Alcoholics Anonymous
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: First 4 weeks have been easy. What do I need to watch out for?


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
First 4 weeks have been easy. What do I need to watch out for?
Permalink  
 


Some or all of this may come across as naive. I'm just telling it as it is.

I'm 60 and have drunk too much all my adult life (in fact, from my early teens when I first started playing sport in adult teams and the adults would buy me beer after the game). I'm an obsessive/compulsive living with bipolar. Meds and practice have the latter pretty much under control.

Decided to stop drinking 4 weeks ago after getting back from a boozy holiday.

So far it's been easy despite life being pretty messed up at the moment and apparently something extra being dumped on me nearly every day. Have also been in several social situations in the last 4 weeks where I'd normally have had a drink, including ones where the pub I've been in has had, unusually for Australia, some great British beers. I've just drunk water in order to have a drink in my hand (and because I now seem to like water!). There's even alcohol in the house. And I still just haven't wanted a drink. There have been no withdrawal symptoms apart from difficulty sleeping, which may be due to other factors. I've lost 4.5kg in weight and started exercising and playing sport again, all of which were also well overdue.

When I stopped smoking 17 years ago it was really difficult and took 6 months of tapering then using nicotine replacements, and I learned to hate those people who said they could have just one cigarette whenever they wanted, and it wouldn't mean they had to have another, and another. So I really don't want to go to an AA meeting and confess to the first 4 weeks being easy, as I don't want to annoy others for whom it's hard. Nor, frankly, do I want them to be p*ssed off at me if I come across as smug.

My wife is in the medical profession by the way, as well as being a highly qualified personal trainer who also happens to run marathons. She's pleasantly surprised and naturally supportive, although she sometimes tells friends I'm stopping drinking, whereas I say I don't drink thanks.

So my question is: Might I be lucky, and find I just need to keep on keeping on with support from my wife, or are there surprises around the corner that I really need to know about?

Thanks in advance for responses.

PS Is it possible that learning to surf 60 cigarette urges a day for 17 years (that's 372,000 - told you I'm obsessive/compulsive) has helped me to not have alcohol urges?

 

 



__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 12357
Date:
Permalink  
 

Welcome to MIP Barmy, ... glad you found us ...

It is a rare person indeed that can stop drinking on their own ... many factors are involved and way too many to go into here ... Congrats on about 30 days sober ... depending on just how heavily one drank in the past, it may or may not be that difficult (most all alcoholics of the type I am, nearly always find it impossible to stop without help ... like AA) ... needless to say, if you drank like I did, and for as many years, you'd be wise to visit a doctor because there can be some very nasty 'withdrawal' symptoms that can be very dangerous ... but if you've made it for a month and the only drawback right now is 'restless' sleep, then you're probably past the danger stage ...

last time I quit, about 7 years ago, I went nearly 2 months before I got to where I could sleep through the night ... my mind would be racing about, thinking of a million things at one time ... good sleep will return with a good, sensible diet ... of course in AA, we learn to dump all the garbage we're used to thinking about and learn a spiritual solution to put us at ease ... peace and serenity are our constant companions after working AA's 12 steps ... (we have noth'n to do with any religion) ...

You asked: So my question is: Might I be lucky, and find I just need to keep on keeping on with support from my wife, or are there surprises around the corner that I really need to know about? ...

Most of us that have stopped drinking will tell you that alcohol is a cunning bastard, it will convince you that you've been quit now for a while and that it is okay now to drink ... it's happened to me, BAM, I thought it was okay to have a couple, then I would wake up in a haze the next day wondering what the hell happened ... think about this ... IF when you have one drink, do you feel you need at least one more ??? ... most of us find that we cannot even have one drink without developing a 'craving' for the stuff ...

You also asked: Is it possible that learning to surf 60 cigarette urges a day for 17 years (that's 372,000 - told you I'm obsessive/compulsive) has helped me to not have alcohol urges?

Who knows?, ... ... ... I think this shows that once you set your mind on something, you have an uncanny determination to see it through ... and whether or not this will help you where alcohol is concerned is anybody's guess ... 'Self-Will' got me no-where when it involved alcohol ...

Stick around a while and talk some here on the board ... maybe we can help, maybe not ... but we can enjoy each others company ...


Love ya man and God Bless,
Pappy



-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Saturday 6th of December 2014 08:52:20 PM

__________________

'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks Pappy.

I haven't had the urge for one drink, but 'm pretty sure would happen if I had one - I'd want several or many, or too many. So my strategy, risky though it maybe, is to not have a drink. At all. Just as I did with the cigs after the first 2 months (nicotine substitutes for a further 4 months thereafter).

