One Step at a Time - January 2013

[K9Lover]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

techie;1449939 wrote: Love you avi's Niner :h

Thanks Sarge! :l

My kids face pretty much says it all: "What the HELL is wrong with my mother?" :H

[FlyAway]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Juja;1449624 wrote: Couldn't see your pix, K-9, and don't know why. Happens with lots of pix. Anyway, we have two dumpster cats. One drives me absolutely crazy, the other's a sweet old fthing. They're about 15 years old, and still chugging along.

Used L-Glut yesterday, and was amazed at how it reduced the craving for AL. I was skeptical, as I am about most supplements, but it worked. I will keep using it.

Still bitterly cold here, with a skiff of snow, too, and I love it.

I hate asking, I could seriously use some hugs. This depression won't lift. I need to stay in a positive space in my head, and do something for me. Still, a hug would be really nice.

Love you all to bits.

Positive vibes to you Juja. I'm sorry you're hurting. I've been there too with the never-ending depression. :l:l

[mama bear]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

nINER,
will you and Techie get a room please??
OMG..I just spent twenty minutes scrubbing my kids tub..it was black....boys don't notice and don't care
Now I smell like bleach and comet
gonna eat wings and green bean casserole and try some sleepy time tea...I have friends that swear by it
Nora ...you ok today??
hugs again Juja

[Glass Half Empty]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Thanks Sunbeam

Juja – I don’t know if a hug from a stranger is any good but I’m sending one your way just in case.

And just so I won’t be such a stranger anymore, this is my very brief intro. I’m a 51 year old mother of two lovely grown up sons and the aforementioned crazy cat. I guess the most important thing about me at the moment is that I’m sick of drinking being such a huge part of my life and would really appreciate support while I take the next step in doing something about it. Whether that means quitting for ever, I don’t know, but I’m finally willing to accept that I have a problem and that might be what I need to do. I definitely know I need a period of abstinence before I can evaluate whether I can ever moderate or not.

Last year I signed up for Febfast, and while I managed to stay AF for 30 days, I found it really difficult and was pretty much hanging out the whole time for it to end. This year I’ve signed up again, so I’ll be starting on 1 Feb, but I’ll be doing it with a completely different attitude. This time I really want to treat it as the beginning of a new change in my life where I ditch the deprivation thinking and start seeing all the positive things about living life without alcohol.

This week I’ve been preparing myself as much as I can to get into the right mind space and I’m drastically reducing how much I’ve been drinking (by about 75% so far), but much as I probably come across as sounding very positive, I’m under no illusions about how difficult it’ll be to stop completely. I hope this thread is OK for me to be for the next few days while I’m still not completely af, but I was afraid I’d back out without support and this seemed the safest place to start.

Sorry for the long post!

[mama bear]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

nice to meet you more Glass. I am glad you have a plan and I wish the best for you. I am 51 too and have a 17 and 20 year old son and have been married 23 years. I hit rock bottom this past May and have been sober ever since except for Christmas.
One Step at a Time sweetie, and we will be here with you the entire time

[NoraC]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Hi Glass -
I'm 54 years old. I have one wonderful son, 25 years old. I've been married for 35 years. I have been here for several years and finally feel like I'm making progress. I am trying to get more & more AF time in. I have a calendar and put a sticker on every AF day. I love looking at all my stickers. K9 gave me that idea.
Anyway - don't even worry that you're not completely AF. We are here to support. Some people can moderate. I have not been able to do that. Happy that you have joined us. :h

Juja - hope you're feeling better. I know it's hard to pull out of a depression. :l:l

Mama - I'm fine.....just so busy at work. Then I come home & crash. I'm trying to look into the zumba class again. I need to do something.

Ally - so happy that your test results were so good. That is wonderful. You were so brave to let them poke you and look at the great news you got!!!

Sun - I laughed when you said you called your dog Sandra when she was in trouble. :H

Dottie - I'm so sorry that you have to deal with all the BS at work. You certainly don't need that with all the other stuff going on.

Nurdl -are you ok? I saw that you hated your car today.

K9 - I was up late last night too. Actually, I wasn't even that tired today. Glad that you're enjoying your iPad.

Hi to everyone.....Paula, Techie, Hippy, Frequent Traveler and everyone else (my brain just went blank).

