Need some comfort

DJ9110 · Member

Need some comfort

hopefulone · Senior Member

Hi DJ9110,
Very important to try to make at least one meeting per day for a good while when new in recover (suggested time is 90 meetings in 90 days). It was great that you made a meeting on Monday. However, it is Thursday, and no wonder you are having cravings. I strongly suggest you search on the internet AA.org and plug in the area and look up meetings in your area where you and your Mom are. If it is an "Open" meeting and she is not an alcoholic herself, she can even go with you.

You can stay sober. Have you had enough? Do you want to improve your life and be happy? Think of your Mom and if you don't think enough of yourself right now to do it for you, do it for your Mom. She loves you and wants you to stay sober. You can do it.

davep12and12 · MIP Old Timer

Do you know how to use a local AA directory to find meetings near you? Let us know where you are (name of the city or county) and we can show you how to find meetings near you. Then you gotta get int he habit of going to them, and you need to be consistent about it. What did the folks in Rehab suggest about this?

DJ9110 · Member

That is so extremely helpful. Thank you both for responding! I did find a meeting here at the beach on Saturday morning. Mom was proud that I did that. And it was open. I have a meeting walking distance back home (the one I attended Monday) and then they meet 2 other times a week. And yes, I have def had enough... I'm at my wits end with it. Hopefully Saturday's meeting will help, we'll be busying around of course while at the beach. But it's the first night here and I was just laying here in my hotel bed with nothing but THOUGHTS. I'm happy I googled and found this website

hopefulone · Senior Member

Well, they have online meetings on this site. I am not sure days/nights/times although someone will be on here to tell you or you can check the site out and prob. find them yourself. The internet is full of sites like this one with folks that will gladly help you.
So good you have a meeting planned.
Just remember those "thoughts" you are thinking about --well, if drinking is in them, those kinds of thoughts can kill us if we carry them out.

DJ9110 · Member

Exactly... Just going to get my mind on something else. I really want to do it this time. I can't afford to fail anymore

hopefulone · Senior Member

Good for you! That is great!

Baba Louie · Senior Member

DJ91110 said " I did find a meeting here at the beach on Saturday morning. Mom was proud." And also "I'm happy I Googled and found this website."

One proud, one happy. Win win.

DJ9110 · Member

Didn't think of that Baba :) thank you!

Tanin · MIP Old Timer

DJP, we don't have any online meetings here at this site. Haven't, for a few years.

There are plenty of online meetings (4 a day) at:

http://aaonline.net/

You might try a meeting there.

davep12and12 · MIP Old Timer

Do you have a copy of the AA Big Book or other AA literature? That can be a big help if you can't get to a meeting right away.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

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

If you don't have a copy of AA's Big Book and 12 'n 12 from Rehab, be sure to pick them up and perhaps use some 'reflection time' at the beach to read through them ... and I can't imagine there not being an AA meeting in short distance to where you're staying, every day/evening/nite of the week ... please try to make as many as you can ... I did several a day after Rehab myself ...

Oh, carry some candy around with you also ... when ever you get a craving to drink, eat some candy ... alcohol is mostly sugar and the candy is a good substitute this early in recovery ...

Love ya and God Bless,
Pappy

Baba Louie · Senior Member

Good thing yer not drinking while you're at the beach. Drinking and swimming is a bad combo. One time, I was drunk, swimming in the ocean: "hey everybody! Look how far I can swim! Look at what a great swimmer I am!" Until a riptide current came and started pulling me out to sea. I almost didn't make it back. Reminds me of alcoholism: "hey everybody! Look how much I can drink! Look at what a great drinker I am!" Until alcoholism came and kept pulling me further and further away. I almost didn't make it back.

DJ9110 · Member

You guys are awesome. Thank you for all the suggestions. I will apply them. It's comforting knowing each of you are here. Love u all

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Yep, ... there's this thing called 'life' ... we're all in this together ... And I've found this AA stuff makes life not just bearable, but actually enjoyable ... who knew ??? ...

Take Care and God Bless,

Pappy

gonee · MIP Old Timer

I had to use my utmost resources to stay sober until my mind got better enough to grasp the hopelessness of my condition. My 1st relapse was the most dangerous time of my life. I never ever want to go through that experience again. Abstinence is crucial for the mind to get well.

Baba Louie · Senior Member

DJ, you've got to come to know that life without alcohol is way better than life with it. It really is. You probably can't see it now, but I'm telling you, it really is. When I first quit, I never thought in a million years that life would be any good without drinking. I partied hard, all my life, and alcohol was the thing that "loosened" me up, and allowed me to have fun. But after so many years, it started having a different effect on my mind, causing me anxiety and depression, and at that point, I had to have it just to feel better. The shit creeps up on you, and it's no longer a party. It turns into something that your body and mind has become so used to, that you don't feel good without it. That's alcoholism.

it takes a while, DJ, for your body and mind to get used to not having it. It's going to be calling you to bring it back. But if you can abstain for a day, one day turns into 2, then 3, and so on. And after a while, you'll start feeling better. And after the fog has lifted, and things start becoming clearer, you're gonna say to yourself "I don't miss that crap...I finally feel better!"

AA meetings, reading the Big Book, and doing the steps are all things that will help you to not drink today. And if you don't drink today, you'll be one step closer to feeling better, and being happy. And eventually, your life will be so much better, and you'll feel so much better, you'll look at alcohol and wonder why you ever started drinking it in the first place. Trust me, DJ, life is a million times better, once you get that shit out of your system, your mind clears up, and you start feeling great. You might not see it now, but trust me, give it some time, go to some meetings, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

DJ9110 · Member

Thank you. I've felt pretty good today. Probably shouldn't have went on a vacation so soon, but Mom wanted to do that for me, so here I am. It was my first sober day being on the beach in probably 10 years. IT CAN BE DONE. I think it's just that for so long, I've linked alcohol to EVERY EVENT whether it was relevant or not. But we're going to a show tonight which will be fun and I still have my AA meeting to go to Saturday morning. It has been so helpful to come back to this post I made and read all of your replys.

hopefulone · Senior Member

Hey DJ,
Great to see you made it through a day there and alcohol free! You are proof that it can be done. I know what you mean because I got to the point where I had to have alcohol everywhere I went --fishing, the beach, heck I even got to the point where I needed it before I went to the grocery store!

Hope you enjoy the show and it will be so wonderful that you will actually remember it when you wake up tomorrow, right?