Maybe my self-knowledge helps me avoid the desire for the one drink because it knows what would happen?

Just as when I stopped smoking and people would try to tempt me by offering cigarettes, now they're saying I need to be "cured" (!!!!) of not drinking. The last time anyone ever offered me a cig I crumpled it into dust in front of them. This felt good for me but probs bad for them. They didn't tempt me again. Maybe I'll eventually succumb to the offer of a drink and pour it into the nearest sink?

The other reason I'd like to go it alone (with Julie) is that going to a meeting might break the spell and make me feel I can't do it alone.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 12357
Date:
Permalink  
 

Hey Barmy, ... Out of the hundreds of alcoholics I know that have tried to quit drink'n on their own, only 2 have succeeded ... so it can be done, but it's rare ... most need guidance with what has worked for millions in AA ... and AA's 'way of life' is a solution to many more of life's issues than just drink'n ...

Going to some meetings would just be a simple suggestion for you ... you are not required to share, you can just sit and listen for the similarities you have to those who do share ... also, I'm a smoker and am getting to the point I must let that nasty habit go too ... as far as the alcohol, I started at about 21 y/o and drank til I was 55 ... I would have been dead for years now were it not for the program and fellowship of AA ... (I'm 62 now)

It took a 'power greater than me' to take away that drink'n obsession ... Keep posting here and let us know how you're do'n ...


Good Luck Brother and God Bless,
Pappy



__________________

'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 2385
Date:
Permalink  
 

Hello Barmy and Welcome to MIP One here helping another in a loving and caring manner..WE are all different ,for me my recovery was based on putting down the substance,then the healing would begin and the   application of the Program(the steps worked with a sponsor)applied in all areas of my life and not just abstinence...See I could always ,stop, I could just never stay stopped....Getting to the exact nature of what was going on with me and daily work has kept me free from active addiction for many cups of coffee. So for me ,guided by a Higher Power(the God of my own understanding)the only thing I look out for is the next day I am graced with..In support and prayer,,want this more than anything and do whatever it takes to reach that goal..  Hope to hear more from ya.........smilesmile



__________________
Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks Mike.

I will indeed post whenever appropriate.

Strangely, 7 weeks ago I also nearly completely gave up coffee, simply by going on holiday from a job where there was free proper coffee, of which I drank many cups a day. 10 days into the holiday I had headaches and tremors. So now only have maybe a cup or two a week, and decaff if possible. Headaches and tremors gone, and happily I haven't had them after stopping drinking alcohol either.

As I can have an occasional coffee but know I can't do the same with alcohol, does this mean alcohol is more addictive than caffeine?

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3278
Date:
Permalink  
 

 

 

Barmy...welcome to the board mate...never got to drink in your neighborhood and once thought it would be a hoot to do so. I use to work with the Australian tracking system when with NASA and use to speak daily with the guys there...never a dull moment.   As far as the disease we have goes I went to school as it is said on it because I needed to just.    First thing I learned was that it is a    compulsion of the mind   with an   allergy of the body.    I didn't know and didn't know what alcoholism was and wouldn't have been able to spell the word if asked and promised a compensation.  Part of my part in the disease was that I was always around alcoholics...and addicts.  I was born and raised in the disease so drinking and drunk was normal...no big deal until I got to dating and marriage age and couldn't keep my hands off of women I drank with...I married the ones I drank with and then started to use with.  They all desired to drink the way I did yet not have the glowing skin tint I did.  I thought I was jaundiced all my life and then it turn to a normal light tan 5 years after I stopped drinking.   Have you had a physical yet?  How about a mental check up?   I learned a lot...more than I intended and thought necessary an then it all has kept me sober.   When I finally took the alcoholism assessment I was working as a therapist in a large rehab for alkies and addicts and when that assessment was assessed by nursing staff (it was anonymous) ...I was told that who ever it belonged to needed to be in inpatient therapy or the next time they drank they died.  My makeup is that I am chemically tolerant and part of my drinking history is that I have drank into toxic shock 3 times.  

I don't know how you feel or think about having "reserves"...back up support.  If that doesn't turn you off I would suggest getting face to face with a bunch of recovering alcoholic in AA meetings in your neck of the woods.   Just sit down and listen with an open mind...that's all that is required.  If you find out you like what we have stick around on a daily basis...If you don't try anything else that seems like it will keep you sober on a one day at a time basis for however long it will.