[FlyAway]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Glass Half Empty;1449999 wrote: Thanks Sunbeam

And just so I won?t be such a stranger anymore, this is my very brief intro. I?m a 51 year old female with two lovely grown up sons and the aforementioned crazy cat. I guess the most important thing about me at the moment is that I?m sick of drinking being such a huge part of my life and would really appreciate support while I take the next step in doing something about it. Whether that means quitting for ever, I don?t know, but I?m finally willing to accept that I have a problem and that might be what I need to do. I definitely know I need a period of abstinence before I can evaluate whether I can ever moderate or not.

Last year I signed up for Febfast, and while I managed to stay AF for 30 days, I found it really difficult and was pretty much hanging out the whole time for it to end. This year I?ve signed up again, so I?ll be starting on 1 Feb, but I?ll be doing it with a completely different attitude. This time I really want to treat it as the beginning of a new change in my life where I ditch the deprivation thinking and start seeing all the positive things about living life without alcohol.

This week I?ve been preparing myself as much as I can to get into the right mind space and I?m drastically reducing how much I?ve been drinking (by about 75% so far), but much as I probably come across as sounding very positive, I?m under no illusions about how difficult it?ll be to stop completely. I hope this thread is OK for me to be for the next few days while I?m still not completely af, but I was afraid I?d back out without support and this seemed the safest place to start.

Sorry for the long post!

Hey Glass,

I found this to be more like an awakening for me. Nothing immediate, just slowly and with several attempts my thinking changed. I think nearly everyone who first comes here comes with the idea of moderation in mind. And after giving moderation a try a few times most of us determine that we're not cut out for it. I eventually got to the point where I looked forward to never drinking again. I'm not saying that it's the same for everyone, but I do find that very few just are up and off 100% with abstinence from the get-go. This is a journey and you will find your own way in it. You only fail at this if you quit trying or quit thinking about trying. The mind and the thinking is a huge part of it all.

[FlyAway]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Goodnight ya'll. :h

[NoraC]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Night Fly. Really good post you just made.

[Juja]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Glass, you're safe here. A number of peeps on this thread are AF, and some are struggling. I have a few drinks a few nights a week, but I am much better than I used to be. I keep reading and posting, which helps me move toward AL freedom. You don't have to be perfect on this thread, no one will judge you, and that's why I chose to be a part of this family. We will support your efforts.

Thanks for the hugs everyone. AL isn't causing my depression, it's just me and my chemisty. I know I need stimulation, a change of scenery, exercise, etc., but am overcome with inertia. I've been like this my entire life.

Mama, I'm on Lexapro. I've talked to my doc, but there's nothing else to go to for severe anxiety and depression except Cymbalta. I'm fat enough, so I don't want to go on Cymbalta. C'est la vie. Big Pharma has saved my life, too, btw.

I've never watched the Kardashians, nor the real housewives of anywhere. I have seen pictures of Kim, though. I don't get why huge behinds are sexy.... Just wait til she's our age--her butt will be the size of a barn.

DB, sorry about the bs at work. I get it, and sympathize. Thank heavens I don't have to work with either "Yes, but..." or Loud Talker tomorrow.

Ally, you're healthy! Yay! Now what?:H

Sunny, your sister never came out of her depression and anxiety? I can't bear to think about that, it scares me beyond words. I know what it means to feel possessed, and to have lost oneself.

Hi Nora, Fly, Sunny, K-9.

:l:h:l:h:l

[Glass Half Empty]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Thanks so much Mama Bear, Nora, Fly and Juja and thanks very much Fly for taking the time to share your thoughts. I think I understand what you mean.

There have been many times over the last few years when I’ve convinced myself I’m “moderating” , but all I’ve really been doing is restricting my alcohol consumption when I absolutely had to, while spending the rest of my time thinking about drinking and desperately trying to find enough self-control not to indulge.

Now it’s time for me to be honest with myself and accept that there’s a lot more involved in not drinking than just not drinking!

[mama bear]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

morning she says very grumpily....
must have coffee

[allswell]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Hello GHE,

Over the long term there is a lot more to not drinking but a bunch of motivation, determination and discipline will go a long way. In the process you will learn a lot about yourself and the people around you. Stay strong!

Been away for a while but sober and doing well. Morning everyone, G'morning Mama!

[mama bear]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Allswell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we have missed you!

[sunshinedaisies]

One Step at a Time - January 2013

Good Morning Jan and everyone else - Jan - you....Grumpy? Never !!!! LOL :l:l to you,

love, sun XXX