Hi All, Have been a bit down lately, and craving alcohol again, that really disappointed me, because I hear members at meeting share that they lost that urge quite quickly, every morning I wake up and ask my hp to keep me from a drink today, I do the same thing at night and sometimes I have to constantly keep myself in check during the day, Saturday my blood pressure went through the roof, so I've been taking it easy since then and it has stabilised, in addition I'm not as sad as what I was, I am behind in a few things, but every day I get a few things done also, so I don't feel so bad about that,no overwhelming anxiety either, I guess it must be the Xmas too as I always used this period to over indulge, it would not be noticed quite so much, so I thought, yea right. Glad to read all your posts,
Hi...we are all different and alcohol/alcoholism affects each of us in different ways. The commonality is that we have this program of recovery that can provide us with a daily reprieve and a way to live with the condition instead of dying from it. Glad you are "getting through". For me, this is a rough time of year and I have to be extra careful and protective of my physical, mental, and emotional resources. Take care :)
Hang in there NC this is a tough time to stay sober. There's nothing wrong, it just "is what it is". A month from now you'll be feeling great and wonder why. Stay close to meetings and the folks that your befriend in therm.
Well from all your posts, you have had a lot of stress to deal with at work, right. A difficult job, but you made it through.
And the Holidays, in your first year, wow, makes sense that this would be rough time. Just keep doing what you have been doing, going to your meetings, sharing about how tough things are right now.
I find that people that do not have our disease have a lot of problems with a lot of stress this time of year.
You have handled all your hard times, pretty well, so Praying that that rough time will ease up for you.
January 3rd, we can all breath a sigh of relief.
We can do our recovery one day at a time, one hour at a time, and or one minute at a time. start over whenever we need to restart a bad day.
Here's my situation, regardless if it is relevent to to this thread. 2 days without alcohol...binge...1 day without alcohol...binge.
Since right now I am starting college and not working at this particular time, and the holidays have given me the ultimate blues. However, as another poster stated, I believe in the motto "it is what it is" and I'll try try to use that to get me through the particularly somber holidays.
Hang in there it's great for me and many others to see that you are still sober and I am sure your life has improved and you feel better about yourself!
Imagine what kind of blod pressure you would have is you where still drinking.
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Aloha NC...lately for me its hasn't been about me craving alcohol but seemingly it craving me. How come none of my old girlfriends haven't done this? LOL Might be a good thing huh?
Suffering through cravings was painful, however, they helped me do more than suspect or know that I am alcoholic; they made me accept it fully and embrace the first step. I then began to see them as a helpful reminder that YES I am alcoholic. They did not go away right away, as they do for some. My turning point was at about 2 months. Now I don't get the same sort of urges. I do have funny thinking though at times, and I have to talk to myself and repeat over and over, no I can't just drink here and there at all, because, YES I'm an alcoholic, and it's quite clear exactly what that choice means.
The upside is that cravings do lessen and fade, however, I am still on the 24 hour plan because my "forgetter" can grow more powerful as sober time increases. I need to be grateful every 24 hours that I choose to not drink and continue on this wonderful program of recovery and personal growth through spiritual strength.
P. S.- This is my first holiday without drinking since about 15 or 16, so at least 25 years for me. Just got back and survived the employee Christmas party. Managed to drag my drunk hubby out and skeedadled just when the hardcore partiers were raiding the bar. Thank you, God, for getting me out of there. I may have to skip it next year if I still work at the restaurant. Be wise everyone, and keep your phone list handy and walking shoes set at ready!
Looking forward to the potluck holiday party with some sober AA ladies this Friday. No more dangerous acts for me.
Hang in there Lorna. The good thing about a 24 hour plan for life is that "the hard time" might just end tomorrow. I sometimes find myself labeling period of time by saying I hit a funk this past few weeks. I totally forget that during those past few weeks I had good times too and it really wasn't all bad...I set myself up to be unhappy thinking I'm struggling so hard. I try and remind myself there is no evidence saying that the next 24 hours will be hard and it is equally possible that the next day might be the best ever. Yah, we are really supposed to live in the present, but when the present feels sucky, I sometimes venture out to tomorrow and recognize a new day could bring a totally different experience. I was not able to have that kind of hope earlier on. Also, one good thing that a year sober brings is incontravertable evidence that, indeed, you can make it through every single holiday sober.
Mark
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
.