. I've got a lot of shows to re-watch that's for sure!
Evenings would be my time to drink too, I'd start thinking about it around 4pm then get going as soon as I got home.
At the moment I just want to be on here for the most part of the evening.
Evenings would be my time to drink too, I'd start thinking about it around 4pm then get going as soon as I got home.
At the moment I just want to be on here for the most part of the evening.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: NSW - Australia
Posts: 14,544
Congratulations on 3 days Albee. It's probably day 4 now. 
.
I don't know what to advise in terms of filling in time. Learning to just be with ourselves is difficult at first. Hardest thing going.
Maybe mindfulness meditation,would help?
. I don't know what to advise in terms of filling in time. Learning to just be with ourselves is difficult at first. Hardest thing going.
Maybe mindfulness meditation,would help?
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Posts: 517
Congrats on 3 Days Albee 
I found writing lists, sane, manageable ones that is, was very helpful.
once it's on paper, it tends to get out of your head and that slows the ol racing head down, which is always a good thing.
Things can seem bigger than Texas in our head and there can be dozens of "oh I must do this, I must do that" flying around, but when we write a list and just methodically tick them off through out the day, it all seems manageable.
If you write a list and 50 things end up on it, you can also see in black and white, how unrealistic our expectations can be, then divide the list across the next week or so, instead of 'its all gotta happen NOW" taking over.
I found writing lists, sane, manageable ones that is, was very helpful.
once it's on paper, it tends to get out of your head and that slows the ol racing head down, which is always a good thing.
Things can seem bigger than Texas in our head and there can be dozens of "oh I must do this, I must do that" flying around, but when we write a list and just methodically tick them off through out the day, it all seems manageable.
If you write a list and 50 things end up on it, you can also see in black and white, how unrealistic our expectations can be, then divide the list across the next week or so, instead of 'its all gotta happen NOW" taking over.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: by the sea in England
Posts: 13
Thank you Steely and Derringer both great ideas.
I've done a very brief course on mindfulness meditation, I think now would be a good time to actually start practicing some of the exercises. Sitting with myself is quite a scary prospect at present.
I don't know how I would get anything done without lists tbh, my memory is awful, but I can see how unrealistic my expectations of myself can be at times. On some level I'm expecting to go from messy drunk to superwoman immediately! I need to accept it's just not possible and let go.
Keeping sober is the most important thing at the moment, one day at a time.
I've done a very brief course on mindfulness meditation, I think now would be a good time to actually start practicing some of the exercises. Sitting with myself is quite a scary prospect at present.
I don't know how I would get anything done without lists tbh, my memory is awful, but I can see how unrealistic my expectations of myself can be at times. On some level I'm expecting to go from messy drunk to superwoman immediately! I need to accept it's just not possible and let go.
Keeping sober is the most important thing at the moment, one day at a time.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: NSW - Australia
Posts: 14,544
I'm a bit the same albee. Chaos to Order overnight. It doesn't happen, hey? Not for me at anyrate. This sort of thinking just makes me more stressed,
I'm now prepared to sit with the chaos, try get a few things done for sure, but don't have any expectations outside of......staying sober. This is my only goal at present.
Mindfully observe the chaos. Try to chill, and accept.
It's where I'm laying my money Albee.
I'm now prepared to sit with the chaos, try get a few things done for sure, but don't have any expectations outside of......staying sober. This is my only goal at present.
Mindfully observe the chaos.
Try to chill, and accept. It's where I'm laying my money Albee.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
