Welcome to "MIP" Ron. I like your story sir, very much so; it reminds me of myself many years back. Everyone here has a lot of sober experiences, so stick around and enjoy the company. Welcome, once again.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Friday 6th of April 2012 10:33:26 PM
So I am new and on day 5 without any alcohol. I have been a drinker for about 30 plus years. Started young and continued while in military. Heavy for about the past 9 years. I always told myself I only drink beer so I wasnt your traditional alcoholic Truth is I was. I would drink about 3 to 4 cases a week. Binge drinking whenever I could. I have a DUI because of this, Ive hurt my family because I could not control my drinking (Not Physically but Mentally) missing various important events or embarrassing them when I was drunk. I say 5 days because it is truly 5 days since I last had a drink, but I started cutting back about 3 weeks ago and had suffered many symptoms that have been discussed on this board. Now I know what I am facing and know that this time is for real. I truly want my life back, I cant remember the last time I had a good laugh or smiled.
Anxiety is hard the hardest part to deal with at times, and the shakes and the feeling of being depressed have scared me a bit. Then I came across this board which has helped me understand more than I knew before. I have not told my family I am quitting drinking, I want to wait for a week or so I want them to know that I knew I had a problem and I am strong enough to handle it and to show that I was committed, obviously I have tried before to cut out alcohol but always relapsed so I plan on delaying the announcement until I have made real progress.
I lost my Dad to alcoholism as well as many other family members, sometimes I would tell myself that it was in our genes and I cant change that course. The many nights of guilt after a binge and blackouts were not enough. I want to thank everyone for their input and experiences I know this will help me climb out of this darkness I have been living with for so many years. I realize that I am an alcoholic but that is not enough to just quit, because of the withdrawals and the need for support. My question is what do you tell yourself mentally when Just one wont cause no harm comes out?
Again thanks to everyone for their comments, I will be using this blog as my motivation as much as possible.
Welcome! You need meetings, the steps, and face to face AA if this is going to work. This board is useful in addition to that though. What I tell myself when I get crazy notions about "just having 1 drink" is that I never wanted to have "just 1 drink." I almost never ever did have Just 1 - It was always drinking to get plastered. I tell myself to stop lying to myself. I call my sponsor and tell on myself that I am having those thoughts too.
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Welcome to the board. Try not to think too much, you're brain isn't your best friend right now. Getting sober is Not a cerebral event, it's a simple process laid out in the AA book. If you're serious about getting sober, go to AA meetings daily, get a sponsor and work the 12 steps. It works!
Hi Ron, If i can overcome the urge to drink (one day at a time) you can, too. follow the suggestions of long term sober people, and if you are willing to do whatever it takes to get sober, your life will change for the better one day at a time. AA meetings helped me the most in the beginning, getting a sponsor is very important. this program is a "we" program, mostly because left on our own we relapse... we really need each other and i really need my higher power, whom i call God. welcome to MIP! keep up the good work, and visit several AA meetings so you can find one where you are comfortable. keep coming back. jj/sheila
Welcome to the neighbourhood. Those feelings of anxiety and depression are all part and parcel of the alcoholism, but if you find they persist afterward, there's no harm in seeing someone about it, your doctor perhaps. After all, the drinking is just a symptom of a much deeper problem. At least it was for me. So, stick around, maybe take in some meetings here and out there in the real world, find a sponsor, get a copy of the Big Book and read it at least three times.
__________________
Not all my days are priceless, but none of my days are worthless, anymore.
