Anyone in the First Week of Their Unpteenth Quit?

[Ginger999]

Hi BG, Glad to see you coming back and posting on other threads. I read Ladies on a Mission and Newbies Nest daily but rarely post there. There is so much going on I get a little overwhelmed when I try to get a post in. I love those two threads though and often "like" comments. I especially enjoy reading Byrdie's posts! The toolbox was my lifesaver (along with reading/posting) in the early days of my quit. I even printed a couple of profound things I found there and stuck them in my pocket.When I felt like cheating when I was away from home, I'd stick my hand in my pocket and feel the paper. I'd reafirm my committment without anyone even knowing what I was up to. Funny the little things we do to make this quit stick. But I say whatever works, do it! That's why they call it "My WAY Out". Right? You hang in there and stay close. This process gets so much easier as you go along. Don't let anyone take away your power to quit this holiday season. You will feel so good when you look back at Christmas 2014 and know it was your first AF Christmas with many more to follow!

Hope everyone is staying warm and dry in the storms around the US. Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

[Orimus]

So I decided to go to a psychiatrist finally after the past two weeks .... It is both good and bad that this is the first week of a two week staycation. First day taking the meds and another day 1. (Showed up at the Psychs smelling of whiskey. I had slept well, I was relaxed and reading and ... Still never got the hang of posting when that happens.) Ended up posting it as my status on Facebook to add that bit of accountability. Also won't have to explain why I'm not drinking during any holiday rigamorol.

Crazy that last December I told myself that by the end of this year I'd be an alcohol free non-smoker. Once we hit July and the closer we get to January I just got more out of control. I try to tell myself it's the path that led me to not just knowing that I needed to but understanding why I want to.

[Ginger999]

Hi Ori! I've been thinking about you. So do you think your path has taken you to your final quit? I sure hope this will be it for you. You sound like you are really ready to leave AL behind. In the beginning of my quit I had to stay REALLY close to the threads to stay focused. Please try and do that. Do you post or read any other threads?

[paulywogg]

Orimus,i thought this was gonna be"my year"as well,i did worse this year than last stupidly!

[abcowboy]

Open Halo, I like what you said about being a newbie! I am the same, not new to quitting, I had 7 months AF then drank 2 beer, before I opened the 3rd, I understood what quitting and staying quit were all about! Now, it's all about tools and support mechanisms to stay quit.

I think I joined MWO shortly after I had those 2 beers, I also attend AA, but because of the small rural town, our meetings are just once a week, and I knew that I was going to need more support than that to keep this my last quit. When I joined MWO, I found it a bit confusing, and like Ginger, find it too hard to keep up with all the threads. So, I think my 2 daily posts, 24 Hour Club and Gratitude will help me stay on track, and I'll focus my comments here and the Mission thread. I don't need a pat on the back everyday, what I need is thoughtful discussion and support from people just like me, know what it takes to quit, just need additional support to stay quit! All that being said, hopefully there's room on the Quitters thread for one more regular!

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[Orimus]

Just butt heads with my psychiatrist on my second appointment. She insists I do 5 days inpatient but that is not the way I want to go. The kudzu, St. John's and kung fun practice got me to 4-6 drinks a day and as of the beginning of the year I was quite happy with 1 or 2 more and more. In July I hit a bump I can't identify yet and so decided to seek medication and counseling to replace the kudzu and St. John's. She wouldn't hear it and kept insisting on the inpatient. Wouldn't make another appointment with me saying she didn't know that she could do more for me and doubted my commitment. This is someone who proffesses to embrace complimentary therapy. Very frustrating. Compared inpatient to spending time at a zen monastery. How's that?

[Ginger999]

Wow, Ori! Now what? Are there other psychiatrists you could contact for help? I'm not sure where you are located but hopefully you can get a second opinion. What you don't want is to let this bump be a reason to postpone your quit. We are here for you pretty much all the time. There are lots of very active threads you can visit throughout the day and find people ready and able to talk. If you stay REALLY connected here does it help? What I've noticed with people that slip here, is they slowly stop posting. Like ABC said even making it here a couple of times a day works for some but others may need more time and support. We love to have people join us here so come back often. PLEASE! Your life depends on it.

[open halo]

abcowboy thanks for the post, it reinforces , for me, the need to have a plan and places to go where you will receive the support you need. For me the MWO is the only place I have right now, I like I have access to it whenever I need the support. I probably should find other avenues as well but it is very difficult to attend other support groups, time is always an issue. I hope to be a long timer quitter as well, it has only been about 10 days but I am so much more determined right now! I heard an awesome quote last time I was on MWO and it still resonates with me "Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes".

