Notices

Courage

Old 01-30-2021, 04:44 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: South Coast - UK
Posts: 2,360
Courage

Trying to find the strength to not drink, not just when I have spent all my money, Tell myself that I could always borrow, but don't.
To be honest I'm ashamed of going back to the same people again and again, knowing the realise what the money is for, I don't pretend it's for something else, just don't say.
JamesW is online now  
Old 01-30-2021, 05:01 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
 
Meraviglioso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,251
James, have you ever tried a sober tracker? Like an online counting thing to track sober days and money saved? I use one called “I am sober”. It is an app thing that counts the days, minutes and seconds I have been sober as well as the money I have saved. This might be something that helps you.
Meraviglioso is offline  
Old 01-30-2021, 05:04 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
 
kateobr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 29
I use that app as well. It is great. And really helpful!
kateobr is offline  
Old 01-30-2021, 05:30 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
bona fido dog-lover
 
least's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,671
Welcome to the family. It's hard at first, but staying sober does get easier with more sober time. Another thing I recommend is practicing gratitude every day. That has helped me a lot in the last 11 yrs.
least is offline  
Old 01-30-2021, 05:48 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Canine Welfare Advocate
 
doggonecarl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,961
Courage
I don't know it it takes courage, but it certainly takes commitment. The commitment not to drink, no matter what, and the ability to handle the discomfort that comes with that commitment.
doggonecarl is offline  
Old 01-30-2021, 05:52 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Community Greeter
 
Hevyn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,416
Hi James. I tried to keep my mind occupied - even if it was just watching tv. Posting here at SR really saved me a few times. Everyone understands, like no one else can. We're glad you're here. You're never alone - any time of day or night.
Hevyn is online now  
Old 01-30-2021, 05:56 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 725
Especially with my anxiety, I mean alcohol aside, I don't have issues I have subscriptions! Anyway I remember a Friday night thinking the liquor store will be crowded. I will have to stand in line and talk to people. Screw that I think it would just be easier not to drink. It would be easier to just stretch out, get changed and go for a run. Several hours after I will probably feel better then several hours after drinking when the ease and comfort begins to turn into dur, dur, dur and flopping around like a lazy dope.

Big breakthrough, it is actually easier to just stay sober tonight.

Forget having to bother people its just easier to stay sober.
RecklessDrunk is offline  
Old 01-30-2021, 06:01 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,043
Hi and welcome James

Support really made the difference for me. It meant the world to me to know I was not alone and that I was understood.
More to the point I wanted what all these folks had a happy sober life

we can help you get there too James

D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 01-30-2021, 08:36 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
Surrendered19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,426
Welcome to SR James. You've got the strength to make changes, there is no doubt.
Surrendered19 is offline  
Old 01-31-2021, 01:52 AM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,389
Surrender is what it takes in my experience. Surrender to everything; first and foremost than I’m alcoholic 🙏
brighterday1234 is online now  
Old 01-31-2021, 04:58 AM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Member
 
Mizz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,748
With a daily plan and support you can get through this.
Lots of good suggestions up there. One day at a time is how we are all staying sober.
Mizz is offline  
Old 01-31-2021, 05:11 AM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Member
 
Suzieq17's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 424
Originally Posted by brighterday1234 View Post
Surrender is what it takes in my experience. Surrender to everything; first and foremost than I’m alcoholic 🙏
This. You must surrender and admit you’re an alcoholic. Then it’s about time and healing. And then it’s about a new life that awaits you.
Suzieq17 is offline  
Old 01-31-2021, 10:02 AM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: South Coast - UK
Posts: 2,360
Thank you to everyone for your kindness, I'm 45, and this is not the first time I have tried to stop.

Once lasted 18 months, so know the pain and struggles. This period has brought me to things, places, behaviours I thought I could never do,

I must not just save my health, but my soul.
JamesW is online now  
Old 01-31-2021, 10:29 AM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
DriGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 5,111
I'm going to second carl on this one. When you finally find sobriety, you will look back and this and realize that it didn't take courage. It didn't even take that much will power, except for the first week. Yes, that first week tormented me. Courage is something we exhibit when we face fear. I'm not sure what your fears are (I had them to), but you will look back at your fears and wonder what the fuss was about. OK, people fear the unknown. That's almost universal, but really think about it. What would you fear might be unknown to you about getting sober? Yes, you will make changes, you will make some new friends, and there will be surprises, almost all very very happy surprises. But none of them worth an once of your fears.

Originally Posted by doggonecarl View Post
Courage
I don't know if it takes courage, but it certainly takes commitment. The commitment not to drink, no matter what, and the ability to handle the discomfort that comes with that commitment.
AA talks about alcoholics avoiding sobriety, because they are searching for the easier softer way. But the paradox is that sobriety IS the easier softer way. It requires no energy to pour a drink, even less to just pass on it and forget it.




DriGuy is online now  
Old 01-31-2021, 10:35 AM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 520
I couldn't stay sober till I became willing to follow the program of recovery offered by Alcoholics Anonymous. To that end, here are the instructions I was given by my sponsor at the beginning:

1. Get on my knees every morning and every evening, asking "God" [use whatever label works for you] to keep me sober in the morning and thanking "Him" [ditto] before I go to bed for doing so.

2. Attend 90 A.A. meetings in 90 days (i.e., a minimum of one meeting per day for 90 days).

3. Read the first 164 pages of the Big Book, highlighting whatever jumps out at me (I've felt like that, thought that, did that).

4. Call my sponsor every day.

5. Get a home group and a service commitment.

"If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are ready to take certain steps. At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not."
novips is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:29 PM.