Don't try to do it on your own. Just having someone else that is holding you accountable, even someone anonymous, can be a miraculous boost to the process. It's very hard to remember why you want to stop when the cravings start to kick in, and it's good to have someone on the outside who can ground you.
I have heard good things about the AA program, and there is usually a chapter or two within driving distance of most people who aren't extremely rural. The only people who tend to get turned off are people who get weirded out by spirituality, but I suspect that isn't a problem around here.
It's a long process that involves ups and downs. The most vulnerable days for relapse are when you've been successfully clean for a couple of weeks and are feeling good about things. Negative emotions can trigger it. Positive emotions can trigger it. Physical pain can trigger it.
Seriously, whether you go the formal route or not, it's extraordinarily hard to beat with a decision alone. Finding someone who can anchor you to your own motivation and remind you of why you want to stop is going to be the fastest, quickest, and most surefire boost to quitting I could recommend.
Yes when i stop for a good 4 to 5 days i start feeling good and forget about the horrible hangovers. The day starts out good then i think "hmm maybe just tonight i'll drink" my mind will make up excuses. It's like a devil inside me.
thanks for your post. Maybe ill try AA. I'm pretty shy though. I don't know if I could speak up in the meeting.
I’ll just tell you some things that helped me. 5 1/2 years alcohol free. I had a friend to talk to on my rides home for 2 weeks to keep me from stopping and getting anything. Distract yourself when urges hit. One day at a time. And set goals for easily obtainable day marks. One day, 3 days, a week, 10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, a month. A week or 2 can be hard to imagine, but a day or two to get to the next milestone day is doable. Take all the money you would have spent on booze every day and put it in a jar to spend after a few months as a reward. Depression and anxiety can happen when you stop, if you don’t feel quite like you used to after a few months, consider getting some help. Treat drinking as something you used to do. I used to play football in high school, I still know how, but it’s not a part of my life any more. Also get some lacroix type drinks. If you believe hard enough you can almost imagine that it’s a beer. Good luck!
Usually you aren’t forced to talk, it tends to be a low pressure environment. It should help to remember everyone is there with the same type of problem. Might be worth checking out. Hope it helps.
"Every minute I am sober and not drinking, is another minute added to a better habit."
It's a habit. I have to suffer the pain of not continuing the habit of drinking. I have to expect it will suck the first few weeks of not drinking. I've been sober before and hitting the gym and i always loved it. I JUST NEED TO SUFFER THE PAIN OF CHANGING THE HABIT.
Kombucha is good, also coconut water. I have a rule that when I feel the urge to cush a brew I have to have a coconut water first and by the time I finish it I'm usually too full for the brew. I still want it but the craving is gone and I feel like a brew would make me feel gross. Works great as long as there's coconut water or equivalent substitute in the fridge!
Fighting with yourself is so true. I'll go back and forth in my own head all day long. I'm not going to drink tonight. I'm not going to drink tonight. But I want to. But I won't. Then I end up stopping at the liquor store on the way home. Some days I'll pull back out without even going in. Then I'll be extremely angry and mad at myself/life all night. :/
I like Tom McDonald. Thanks fren. That song rings true. So does your message. I didn’t drink yesterday or today and worked out instead. Feels so much better
That’s totally cool. No one expects you to say anything other than introducing yourself. The important thing is that you are there. You are with others who have their struggle, too. You are with others who are living one day at a time. Try to check out different meetings. Same location may have multiple meetings- each with their own vibe. Been to some that were like a Sturgis Bike Rally and others that were like a country club social. You will find a meeting / group that clicks with you. Be patient and be patient with yourself. You have made one of the best decisions of your life.
Right on. If you have found a meeting, tell a friend who will support you in your sobriety / journey. Yours odds improve when your share your ambition with them. There are people cheering you on even if you cannot see them right in front of you. Look at all the comments, prayers, wisdom, insights your post created tonight.
It’s good to have the thought that you need to change, but if you don’t follow it up with an action, it doesn’t become anything than a good idea.
And the action to stop doing something comfortable (like drinking) is going to be uncomfortable, by definition.
Keep that in mind when evaluating making new choices related to stopping drinking. It’s not going to be comfortable, but you’re making this choice for a reason.
Don't try to do it on your own. Just having someone else that is holding you accountable, even someone anonymous, can be a miraculous boost to the process. It's very hard to remember why you want to stop when the cravings start to kick in, and it's good to have someone on the outside who can ground you.