Personally I'm 72 and have been sober 36 years in AA and another similar 12 step program.  I have never lost the compulsion to drink.    Keep coming back.  smile



__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3809
Date:
Permalink  
 

I would not be offended with you in a meeting saying the first month has been easy. I would feel glad for you. Yes, part of me would think you were being starry eyed and a bit naïve but I honestly hope it stays easy for you. There are some people that just stop drinking because it's like an oven timer going off that is just like "BING! DONE!" but usually it's more complex. I would say you are probably riding what we call a pink cloud and this is common in early recovery.

What to watch out for is for the day that you can't come up with any good reason not to drink. If you are not surrounded by and with people in recovery, who will help you or talk you out of it? What habits will you have that will stop you from picking up? So I would watch of for that random day that you feel like a truck just ran over you (emotionally) and if and when that happens, run to AA before taking that drink. In fact, might as well start going now before even facing that.



-- Edited by pinkchip on Sunday 7th of December 2014 10:55:13 AM

__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3809
Date:
Permalink  
 

Also - stopping drinking was pretty easy for me. In the long term, learning about dealing with life sober was a bitch though.

__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 12357
Date:
Permalink  
 

Well said Jerry and PC ...



__________________

'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3726
Date:
Permalink  
 

@ Pinky's last post lololollolllll me arse off!



So I only read the original post and last post of pink's - so I apologize if this is repeat... my experiences suggest that when you are trying to do something... anything.... starting a new hobby - stopping a bad habit - learning a new skill - becoming a new parent etc etc etc - you usually try to give yourself the best possible chance at it. For example: When I became a parent, I bought a crap load of 'parent helper' stuff along with baby stuff. When I started a new job... I got myself all the info about the company, some really nice quality office supplies, made contacts and connections, and did everything I could to learn etc. When I learned to play guitar, I hired a private instructor, drove to the music school where there were a lot of other people trying to learn music, got a really nice guitar - some other helpful gizmos and most importantly - some books on how to learn.

So you get my point here.

Get yourself all the best.

Get the books - or at least start with the AA big book. Get yourself a friend to help you along (you can find people to help you (sponsor you) in any local meeting). Drive to a place (like an AA meeting) where a lot of other people are seeking to learn this skill of living life sober and dealing with life on life's terms.

You know... thinking about it, the people at the school were learning all different instruments - came in all ages, shapes, sizes, backrounds etc. But it was really good to look past all of the differences and just make the connections with other people who were there for the overall same thing. It was a little intimidating to hang with kids - and some doctors - and some sort of strange pierced up, punk looking types - but honestly - it wasn't much getting used to it with an open mind. Turns out - people are just people.

Anyway - the same thing happened in AA. I was a little intimidated looking at people and picking out differences - but I soon got over myself lol!

I really wanted to learn to live a better life. I really wanted to learn guitar. I really wanted this job.

Do you really want this?


Then go for it!!!

Nothing stopping you - just give yourself the best possible chance at it as you would anything else. Sometimes - the mental aspect of drinking will try and convince us that this is a really big deal - but it's no bigger deal than going to Walmart or anywhere else. The 'disease of alcoholism' tries to convince you otherwise - so it's a good sign that you're starting to separate your true self from this IMO>



Today, I am a music instructor at that music school; A trusted friend/helper in the recovery rooms (a sponsor); a grate(ful) employee and boss; and a proud Mom with a loving family.

I believe in you :)

And welcome!

__________________

Thanks for everything.  Peace and Love on your journey.  



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

An oven timer did go off and I decided I'd had enough. The timer was partly triggered by disastrous financial events and by being parted again from several members of my family. Thanks for the heads up to have something else in place for if things were ever to get any worse than they are now. I'll at least get the book(s) and continue with the other positive changes I've made in my life.

I have powerful motivation not to have a drink for the same reason I won't have a cigarette, or a joint, or a cigar, or smoke a pipe, or use any kind of nicotine substitute, which is that if I partake once I'll be back on 60 cigs a day or plenty of beer most days.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3278
Date:
Permalink  
 

 

 

 

Thanks for the share Barmy, that is very supportive.  Look forward to hearing more from you.   wink



__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I hadn't realised my sharing might be, as suggested by Jerry, supportive. If so, I'm glad to be able to give something back. Hopefully I'll prove worthy.