[Chief]

Hi All, just checking in. It's great to see everyone! Cowboy, there's always room for one more here! And I'm always happy to see folks come back who have left for a while because they couldn't quite commit to the quit yet. The key word is YET. We've all been there....that's the reason for the name of this thread. The important thing is you came back. You WANT to quit.

Halo, 10 days is great! Keep it going! Keep posting and reading and thinking about how much better you feel and think and look. Just go one day at a time and they will add up and become the norm.

Cowboy, Pauly, how are you guys doing today? Check in and let us know. I know it's a hectic time of year but it can also be a great time of year to take control and enjoy living your life on your own, without The Beast calling the shots. Being sober is very rewarding and fulfilling.

Ori, to me, it seems you are quite capable of over thinking things. Why are you so opposed to 5 days inpatient treatment if that would really help you totally focus on the task at hand. There would be no distractions......no temptations to sneak a drink.....you could devote everything to kicking this thing. I know it's a big step, but it's a big problem. What have you got to lose? Just my 2 cents worth...

I'm doing well. I'm working a lot but that's okay because I really love my job. The people rely on me to be there every day and take them where they want to go. One of my regular passengers, a little old lady who's 87, got off the bus yesterday and held out her hand to me. She was holding something in her balled up hand and I opened my hand under hers and she put 5 Hershey's Kisses in my hand and said " Merry Christmas, Honey!" It made my day...

Don

[BeachGirly]

Good morning all.

I wanted to give a progress report. I am doing fantastic.

I started this journey just before a trip to Mexico. As much as I thought I was ready, I was not completely committed. When I returned, I tried again, with the moderation plan. I had one day of drinking, and gave myself permission, so no guilt. Then one day of no AL. That did not even last a week.

I am not sure what clicked last week, but I am now 5 days AL free. I have no cravings. I am thinking about it constantly, but not that I want to drink. I am thinking about the cause and effect. I am thinking of strategies. I am thinking of what many of you have said.

I am guessing it is a combo of things, aligning at the right time. I have started to see a counselor, have been more active here and concerned about others, and I started a supplement. Whatever it is - it is working. I feel strong.

Knowing the next week will be hard though. My mother will be at our home, and it is the first year without my Dad. My mother is a drinker and we have always been buddies. I need to have a talk with her about this. I have stocked the house with other options, but honestly right now - I do not want to drink.

By posting this - it is my commitment to myself and to all of you to stay strong!!

Thank you for posting your thoughts and trials. It has helped me realize this is a real problem.
Now that I am moving from being self focused, I hope to be able to give back to you all now as well.

BeachGirly

[Ginger999]

Awww, Chief that is a precious story about the little lady and the kisses. How cool that you are doing this great service for them. As always the voice of reason. Thank you for that.

BG, you sound great and determined. Those two things will take you a long way down this AF road. Just remember to come here first, if the AL thoughts start to sneak in. I had some thoughts this summer and I posted it here first and I got a good butt kicking! It was all I needed to turn things around. I'm not saying I don't still have a thought once in a while, but they are getting fewer and fewer as the days rack up. If a thought slips into my mind now, I immediately go to..... "I have almost 8 months with no AL in my system. Do I really want to undo all that good?" I'm a total health nut so just that thought gets me back on the track to making this my final quit. Good luck with Mom. Does she know you've made this commitment? If not, maybe that's the first talk you should have with her. Most of my family think I'm a super hero for making this decision and sticking to it. Your Mom may feel that way about you too.

I sure wish SoberSoul would check in!

[Chief]

That's terrific, Beach Girl! I'm glad you're here...

Ginger, you ARE a super hero! We all need you here to show us how it's done...

[abcowboy]

Hi Quitters! A quick check in to say all is well in my world, and I'm very happy for that! Also, I wanted to share something said by an old timer (33 years sober) at my AA meeting last night. He told the group in the early stages of his sobriety, he had all kinds of thoughts and excuses for wanting to have a drink or two, but something he heard at one of his first AA meetings stopped him from picking up that first drink again 'You need to spend as much time trying to stay sober as you spent trying to get drunk' For some reason, that really hit home to me! I think back on all the time I spent coming up with reasons and excuses that I could so that I could sneak away and have a few beer, what a waste of time and energy that was. No more wasting time for me! Have a great day everyone!

[Ginger999]

Great quote, ABC. My youngest son is so addicted to AL. No thanks to his mother or father. I hold out hope that some day he will come to the realization that I and all of you here did. NOTHING good ever happens when we are drunk. Think about that for a minute.....Did you ever make a good life decision when you were drunk? I know I didn't! Even deciding to quit wasn't done while I was drunk. It was the next day when I looked myself in the mirror and said, "You are 58 years old. You have 7 gkids. Is this really who you want to be?".

I hope and pray that everyone that struggles with AL will have that epiphany some day.

[Chief]

Well said, Ginger...