Today is the first (sober) day of the rest of my life
OldPro said
Jul 2, 2005
today is the first day of the rest of my life (I hope) that i will no longer drink. been doing it pretty regular since i was 14, 39 now! newly divorced, about a year, used to drink at home, alone, but discovered bars recently. well, after about 3 months now of going pretty regular and "hookin up" with men i dont know - that's another story - last nite was the LAST nite. i drove home somehow, didnt make it to work again and discovered that my car is a little banged up, not the first time. alcohol has cost me money, a family, friends, my self respect. i want badly to actually attend a meeting and plan to soon but am delighted there is this wonderful thing called "online" . any advice or words of encouragement anyone can give will be greatly appreciated. i have a lot of years to fix and many things to tell............
GammyRose said
Jul 2, 2005
Hi, I am so glad you have found us. I hope you will read the posts that are here. It sounds as though you have taken the first step,admitted you are powerless over alcohol ...that your life has become unmanageable. Good for you. Your story is not much different than many of us here, I am Rose , I am an alcoholic , who has been sober only by the grace of God, one day at a time for 20 years. I need you and others who have been where I was to remind me each day, so that I will never forget the pain, destruction and agony alcohol caused in my life.I am so grateful for sobriety today.
Keep coming, keep posting and get to an AA meeting as soon as you can,you will not regret it. Again, welcome!
(((Hugs)))
GammyRose
wagon said
Jul 2, 2005
old pro i to was a old pro at drinking blackouts and all the bull sh that goes with it! ive been coming here for awhile now. there are good people here to help in anyway they can. the biggest part is up to you. like gammy said get to a aa meeting as soon as possible!aditting you have a problem is step 1 and a huge one. i could not have gotten as far as i have without aa and this forum. may god bless you wagon
OldPro said
Jul 3, 2005
thanks so much for welcomeing me, Gammyrose and wagon! today is day two, I suppose. Here's how it works for me; I can go for a week or 2 and not drink at all, then another week or 2 and drink socially, but at some point everytime I think I got a handle on it, I end up falling down stupid drunk! Have woken up in strange places with strange men! Have wondered why my friends haven't called since the last party! Have wrecked my car more than twice and so thankful I've never been to jail or no-one was hurt that I'd swear it would NEVER happen again. But, low and behold, it happened again!!! I have 14 yr old son who is my world and he's seen me drunk and act like a fool. I use up all my sick time at work so then I lie about my child being sick, my parents being sick, some major disaster at home!! Then I'm gratefult to God I still have a job. I drink when I've had a great day to celebrate, I drink when I've had a bad day to take the edge off, I drink when I'm alone and bored. But it's not EVERYDAY. I've done some research and discovered there are all kinds of alcoholics, those that have to drink daily and those like me.......... I've recently met a man and met him while sober and have been out on a couple dates and stayed sober - he doesn't drink, he's diabetic - and he really likes me and I really like him. Now the problem is do I share this with him if things progress between us? should I cut him loose and get a handle on my situation first? should I just keep it all to myself and pretend to him I'm as normal as anyone?............ and the other thing; going to a meeting. I've had a schedule of local meetings on my fridge now for about 6 months, HOW do I make myself go???? I WANT TO. I NEED TO, but I'm TERRIFIED to............
aaqld said
Jul 3, 2005
Hi OldPro,
It's good to hear from you.
It was pointed out to me that I need not "tell all" about myself to people too soon. I have learned to *gradually* disclose information about myself.
When I was early in recovery, I use to be one of those people who would tell all... to all... too soon. I no longer do this. Telling all is a part of our dis-ease. We think it is being dishonest if we do not spill our guts about ourselves even if it is inapropriate or not required.
Hell, some people wil even ask me about myself too soon. I no longer give information about myself if it is none of their business.
I gradually give information about myself in direct proportion to the information they give about themselves. They give a bit and then I give a bit. Gone are the days when someone knows all about me and I know nothing about them.
You are not a fraud if you decide not to tell your boyfriend about your alcoholism *too soon*.
OldPro, there is nothing wrong with being mysterious.
