Just checking in to see how you are doing? I am praying that you will be able to stay sober. That is why we are here, to help you do this. It truly is a one day at a time deal. I read what Jen posted and Cheri?, posted. Hang in there. We are all in this together.
Keep posting and reading, get educated about the disease of alcoholism, but most inportant, don't pick up that first drink.
thank you for the interest. I have been very busy trying to stay sober. I have lost count but today I am ready to start fresh. I read somewhere that alcoholism is a symptom of the real problems in our lives . Does that mean that I have to stop drinking first or sort out my problems first in order to stop drinking.? I know sometimes when I put it simply that I am an alcoholic but I do drink for the problems that I want to address in my character. My selfishness and immaturity and impatience. to name but a few.
I have to get some step work done and I think that reading the program everyday is important. I will have my big book soon and some daily readings. It is not always possible to come on line when I need motivation.
Good to hear from you.Yes, alcoholism is a symptom of problems in our lives, but it is one of the things that keeps us on the merry-go-round. I had to quit drinking before I could start working on my other problems, my character defects,the other isms in my life.
I'm glad you are getting educated on the disease, read all you can, Big book , the 12 and 12 will help you work the steps. It would be great if you could find an AA meeting in your area, you might want to go to the Step Work board here on MIP and read all the previous posts. The post for Step One is a great place to start .
Keep coming here, keep posting and remember this is a one day at a time deal, and today is a new day. I admitted when I got up this morning that I'm powerless over alcohol and a few other things,I turned my day over to God and will do that as many times as I have to today to stay sober .
Have a great day, you are on a journey you will never regret.
I'm also glad to hear that you're working on staying sober and working on the steps.
Like GammyRose, I also had to quit drinking before I really had the clarity to begin working on my other problems. Before getting sober, I spent a lot of time in therapy trying to solve my problems that way (and paying a lot of money to boot!). I was surprised after only a little time sober and working the steps how many of those problems were no longer problems! I drank to "get away" from my problems and things about me and my life that I didn't like. I learned after getting sober, though, that alcoholism is really a thinking disease. The program and working the steps helped me (and still help me) change my thinking. When my thinking started to change, a lot of my problems went away -- either because I was ready to face them or because they weren't that big of a deal in the first place.
Life still happens when you get sober and there are still problems. But the program and the fellowship have given me better tools to cope with whatever life throws my way. I'm dealing with a lot of stress right now -- both at work and at home. A little over three years ago, I would have been a wreck going through what I'm going through. And most likely, I would have been in a blackout (like most nights) having phone conversations I couldn't remember the next day.
Today is different. I know that I can pick up the phone and call my sponsor or any number of friends in the program and find some understanding and experience there (and I'll remember the phone conversation the next day!). I can go to a meeting. I can pick up the Big Book, the 12 & 12, or other recovery literature. I can do any number of things to take care of myself that I didn't have the self-esteem to do only three years and three months ago.
The program has given me faith that things will get better if I keep doing the next right thing. I'm not in a good space tonight, but I believe I'm going through what I'm going through for a reason. I heard someone say recently: "God doesn't bring you to it if he won't get you through it." I hold onto that and to the program.