I have heard good things about the AA program, and there is usually a chapter or two within driving distance of most people who aren't extremely rural. The only people who tend to get turned off are people who get weirded out by spirituality, but I suspect that isn't a problem around here.
It's a long process that involves ups and downs. The most vulnerable days for relapse are when you've been successfully clean for a couple of weeks and are feeling good about things. Negative emotions can trigger it. Positive emotions can trigger it. Physical pain can trigger it.
Seriously, whether you go the formal route or not, it's extraordinarily hard to beat with a decision alone. Finding someone who can anchor you to your own motivation and remind you of why you want to stop is going to be the fastest, quickest, and most surefire boost to quitting I could recommend.
Best of luck, truly.
Yes when i stop for a good 4 to 5 days i start feeling good and forget about the horrible hangovers. The day starts out good then i think "hmm maybe just tonight i'll drink" my mind will make up excuses. It's like a devil inside me.
thanks for your post. Maybe ill try AA. I'm pretty shy though. I don't know if I could speak up in the meeting.
I’ll just tell you some things that helped me. 5 1/2 years alcohol free. I had a friend to talk to on my rides home for 2 weeks to keep me from stopping and getting anything. Distract yourself when urges hit. One day at a time. And set goals for easily obtainable day marks. One day, 3 days, a week, 10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, a month. A week or 2 can be hard to imagine, but a day or two to get to the next milestone day is doable. Take all the money you would have spent on booze every day and put it in a jar to spend after a few months as a reward. Depression and anxiety can happen when you stop, if you don’t feel quite like you used to after a few months, consider getting some help. Treat drinking as something you used to do. I used to play football in high school, I still know how, but it’s not a part of my life any more. Also get some lacroix type drinks. If you believe hard enough you can almost imagine that it’s a beer. Good luck!
👆🏼this is the way.
Usually you aren’t forced to talk, it tends to be a low pressure environment. It should help to remember everyone is there with the same type of problem. Might be worth checking out. Hope it helps.
I think this is what I needed to hear.
"Every minute I am sober and not drinking, is another minute added to a better habit."
It's a habit. I have to suffer the pain of not continuing the habit of drinking. I have to expect it will suck the first few weeks of not drinking. I've been sober before and hitting the gym and i always loved it. I JUST NEED TO SUFFER THE PAIN OF CHANGING THE HABIT.
Kombucha is good, also coconut water. I have a rule that when I feel the urge to cush a brew I have to have a coconut water first and by the time I finish it I'm usually too full for the brew. I still want it but the craving is gone and I feel like a brew would make me feel gross. Works great as long as there's coconut water or equivalent substitute in the fridge!
Fighting with yourself is so true. I'll go back and forth in my own head all day long. I'm not going to drink tonight. I'm not going to drink tonight. But I want to. But I won't. Then I end up stopping at the liquor store on the way home. Some days I'll pull back out without even going in. Then I'll be extremely angry and mad at myself/life all night. :/
Super powerful song by Tom Macdonald talking about fighting the same demons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgo0V52o10U
I like Tom McDonald. Thanks fren. That song rings true. So does your message. I didn’t drink yesterday or today and worked out instead. Feels so much better
That’s totally cool. No one expects you to say anything other than introducing yourself. The important thing is that you are there. You are with others who have their struggle, too. You are with others who are living one day at a time. Try to check out different meetings. Same location may have multiple meetings- each with their own vibe. Been to some that were like a Sturgis Bike Rally and others that were like a country club social. You will find a meeting / group that clicks with you. Be patient and be patient with yourself. You have made one of the best decisions of your life.
I'm seriously considering it now. Funny, I'm about 1.5 hours away from Sturgis.
Right on. If you have found a meeting, tell a friend who will support you in your sobriety / journey. Yours odds improve when your share your ambition with them. There are people cheering you on even if you cannot see them right in front of you. Look at all the comments, prayers, wisdom, insights your post created tonight.
Once you want to quit as much as you want xiden out of office you’ll have no problem.
Good luck man, you can do this. Also pray. That helps a lot.
You dont need to. You can just go sit there and listen. You will talk when you are ready.
Ok maybe I'll try it. (probably not) UGH.
It’s good to have the thought that you need to change, but if you don’t follow it up with an action, it doesn’t become anything than a good idea.
And the action to stop doing something comfortable (like drinking) is going to be uncomfortable, by definition.
Keep that in mind when evaluating making new choices related to stopping drinking. It’s not going to be comfortable, but you’re making this choice for a reason.
You can also find AA meetings online so you participate (or just listen) from your sofa.