__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

9 weeks gone.
We went out for NYE and ordered a bottle of wine with the plan of my drinking one glass to see f I could manage to drink only the one glass. I had one sip, tasted it properly on my tongue, then settled into eating the meal. Fifteen minutes later there hadn't been another sip and I realised I just didn't want the rest of the glass. Julie, SHMBO, ended up drinking the whole bottle, which, given her usual sobriety (she's a marathon runner and personal trainer), produced some interesting results.
The more days it goes the calmer I'm becoming and the better and clearer I'm thinking. At work, while other people are stressing when things don't go their way, I'm staying calm therefore being more effective at what I do.
Still a possibility of riding a pink cloud?

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1570
Date:
Permalink  
 

Barmy wrote:

I have powerful motivation not to have a drink for the same reason I won't have a cigarette, or a joint, or a cigar, or smoke a pipe, or use any kind of nicotine substitute, which is that if I partake once I'll be back on 60 cigs a day or plenty of beer most days.


 

Barmy wrote:

9 weeks gone.
We went out for NYE and ordered a bottle of wine with the plan of my drinking one glass to see f I could manage to drink only the one glass. I had one sip, tasted it properly on my tongue, then settled into eating the meal. Fifteen minutes later there hadn't been another sip and I realised I just didn't want the rest of the glass...


I'm curious, Barmy. If you indeed have a powerful motivation to not have a single drink, why do you concoct an experiment to have a drink? What's the conceptual basis for your experiment?

 

Best wishes to you in your efforts.



__________________

First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

It was to confirm a belief, brought about by having no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever, that I could have one drink only.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1570
Date:
Permalink  
 

Barmy wrote:

It was to confirm a belief, brought about by having no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever, that I could have one drink only.


That would be a good research proposition. And the experimental hypothesis would be that zero withdrawal symptoms would occur after the "experimental treatment" of 1 drink.

But therein lies the problem. You did not have a whole drink, only one sip. To "confirm" your belief, per your experimental design, you need to consume one full drink. A sip is not a sufficient "experimental treatment."

Therefore, there is no "confirmation" of your belief.

 

There is still, btw, a conflict between your prior stated "powerful motivation" not to have even one drink and a plan to do just that.

I do not advocate a test such as yours. It seems dangerous, given your stated history and the numerous examples of similar tests I have learned about over many years time.

But, best of luck to you.



__________________

First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 12357
Date:
Permalink  
 

Hey Barmy, ... Every time I tried 'experimenting' ... it came back to bite me on the ass ... I could make it a day, or maybe two, but then I was 'passing out', as usual, after that ...

I think that if you continue to 'experiment', then you soon wake-up one day, scratching your head, and wondering ... 'WHAT HAPPENED' ... then start all over IF you're able ...



__________________

'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 546
Date:
Permalink  
 

G'day Dave . Welcome to M i P .

Dave  , you Are talking about your life here mate , DON'T play Russian Roulette .

As you may have wondered . I Am an Aussie too . I live n/coast NSW , near Coffs.

Yes , to keep our sobriety , we Have to Give it away , what a paradox . A bit like

Dick Smith & Bill Gates  , they give zillions away , but still make heaps . Look

what you have done here . You have already helped others . Now Help your Self .

"What we watch out for" - being complacent  & "Our halts"

Hungry - Angry - Lonely - Tired / Thirsty - Serious . put 'over' in front of each -

especially over tired & over thirsty , speak for themselves , in our case .

If you don't like meetings . Why not go "anonymously" , go where you won't

be known , say your name is Fred  . A women tod me "if you want to hide in

sobriety , go to th "gay meetings" . Dave . Just go to Meetings .

Dave , we call AA , a simple programme , it Also can be easy . It IS Usually

"the easier , softer way" compared to doing this alone , it is tougher than your

wife's marathons , doing it alone .

Dave , I hope this Is of help.



__________________

Rick.

@ 37 I was too young & good looking to be an alkie.

still too young , still got th good looks. still n alkie.



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Glad to have shared the info. Thanks for the thoughts. The sip has become a parallel for the approx 350,000 times I've decided not to have a single pull on a cigarette over the last 17 years. No plans for further experiments. Happy to continue to always be the designated driver when out and about, to ignore the alcohol at home, and to continue ignoring the positive and negative triggers that have already happened over the last nine weeks (as when stopping smoking, I reckon I should have encountered 99% of these triggers by now).

__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

All as before, and got to 3 months yesterday, without realising the landmark until today. The funds saved on beer have paid the entry fees and fuel for two rounds of the MX5 (Miata) Sprint Championship so SWMBO is no longer grumpy about my competing in these events. I've still not quite lost 5kgs but that and more will get solved when I start work on the next discipline: More regular exercise than just a weekly game of indoor cricket.

