Hi,
I didn't really want to start a thread, but felt like a rant, so I decided to anyway!
It's been about 5 weeks since i've been AF (apart from one small slip up, a stubby of beer) and i am feeling fantastic! Thank you to everybody here who has supported me either directly through their comments, or indirectly by sharing their experiences.
At first, i felt like it was a struggle to give up, that i was an alcoholic who was at the mercy of some type of willpower in order to give up. At first, i feared alcohol, and rightly so, as it was and still is, the enemy for me and many other people. Part of that fear was a feeling that i had to explain myself to people, like i was doing something "wrong" by not drinking.
It's strange, this morning a switch has come on in my mind. I'm like "how dare they?. I don't have to explain myself to anyone"! Alcohol is a drug and a killer and i don't have to justify why i am not choosing to take that destructive path. My thinking has now switched to anger! Anger that i would be tempted and anger at myself for being so wussy that i would be cowardly enough to feel that i have to justify my healthy choices to otehrs.
I am going on a holiday in a few weeks. I know there will be lots of alcohol there and i am staying with a long time heavy drinker friend of mine. The thought of this previously frightened me and i actually considered not going. Although i may be tempted that weekend, i'm at least not going to feel that i have to explain myself, or justify myself, or make excuses. If he asks why, i am going to be brutally honest with him. If it doesn't sit well with him, the burden lays on him and not me. I hope he can find the common sense to quit and i may talk to him about that if it comes up.
Anyhow, just wanted to share how my thinking has changed and am wondering whether anybody else experienced a similiar shift? Or, am i the only weirdo here?!
Peace.
I didn't really want to start a thread, but felt like a rant, so I decided to anyway!
It's been about 5 weeks since i've been AF (apart from one small slip up, a stubby of beer) and i am feeling fantastic! Thank you to everybody here who has supported me either directly through their comments, or indirectly by sharing their experiences.
At first, i felt like it was a struggle to give up, that i was an alcoholic who was at the mercy of some type of willpower in order to give up. At first, i feared alcohol, and rightly so, as it was and still is, the enemy for me and many other people. Part of that fear was a feeling that i had to explain myself to people, like i was doing something "wrong" by not drinking.
It's strange, this morning a switch has come on in my mind. I'm like "how dare they?. I don't have to explain myself to anyone"! Alcohol is a drug and a killer and i don't have to justify why i am not choosing to take that destructive path. My thinking has now switched to anger! Anger that i would be tempted and anger at myself for being so wussy that i would be cowardly enough to feel that i have to justify my healthy choices to otehrs.
I am going on a holiday in a few weeks. I know there will be lots of alcohol there and i am staying with a long time heavy drinker friend of mine. The thought of this previously frightened me and i actually considered not going. Although i may be tempted that weekend, i'm at least not going to feel that i have to explain myself, or justify myself, or make excuses. If he asks why, i am going to be brutally honest with him. If it doesn't sit well with him, the burden lays on him and not me. I hope he can find the common sense to quit and i may talk to him about that if it comes up.
Anyhow, just wanted to share how my thinking has changed and am wondering whether anybody else experienced a similiar shift? Or, am i the only weirdo here?!
Peace.
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