THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

[K9Lover]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Here is a link to the author that Peacefull was referring to: Living Sober Sucks - Home
I haven't looked through it thoroughly yet, but will later.

[Meech]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

I am waiting for Jason Vale's book too. Anyday now...... Carr's book like some of you said, made sense in the brain but not in the heart. So although I agreed with Carr it wasn't enough to make me quit.

I have had a bunch of AF days in a row now (like you K9 - I'm not big on the counting anymore, it almost stresses me out more). At times lately I feel like I am really mourning the death of a rotten, evil but VERY DEPENDABLE friend. I need to stop the mourning. I have been fairly good at it up until now.

It's starting to feel a bit overwhelming that I can't ever drink again. I must keep repeating to myself how wonderful it is to be free.

[Unwasted]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Just an FYI for those of you who are waiting to read the book. He is a huge proponent of NOT counting days, just as he is for NOT writing down all the horrible things about alcohol. He says we already know the bad stuff and focusing on it like that just sort of makes it "forbidden fruit" that we want even more. On the counting, to him, it's like waiting to fail.........he explains it better, I'm paraphrasing.

[glasgow-lover]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

well worth a read!

[K9Lover]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

My daughter just texted me to tell me a book came in the mail!!!

Can't wait to get home and start reading!

[Doggygirl]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Well, I'm a counter and I am definitely not waiting to fail. We each have to find what works for us, but counting is a good tool for some of us.

DG

[Accountable for Me]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

I went to the library yesterday, and they didn't have it! Must be too 'new'. I am interested to see what it is all about. I like to know the differences in authors in regards to quitting stuff. Drinking, smoking, etc.

I also like to count. It drove me nuts the first two times I tried to quit drinking. But now, I look at it as how far I have come along and how proud I am for achieving the time not drinking.

Whatever works!!!!

[Unwasted]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

I think until you've read the book some of the things he says taken out of context won't sound right to you. There are many different philosophies about alcohol/quitting/harm reduction, etc. Some people would read it and not agree with its basic premise for sure. But, I think it's good to be well-versed on the myriad of ideas out there.

[Chief]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Different things work for different people for sure, but this book really nailed it for me and apparently lots of others. Anyone who is still struggling and "fighting it" everyday should give this book an honest shot with an open mind. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. This doesn't need to be a battle everyday.

[Doggygirl]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Unwasted;1195847 wrote: There are many different philosophies about alcohol/quitting/harm reduction, etc. .

I am not disagreeing. Simply pointing out that counting in and of itself is not inherently bad.

DG

[crimsons]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Hi Guys, I got my blood results. Surprisingly, everything was very good. However, I have had this recurring skin rash in the last year that I knew was booze-related. Why that didn't show up in the blood work? Who knows. But after my one-nighter after six weeks of AF, it not only recurred, but I got it on the other arm. What it is, is a subcutaneous purple sort of marbling, and at one point it broke the skin. Yesterday, a pinpoint speck on my *other* arm bled for several hours -- I was having a business coffee and my companion noticed I was bleeding. Not just bleeding, it was a river, all over the place.

This is kind of funny; we both looked up at the ceiling. Must have watched too much CSI. Anyway, I have no explanation for either, but it's 101% clear to me it's related to AL consumption. And this is weird. I am SO relieved. Inside I want to teetotal, and have been doing so lately, as it will obviously make life so much better. But what is making me actually commit is that I don't exactly want my arm oozing blood during a business meeting, etc. How's this for a weird post?

[Unwasted]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Crimsons, I totally get what you're saying -- that giving up alcohol is easier when we're sort of forced into it. Because we can't typically see what's going on inside us as a result from drinking, it's easier to deny and keep on. You have a concrete visual that's really unpleasant and scary, so what could be better motivation? It's not like you'd choose it, but it sure is a big motivator. I have a similar one in that even the smallest amount of alcohol disturbs my sleep. So, I know if I drink I'll feel bad the next day even if I don't get drunk -- kind of similar to your situation in that we both have an overt physical manifestation of what alcohol does.

