Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

[BigMac]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

1morechance;320003 wrote: I have the supplements, read the book, but I can't really get into the CD's for some reason. Has anyone experience not being able to get into the hypnosis? -- Thanks

Hi 1morechance, I had a very hard time with the hypno CDs as well. My mind was scrambling during the first couple weeks (when I wasn't sleeping from all the Calms Forte ), and to be able to sit still and concentrate was difficult. I just listened and hoped something would sink in. I think it must have because I have 24 days AF today. Now I listen to the Subliminal Abstinence CD every night at bed time. It is great to fall asleep to - no voices, just sounds of the ocean.

Good luck and best wishes to all. Have a great AF weekend!!

[wonderworld]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

PSYCH!!!! Congratulations on Day 2 Keeta, Day 3 Ollie! Well done!!!

roamer - Way to go on cutting that in half (!), but more important - talking about the whole process here. Talking through what happens before during and after a drink that you "didn't intend to have" earlier in the day, is a HUGE part of the process. It took me a long time to get used to the fact that the MWO approach does not 'shame' anyone for drinking, but invites you to examine what the trigger was, what behavior followed (both 'good' and 'bad' ), and what you could do differently next time. This kind of investigation, with support, is part of what will connect the 'old' living' with the 'sober living'. I guess that 'sober' in this case does not refer just to AF - but an overall healthier approach. Do you have ideas about what to do tonight? Strategies? Tools? Distractions? If not, about 6,000 people (MWO) can keep you company while you think!

Sounds like thinking about 'AF forever' is making all our circuits explode !!!! No advice, but I think it's okay NOT to think about it for now too LOL!!! It's about THIS day, with the goal of stringing 30 'THIS days' together. Nice and easy. "Slow and steady wins the race", as they say.

Thanks keeta for the sock/rice/microwave trick - had not heard it, but it makes total sense (and it's basically free so what's not to like? he he) . Will give it a whirl.

SUPER quotes from Chief/Don (beast slayer supreme ). Yes - you can't lose if you don/t get in the ring (p.s. there's NEVER any winning with that beast for me. and I have NEVER had ONE beer. NEVER. Unless maybe I was deathly ill with the flu - but even then, I doubt it).

Okay so it's Friday - which means MY personal nemesis - Friday afternoon at 5pm - is just a few hours away. Let's blast through the witching hour and MELT THAT BEAST!!!!!! (maybe some chat ?!?!?!). After Friday night, the weekend's a cake walk (hey - don't say cake! mmmmmmm). If you can - I say stock up on creature comforts for the weekend: delicious food and snacks, favorite AF beverages (or new ones), rent yourself some movies, get some trashy magazines, whatever feels comforting and distracting.

Okay back later!! Love to all-
ww xox

[wonderworld]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

And a huge hello to Big Mac and Bestlife - don't they look gawgeous in their 20's?
:goodjob: :goodjob: !!!
Love ww xx

[LVT25]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Good Friday morning all! Yeah, I know I'm late--I slept in a little, the kids have a SNOW day! That's right, 80 degrees on Wednesday, blizzard today!!

Anyway, some GREAT posts this morning, I'm going to have to read them again and take some notes!!

I have to add, that when I started this program the mere thought of NEVER having a beer again was unfathomable!!! I still can't commit to the 30 or 60 day threads, are you KIDDING!!

But, as time goes on, most days I don't even think about drinking. The last couple of times I had a beer, it didn't really taste all that great. It's WEIRD!!! So don't fret all new to this--it does work, and it does get easier, at least it did for me. I guess that's why I'm a believer in the CD's--I feel this way even when I don't take the supps or Kudzu. I had to order a new cd player---I wore the old one out!!

IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG---SO BE IT!!!
(wow, does this one bring back memories!)

[ame=

]YouTube - ILYIW[/ame]

[Thankful]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Hello to all my Sober Living friends ~

Wow, so much inspriration and sharing of true feelings. I am falling in live with this thread more and more.

I just wanted to re-post something I was feeling early in my sobriety. I hope it can help. Sorry if some have you have already read this.

I posted this Jan 11th, in General Discussion:

Why are so many of us afraid of "forever" AF?

I've been reading so many posts that contain the common emotion that so many of us feel. We are afraid of ....forever. The thought of never having alcohol again scares us. Why? I know everyone says ODAT, but this is a thought that's been posted so many times. I really was getting pissed off today thinking about this, because this agonizing thought has had such a grip on me since day 1. And I'm discovering every day that it has an ugly hold on so many of you. So I ask you....

What the hell are we sooo afraid of??!!??
...of being healthy?
... of being happy?
... of not having continuous blackouts or memory gaps?
... not experiencing embarassing ourselves and or our families because we couldn't control ourselves?
... are we gonna miss the hangovers?
... we gonna miss those all knowing "glances" at work, chuch, PTA, etc.?
...are we going to miss the disgusted looks from our loved ones when we indulge?
...we gonna miss hating ourselves?

I'm sick to death of feeling like this and that's it - I'm f$%king done with it! I control me and my feelings. Not some sick little bottle filled with a deadly poison!

Been AF 15 days now and you know what I will miss if I slip?
...my niece telling me how proud she is of me.
...how good I feel for the first time in about 15 years!
...the fact that weight is coming of with little effort.
...sleeping through the night.
...waking feeling sooo good.
...not yelling and bitching at little things.
...smiling for no apparent reason!! Really, I'm getting strange looks from my family!
...much clearer skin (and younger looking!)
...being a productive person and not a blob that sits and wonders why my life sucks!
...feeling proud and confident.

