New Alcohol self help

lewt

Hey jo, well done for not having one today. its a massive achievment!. i think you did well not to take the easy option of the AD's striaght away too. i knw they are there for a reason and that they help some people, however i sometimes think some doctors offer them out eber so quickly. if you dont feel any better the doctor is the best person to see. i felt better really quickly. i was down for a little time when i stopped. maybe my brian was gettingused to the difference.

Aint it a buzz knowing you didnt give in tonight ?

Just to reiterate, i aint saying dont take AD's or ingore your doctor. its good you do what youthink is right.

jo1972

Thanks Bogof_Babe & Lewt

No, I don't fancy the ADs, I think that's why I was a dry drunk after my detox previously, although then I was obviously on summat a bit stronger, librium (sp?) I think. I ended up relying on the drugs to make me feel better which didn't help me to deal with the habitual part of it, which is the most important part, for me personally, to get my head around.

I can't believe how empty I feel! It's a really weird feeling, although it doesn't hurt and nothing bad will happen while I'm not drinking so I'm just trying to keep myself busy tonight. I actually do a bit of work on the side on the internet, I've not worked in the evenings before as I've usually drunk to much by now - so this is another first for me, I've actually earned a little bit of money tonight too!!

shazrobo

well done jo on getting through the first day without a drink.

i shouldnt really be posting on here tonight, i've had a rubbish day and already on to my second can. my apologies to every one, i know you have tried to support me and i feel like i'm letting you all down.
again i'm really sorry

brodev

Absolutely magnificent Jo. The first day can be a nightmare. Well done. I think that you will have to be true to yourself regards the ADs. Unless you have some other problems you will KNOW when you have to take them and when you are kidding yourself on. We are all different but we do have so much in common, like not liking pain and looking for a way to minimise it. I didn't like to suffer from dry drunks but they were better than wet drunks as I had a better chance of surviving them. I remember once complaining about them and my thinking and I was told that it wasn't an excuse for a drink. I was so upset as I had been looking for sympathy but, as usual, when I looked at myself I saw that I was heading in that direction and sympathy was the last thing I needed. The kick up my backside had worked again. I am really pleased for you that you have started on the road to recovery.
PS. How are all the rest of you?

jo1972

Shazrobo, don't beat yourself up, wake up tomorrow with a fresh view on things and prepare yourself for a drink-free day (ark at me, day 1 and I'm already preaching )

Brodev, thanks I know what you mean about it being better being a dry drunk than a wet one but when I was a dry drunk before I already knew I was on the path to drinking again, the seed was sown and that was it, just a matter of time. This time I'm hoping will be a more positive experience

Right I'm off to watch Big Brother then off to bed.......sober!! :eek: :cool: :j :T

Bogof_Babe

Shaz, I can understand your present situation, from what you have told us about your relationship being washed up, so I have every sympathy and don't judge you at all.

All I wanted to suggest is that you ask yourself honestly how will having a few drinks make things better? You seem very fed up, understandably, but all the drinking will do is blur the edges, and nothing will have changed in the morning.

What I'm attempting to say is - try to think of each day as a brand new start, like that saying "every day, in every way, I'm getting better", and I think you will start to find that you have more incentive to do other things with your spare time, once drinking isn't seen as a solution to anything, just an added complication.

Sorry if that makes little sense, I'm almost asleep here and off to bed now. Hope you all sleep well, see you tomorrow. xxx

Taffyscot

Shazzy, Shazzy,
when I used to go to weight watchers and I admitted to having a huge choccie bar I didn't say I am ashamed and I have let you all down, neither did they. I just said one day at a time and for tomorrow I won't do that. I felt lousey the nights I did it, not because of a guilty conscience but because of heartburn and feeling sick.
The next day, week, was a different time and I tried to remember just how ill I felt. I didnt throw in the towel because of a silly mistake and I certainly didnt say I wasnt going back because I was too ashamed.
Don't think that you ever can't post on here cos you have had a couple of cans that is why you should post. Remember they have all been there.

Welcome Jo and well done. Taffy

jo1972

Shaz,

I think what Bogof_Babe has said here is something very important that a lot of drinkers don't realise:

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

I think you will start to find that you have more incentive to do other things with your spare time, once drinking isn't seen as a solution to anything, just an added complication.

As a drinker I have no motivation to do anything, I do when I wake up and say to myself 'okay, I'm not going to have a drink today', I do when I'm driving to work and dreaming how fantastic it would be to not be controlled by a can of drink and I do when during the morning I'm on the internet googling 'alcohol, liver, symptoms' or 'AA'. Then something happens to me after lunchtime, Pavlov's bell rings and I can't get that image out of my head of me sat there (well actually stood in my kitchen!), can in hand. Once that image is in there, nothing else matters. I have no motivation to do anything once I get home and everything suffers. And that's my drinking life, it's like Groundhog Day, everyday is the same as everything I wanted to do the day before is still there and still will be the longer I carry on blotting it out with drink.

Anyway, enough of the essays so early in the morning. Day 2 for me :j although I feel like carp, didn't sleep at all which is quite common for me for the first week or so of not drinking so I feel exhausted!

Hope you all have a great day.

Thanks for the welcome Taffy

brodev

shazrobo wrote: »

i shouldnt really be posting on here tonight, i've had a rubbish day and already on to my second can. my apologies to every one, i know you have tried to support me and i feel like i'm letting you all down.
again i'm really sorry

Shaz when I read this my first feelings were "poor girl". Then I looked at myself and thought I don't feel in the least let down. So, if I am like the rest on here, I can categorically say to you that if you have let anyone down then it is yourself.
When I look at your posts I see a girl who is feeling very naturally sorry for her self. A girl who would like to stop drinking........but. I have been there.
Perhaps it isn't you and I am seeing myself. I had to DECIDE what it was that I wanted. Stopping and starting was the worst thing possible for me. When I didn't know what was wrong I could drink get into trouble then feel sorry for myself. But, after I knew, I felt terrible guilt as well. I wished that I had never come across AA as it had removed any lingering pleasure that had been there. I had to DECIDE that I didn't want to drink any more, ever again. AA told me that the way to do that was one day at a time. My heart goes out to you as I see so much of myself.

brodev

Jo keep it going, you're doing great. These images will pass, but it will take time. You are not on your own. there are thousands of people around the world doing exactly the same as you today. They are saying to themselves "I am not going to have a drink today". I find that comforting.