OldPro said
Jul 3, 2005
question? when you say "don't tell too much too soon" , do you mean to the folks here, in AA (when I do decide to go) or in my life outside this trying to stay sober thing? Forgive my ignorance, but it is only day two for me........ thanks!
aaqld said
Jul 3, 2005
OldPro wrote: Now the problem is do I share this with him if things progress between us? should I cut him loose and get a handle on my situation first? should I just keep it all to myself and pretend to him I'm as normal as anyone?............
My post was just a reply to your question.
Sorry about that OldPro, I should have quoted first and then replied.
today is the first day of the rest of my life (I hope) that i will no longer drink. been doing it pretty regular since i was 14, 39 now! newly divorced, about a year, used to drink at home, alone, but discovered bars recently. well, after about 3 months now of going pretty regular and "hookin up" with men i dont know - that's another story - last nite was the LAST nite. i drove home somehow, didnt make it to work again and discovered that my car is a little banged up, not the first time. alcohol has cost me money, a family, friends, my self respect. i want badly to actually attend a meeting and plan to soon but am delighted there is this wonderful thing called "online" . any advice or words of encouragement anyone can give will be greatly appreciated. i have a lot of years to fix and many things to tell............
Hi, I am so glad you have found us. I hope you will read the posts that are here. It sounds as though you have taken the first step,admitted you are powerless over alcohol ...that your life has become unmanageable. Good for you. Your story is not much different than many of us here, I am Rose , I am an alcoholic , who has been sober only by the grace of God, one day at a time for 20 years. I need you and others who have been where I was to remind me each day, so that I will never forget the pain, destruction and agony alcohol caused in my life.I am so grateful for sobriety today.
Keep coming, keep posting and get to an AA meeting as soon as you can,you will not regret it. Again, welcome!
(((Hugs)))
GammyRose
thanks so much for welcomeing me, Gammyrose and wagon! today is day two, I suppose. Here's how it works for me; I can go for a week or 2 and not drink at all, then another week or 2 and drink socially, but at some point everytime I think I got a handle on it, I end up falling down stupid drunk! Have woken up in strange places with strange men! Have wondered why my friends haven't called since the last party! Have wrecked my car more than twice and so thankful I've never been to jail or no-one was hurt that I'd swear it would NEVER happen again. But, low and behold, it happened again!!! I have 14 yr old son who is my world and he's seen me drunk and act like a fool. I use up all my sick time at work so then I lie about my child being sick, my parents being sick, some major disaster at home!! Then I'm gratefult to God I still have a job. I drink when I've had a great day to celebrate, I drink when I've had a bad day to take the edge off, I drink when I'm alone and bored. But it's not EVERYDAY. I've done some research and discovered there are all kinds of alcoholics, those that have to drink daily and those like me.......... I've recently met a man and met him while sober and have been out on a couple dates and stayed sober - he doesn't drink, he's diabetic - and he really likes me and I really like him. Now the problem is do I share this with him if things progress between us? should I cut him loose and get a handle on my situation first? should I just keep it all to myself and pretend to him I'm as normal as anyone?............ and the other thing; going to a meeting. I've had a schedule of local meetings on my fridge now for about 6 months, HOW do I make myself go???? I WANT TO. I NEED TO, but I'm TERRIFIED to............
Hi OldPro,
It's good to hear from you.
It was pointed out to me that I need not "tell all" about myself to people too soon. I have learned to *gradually* disclose information about myself.
When I was early in recovery, I use to be one of those people who would tell all... to all... too soon. I no longer do this. Telling all is a part of our dis-ease. We think it is being dishonest if we do not spill our guts about ourselves even if it is inapropriate or not required.
Hell, some people wil even ask me about myself too soon. I no longer give information about myself if it is none of their business.
I gradually give information about myself in direct proportion to the information they give about themselves. They give a bit and then I give a bit. Gone are the days when someone knows all about me and I know nothing about them.
You are not a fraud if you decide not to tell your boyfriend about your alcoholism *too soon*.
OldPro, there is nothing wrong with being mysterious.
question? when you say "don't tell too much too soon" , do you mean to the folks here, in AA (when I do decide to go) or in my life outside this trying to stay sober thing? Forgive my ignorance, but it is only day two for me........ thanks!
My post was just a reply to your question.
Sorry about that OldPro, I should have quoted first and then replied.