I don't know about you, but I'll take the later list any day!

LET'S STOP BEING AFRAID OF....FOREVER!!!!



Thanks for all the wonderful gifts you people have given me. (And thanks for letting me rant and rave).

Love, Me

You don't have to think about forever right now. But please don't let yourself be afraid of it either. Just take each moment at hand and vow to yourself that you will make it another day AF.

You are all doing amazing. Try, try again. And when you are tired of trying, you better try harder than you ever have. And I know many of us seem to be repeating each other but it does get better! I promise.

Love, Me
:l

[KateH1]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Wow!! Thankful.....Great Post....does not do this justice! Such perfect information!

This is exactly why a while back, I decided to call myself a non-drinker. To me, this says it all and it is a postitive statement! I am not fearful, I am full of the joy of being a non-drinker. I simply do not think about drinking. When the "urge" or "thoughts" about drinking come up, and yes, they occasionally do, I simply get something "healthy" to drink and re-affirm to myself that I am so happy being free of alcohol and able to live each moment to it's fullest!

XXX Kate

[Booklvr]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Thanks to all of you this is a great thread and site

....I really have been working to figure out my triggers. What a positive focus rather than just blaming myself. This thread is INCREDIBLE! I too am afraid of forever. Change is HARD! Living the was most of us have been is harder! Everyone KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. We can do it!

Like I said earlier I have tried and slipped but I am back here working to be the person I know that I can be - a sober one hee hee hee

Triggers - I don't know why I let other people make me angry or upset and then to add insult to injury I have a few drinks to escape the feeling. Well, when I sober up the feeling is still there. So I have to learn to take a few deep breaths and come up with a plan....

Thanks all and good luck

[gelgit]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

"so nice" (from the hypno CD) I feel like a kids with invisible friends... I talk to you all the time. This is the best Day 8 I've ever had of course, it's my last day 8 also. I really appreciate this thread. MWO tools, and mostly kudzu are getting some life back into me.
I've got the wine collecting hubbie, remember? So, yesterday, I get back home to find a kitchen full of his friends drinking wine. The primo stuff. Did I have a problem: well yes and no. This is the guy who tells me that I just need to bolster my self control and offers me 2$ chuck all the time. This is the third time this month he's had friends drinking one of his prize bottles and everyone gets offered a glass except me. Would I have taken a glass, no, but, in my mind it's humiliating. Oh, I'm going to take an l-gaba and a samE now and go dig holes in the garden. Deep ones:H:H:H you all have a good day. With love, g.

[KateH1]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Hey Gelgit......geeze louise.....what is up with this guy! If you were diabetic, would he have a desert party????? You have no reason at all to feel humiliated by any of this. You did a great job resisting "The Good Stuff"........funny, the hangover is still the same! You are doing so well!!! You should be proud of yourself!!

Sounds like your garden will be spectaclular this year!!
Best Wishes,
XX Kate

[Thankful]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Booklvr ~ reconizing those triggers are so key to getting and staying sober. I really learned a lot about myself when I learned my triggers. And some surprising ones popped up that I really had no idea that led me to drink! Whew! Keep at it!

Gelgit ~ Great job not drinking! What is hubby thinking? Do yourself a favor and try not to distinquish which alcohol is the good stuff. None of it is the good stuff. It is all poison. Toxic waste. I don't care if it's $2.00 a bottle or $2000.00 a bottle. I have drank some very expensive stuff in my day and I got to tell you, there is some nasty tasting expensive crap out there. I think people think they have to enjoy some of those flavors because the price tag just deems it as so. And who really cares if it tastes good or not. It's all poison. Please do ever feel like you are being left out of the party because by you not drinking, you are the one who has the reason to celebrate! And ask hubby to host these parties somewhere else. Or at least hold off on having them until you feel stronger. I agree with Kate about the whole "if you were diabetic, would he have a desert party?". Seriously. Take care of you.

Love, Me
:l

[wonderworld]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

HI!! 4:45 p.m. ............ going to read and catch up and can hop onto chat in a flash....

WW xox

[wonderworld]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Hopping on now!!! Anyone out there want join me ?

[Booklvr]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Gelgit dig a hole big enough for hubby. Now he might make a good compost!

[nojoke]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Hi All

Great thread WW, and thanks Thankful for the timely message about our fear. I only just threw myself into the May AFers with thoughts of "please don't fail..." And Kate, you are absolutely right and you have said it before, we have to be honestly and totally committed to wanting our lives to be better. I know I have made excuses and in the short term they seem easier to deal with. But its the long term I want to take control of and live the life I want to live.

[1morechance]

Days 1-30: Hello Sober Living

Hello all
I'm a little late. It's great to hear how everyone is doing. WW one of my biggest triggers is also Friday 5pm, Although I was exhausted (little sleep last night--long work day) I decided I was going to stay at work a a few minutes longer and prepare for Monday morning. So by the time I got home I was to tired to even think about drinking.

I managed to stay AF yesterday although, after yoga, a friend of mine wanted to go out to eat. She had a drink, I had a diet coke. I was tempted, but did it. It made me feel good. Tonight, I'm also AF. So I've managed two. Tomorrow, I have a lot house work to do so I'll be very busy. Thanks for the feedback about the CD's Big mac and WW. I will try them again and see. :thumbs: