New Alcohol self help

Taffyscot

thanks for that suki. You explained it perfectly and so many people dont want the religious thing I know my son doesn't. They explain the higher power as the support of the group that you can phone anytime night or day to tell them how bad you want that first drink and how hard it is. They know they have all been there. It seems that 95% of people first going to AA think it is not for them they are not bad. I think the support there and the escape from lonliness and to be understood is second to none. I have never yet heard them do the steps and apologise or anything else. Just support one another through the bad times and the triggers in life. bogof babe youn do not offend you just sound like most of the people who talk about their experiences and tried AA and inevitably walked away from it and maybe even years later came back. taffy

shazrobo

been sober five days now and really feel proud of myself. tonight is going to be the hard one. will let you know how i get on..
well done to ahh, to cutting down by half, i think in the beginning thats the hardest step. hope you get an alcohol councillor soon, they are very helpful.
as i suffer from anxiety and depression, i would not be able to attend an aa group meeting, but i appreciate they help others.
well done to everyone who continues to stay sober, big hugs to all and have a great weekend
shaz x

belfastgirl23

Shazbro well done and good luck tonight, hope it all goes okay. It's worth keeping the driving licence issue at the front of your mind - this is a really good motivator for staying away from drinking.

Aah - glad to see you're counting up the achievements as well as the one little slip. Guess it's the same as anything, it's all a learning process really...well done!

Very interesting to see the AA discussion emerging. The only one of my relatives to give up drinking did it with AA and is still an active member 25 years later. I think by now it's almost part of his social life, especially since the death of his wife a few years ago. No direct personal experience but it really seems to have worked for him. I really appreciate Taffy's explanation of the group possibly being the higher power, suddenly I can see how this might work if you weren't religious. I did wonder Shazrobo whether it might be good for you, I'd guess there would be a lot of people at these meetings who suffer or have suffered from anxiety and depression and of all places in the world you could say this out loud there...but of course you have to follow the road that's right for you.

Good luck!

shazrobo

started off ok last night drinking pop, but gave in to temptation and had 4 bottles smirnoff ice, and a vodka and coke, not as much as i used to drink, but feel like s**t today. depression etc not helped by the drink, seeing my alcohol counsillor tommorrow. will give AA some further thought, but childcare is a major issue for me, hence the first night out in months. on a positive note i haven't had a drink in the house this week.

suki1964

Well done shaz for not drinking as much as usual:j

And very well done for thinking about AA:T

I honestly never thought I would actively encourage people to go to AA but over the years I've come to see that there really is nothing else out there for those of us who wish to stay stopped. Even the wonderful rehab programme I was lucky enough to attend has been hit by cut backs and is no longer the service it was With AA you are amongst people the same as yourself, people who understand what its like to need a drink, not be able to stop at just one. No matter what you think your drink problem is, you will find someone with the same understanding. The support is immense.

Not all meetings are evening ones, you may find one close to work which is a lunchtime meeting. When I lived in London one of my favourites was a Saturday morning one - fitted it in whilst out shopping.

As you have said today, your depression is worse today "not helped by the drink". You may be like me and find that once the drinking stops and you get through the first few months, with support, you will find the depression fades so much that you just have the odd down day that's manageable - doesnt descend into a full blown depression.

Good luck for tomorrow

Bogof_Babe

Good luck tomorrow Shaz. And congratulations for what you have achieved so far. Better to dwell on that, rather than on what you perceive as a failure. You always knew you were going to have a drink last night, so it was ingrained in your psyche and you never really stood a chance.

Feeling rotten the next day is a good enough reason to stick to your resolutions, isn't it? It worked for me, and I hardly ever got hangovers, but when I had headaches two nights running (our cat was dying at the time and it was all very stressful) that was what made me think "this is silly".

Tomorrow is another day. Grab it, and think about what you really want and what will make you happy in the long term. Night night now. xxx

shazrobo

thanks for your support suki, and bogoff babe, feeling much more positive now the weekend is out of the way. stayed off the drink last night and intend to do the same forever. seeing councillor this morn, take care all
shaz x

belfastgirl23

Good luck, hope it all goes well with the councillor...

shazrobo

thanks belfast girl.
saw councillor this morning, and left feeling really positive, talked about my situation, and how being stressed turned me to drink.
felt good being able to talk openly, and he said he was pleased i could talk, as it gave him an understanding of my need to drink.
going back on weds, my councillor will be there and together we seeing the doctor based there, and he thinks they will prescribe campral, to help with the cravings.
hope everyone else having a good day
shaz x

brodev

I have been checking in most days but no one seems to have the desire or need to post. I hope that it is that people are busying themselves getting ready for Xmas. I am much the same as ever and I am looking forward to my new grandson's first Xmas here in Portugal.