__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Ordered Living Sober today.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1570
Date:
Permalink  
 

Sounds like you're enjoying life with the racing, Barmy. Good for you. Whatcha got, NA or NB?

Living Sober is an excellent book for newcomers. I found it to be far more comprehensible to me than other AA books in the first year or so. Make sure you get the new edition. Originally published in 1975, it was recently modified a bit.

Keep up the good work, Barmy.



__________________

First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 12357
Date:
Permalink  
 

Good job Barmy ... keep up the good work ...



__________________

'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Tanin wrote:

Sounds like you're enjoying life with the racing, Barmy. Good for you. Whatcha got, NA or NB?


'04 Mazdaspeed aka SE. Came out of the factory with a little turbo on the side of the motor. Quite heavily modified now. The car is capable of being 10-15 seconds quicker than the driver's skill and bravery, so I have a lot to learn. There are some parallels here, methinks.



__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3278
Date:
Permalink  
 

 

 

I remember during my investigation periods of time as to whether I was or wasn't alcoholic, discovering that there was a psychological assessment as there was the drinking form assessment.  The second statement was "Alcoholics are risk takers" and I broke away from the assessment...not needing to ask the question again, "Am I really alcoholic".  I had my first drink at the age of nine, administered by my maternal grandmother while my mother argued with her not to do it.  It was high drama in front of the grandkids which I never forgot until I got into recovery and remembered my mother fighting her mother to keep alcohol away from us kids.  I will never forget that first hit of Portuguese "Red" which left me with the thought that God lived in that bottle.  Two weeks ago I duplicated that hit falling into the "compulsion of the mind and allergy of the body" which our disease is described as by the medical associations.  My wife and I had the virus and along with that I take and OTC supplement to keep me asleep when I try to sleep.  I am aged.  On compulsion alone I decided to take 2 teaspoons of my wife's cough medicine before turning toward my bed and then my first drink was duplicated.  I had not thought before hand (compulsion alone) and afterward I could not rid myself of the consequence by choice.  No my mindset wasn't a test of the chemicals or my disease...it was just a compulsive risk which a bit of different outcome..."God is not in that bottle" and I still have a "compulsion of the mind with an allergy of the body".  I am grateful to my HP and our program of recovery that my spirit or intention was to put space and margin between me and the next cough and not some other test to prove that I'm an uncatchable alcoholic.  Tomorrow at 8:30AM I will celebrate my 36th anniversary with my home group (Sunday version) AA at the Bay in Hilo Hi.  I will be humble...teachable; which will support another 24 risk free sober hours.    Keep coming back...this works when you work it.   smile



__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1570
Date:
Permalink  
 

Barmy wrote:

'04 Mazdaspeed aka SE. Came out of the factory with a little turbo on the side of the motor. Quite heavily modified now. The car is capable of being 10-15 seconds quicker than the driver's skill and bravery, so I have a lot to learn. There are some parallels here, methinks.


Mebbe take it one second at a time. Another parallel.

Nice car. They didn't make very many turbos, account the factory burned down.

Have fun. Drive it like you stole it.

 



__________________

First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

The car gets driven on the road as well as being pretty track-use focused so that means I'm kept pretty busy in my "spare" time looking after it.

It's also easy to give myself monthly targets to be quicker as a driver than I was during the same round at the same track last year. Last week was Philip Island where I'd previously done a 2:04.5. Set a target of under 2 minutes. Disappointed to only do a 2:00.4. Still, there's next time, and Sandown this Saturday.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1570
Date:
Permalink  
 

 

http://youtu.be/VUpGxvJBkYg

 



__________________

First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Yup, same meeting. Brendan has way more skill, practice, and most importantly, balls than I. His car is trailered to meetings and never driven on the road because it has wider wheels, full slick tyres and heaps of extra aero including a full rear wing and an undertray, none of which I could run in a car I also use on the road and drive to and from meetings. So I'll never catch him, but his videos and personal coaching are really useful to see where I can gain time. For instance, at 30 secs in the video, he doesn't brake or back off until much later than I was doing at turn 1. Then coming back onto the main straight at the end of the lap, he's flat in each gear all the way round the sweeper whereas I'm feathering the throttle at times. I'll be watching the video several times before next at Philip Island,

__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

... and Brendan's half my age. There, that's all the excuse out. He was 2.5 seconds quicker than me at Sandown last time. Roll on Saturday.