But.......getting back to the skin thing.......I know that alcohol breaks blood vessels especially on the face. And, over prolonged use it can cause blood clotting abnormalities. Maybe you scraped yourself without knowing it and you're not clotting properly? Are you going back to the doctor to have him check it out? Let us know if you find out more. I'd research the clotting issue. If I find anything, I'll post back on this thread. Here's an excerpt from something I found:


Alcohol and the Blood:
Extended alcohol abuse can cause blood conditions including several forms of anemia and blood clotting abnormalities. These conditions could result in susceptibility to bleeding and bruising. Prolonged alcohol use can also impair white blood cell function and thus makes the abuser more likely to become infected.

And, Crimsons, I know if they don't specifically test for something it won't show up. So, ask your doc about your white blood cells and clotting!!!!!!

And, totally off the subject..........can you tell me what it's like to live in Cali, especially as it relates to being able to go to the beach? Do you, or is it like so many things -- that we don't take advantage of it because we take it for granted? My husband and I toy with the idea of retiring in a California beach town. We're going to make it our next vacation. Our last one was Northern California. We really loved it, but we want to check out the gentler beaches.

[Doggygirl]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

crimsons;1196010 wrote: Hi Guys, I got my blood results. Surprisingly, everything was very good. However, I have had this recurring skin rash in the last year that I knew was booze-related. Why that didn't show up in the blood work? Who knows. But after my one-nighter after six weeks of AF, it not only recurred, but I got it on the other arm. What it is, is a subcutaneous purple sort of marbling, and at one point it broke the skin. Yesterday, a pinpoint speck on my *other* arm bled for several hours -- I was having a business coffee and my companion noticed I was bleeding. Not just bleeding, it was a river, all over the place.

Hi crimsons. I have seen AL described as the jet fuel of all sugars. I'm no doctor, but I think sugars (and grains and some other things) are connected to skin problems such as rosacea, psoriasis (sp), etc. You might find more information of interst at WholeApproach.com - Natural Candida Treatment - Systemic Yeast Infection and Candida Diet Recipes, Forums and Products. The main focus of that site is candida problems (also connected to sugar and grains and AL) but when I was using that site to help with candida when I first quit drinking, I noticed lots of discussion about other related problems.

Good luck to you!

DG

[daisy45]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Crimsons, before I started here a year ago, I had circular, flaky, skin patches that would appear on my legs and arms. I always wondered about them. Since going AF they and every other ailment I had - panic attacks, sweats, sleepless nights, mood swings, depression, disappeared. I have been back to drinking over the year but not enough to bring all those symptoms back. I seriously over-indulged over the Summer and all they came tumbling back.........Thank God I am back to AF!
I found JVs 'not counting' a natural thing to do after I read his book. I don't think he meant 'don't count' but that it was different, it was as if I didn't have to count because this is my life from here on......that is not to say when I check back to my start date, I can't see how far I've come. It's nice to see and I was pleasantly surprised when I first looked to find I was about 4 days more AF than I had thought.....just was so much easier this time that I hadn't noticed.
I have such a different attitude since reading his book. Have been reconnecting with friends, going out, socialising. My world has opened up. When I done the same thing a year ago, I had feelings of deprivation, why me? This time I know it is because I am really happier without it......that shift has made a world of a difference. It has removed 'trying' and 'struggling'. I am so grateful............I now look at my friends drinking away. They feel sorry for 'poor me' because I am drinking my diet coke............I feel sorry for them because 'they just can't see'........yet!

[Unwasted]

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Daisy - well put! So glad to hear that you're doing well. Without the mental shift, it's a lot harder -- white knuckling. I think AA uses the phrase "from deprivation to gratitude", which is the same thing Vale is saying if you think about it. And, AA calls it being a dry drunk when you've quit but you really haven't recovered, i.e. you still miss drinking. Anyway, I guess my point is that a lot of these people are saying similar things. Of course, Vale is antithetical to AA in most other ways but I think all of these paths have something to offer. I would be open to any of them, really,if anything I was doing wasn't working for me and I needed more. But, as is true for you, the Vale book struck me in a very positive way and gave me some tools that are working.

Best to you!