__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Beat Brendan last Sunday at Calder Park (albeit by 0.012 seconds). That's a big landmark. Massive credit to him for being my passenger and tutor in the first practice session.

Now 5 months Living Sober (yes, I'm reading the book).

Need to get diet and exercise sorted next.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1570
Date:
Permalink  
 

Barmy wrote:

...So I'll never catch him...  


 Never say never...

How do you like the Big Book? Anything you like in there?



__________________

First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Reading Living Sober which is probably not what you'd describe as a Big book. It all makes sense though.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1570
Date:
Permalink  
 

Living Sober is one of the best books in AA. It is meant to pass along to the newcomer various tips and mental approaches to stay sober. These aids were developed from actual experience in the fellowship from 1939 to 1975, when Living Sober was published.

I got a lot out of Living Sober in early sobriety, even more than the Big Book for a few years. I always recommend it to newcomers. I still go to a LS meeting every week.

Keep up the good work, Barmy.



-- Edited by Tanin on Tuesday 14th of April 2015 05:48:59 PM

__________________

First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 123
Date:
Permalink  
 

I agree with that Tanin...where is stepchild to rip both our heads off? lol.

__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 119
Date:
Permalink  
 

Congrats on 4 weeks sober! If I were at a meeting ad someone said the first 4 weeks were easy, I would be happy for you and not offended. I think meetings would be a great idea for you because, guaranteed, there will come a day when you'll want/need a support system. You can tell how it is for you and not be judged as being smug. As far as quitting, we are all the same but in different ways. I surely wish you the best of luck!

In addition to being an alcoholic, I'm also a former pack-a-day smoker and I've been quit 3 years (a miracle!). I was allergic to all the nicotine replacement products, but the electronic cigarette worked for me (and for my mom). You may want to quit one habit at a time or you may find yourself overwhelmed. Only YOU know how you feel, so do it however it works for you...one day at a time! I'm glad your wife is supportive of you, that's awesome!

Keep up the good work!

Jerricka

__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 18
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks Jerricka. It's actually 5 months. However, I went to my first meeting tonight and now realise it's actually 24 hours - I think. Still processing everything that was said.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 749
Date:
Permalink  
 

Barmy wrote:

Thanks Jerricka. It's actually 5 months. However, I went to my first meeting tonight and now realise it's actually 24 hours - I think. Still processing everything that was said.


 If you have any questions, feel free to ask! And regardless of the chronology, congrats on the progress so far and congrats on getting to a meeting. For me, trying to stay sober on my own may have technically been possible, but it sure would have been doing things the hard way. Getting involved in AA was a huge help. It made all the difference and helped me live sober much more comfortably and with a good deal of serenity that I would never have had otherwise.



__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3278
Date:
Permalink  
 

l

 

Have a thought that actually was real for me when I started learning about stuff.   God don't give you anymore than you can handle.  Important for me?  I was never a drunk until I  was 9 years alcohol free in the family groups of Al-Anon and then I was the most oppositional defiant one for a day.  Just before that day I finally took my own assessment and work up to what it was I knew about my own drinking.   The head nurse scored my assessment which was anonymous but true at that time and mentioned to me that "whoever belonged this assessment needs to be in inpatient care or the next time they drink they die".  I'm no longer the dummy and follow the leads of others who know who to do it.   Alcoholism isn't easy...its a mind and mood altering disease that can never be cured only arrested by total abstinence...it usual and often fatal without respect to the drinker or non-drinker.  It I thought mixed well withy my 240Z and 1500CC Fairlady and my Carson Contender tunnel hull and my other obsessions...piloting a plane and more.  I was convinced that alcohol was a part of me...a natural and normal part and that while I may have had a compulsion of the mind and allergy of the body It wasn't a problem ...I've survived (I think) 3 toxic shocks and believe only by the grace of God and the fellowships on both sides of the aisles.  I was born within alcoholism...I was predisposed to it and like many predisposed children was turned on by my grandmother at the age of nine.   You would have known...we didn't call it alcoholism then...grampa and papa just got drunk...some of them got sick and died.

My life within alcoholism hasn't been nice, very fine, easy...I have come to understand that part of this alcoholic in which has been described in the neurology  manuals as a "risk taker".  I lived with booze mixed with adrenalin and more ...my kids and family.  My eldest son has relapsed because he stopped believing and it looks just like it did before only he is older now and his body, mind, spirit and emotions will not be able to afford this trip.  He has a daily reprieve based upon his spiritual condition just like we do I love to see that work cause I'm more visual than not today.

Keep coming back.   God bless



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.