Anyone in the First Week of Their Unpteenth Quit?

[daisy45]

Hi everyone. Couldn't get internet most of yesterday.
Min, know just how you feel about sober me and hungover me wanting to quit.....it's that wee bugger that pops up out of nowhere and convinces you otherwise!
Day 3 and doing fine. Got back to my art for the first time in a long time. Enjoyed it. I am doing a wedding banner for a couple, with pictures and slogans relating to thier life until now. It is fun and relaxing. Even got a bit of calligraphy onto it.
Anyway, keep trucking! Keep well everyone!

[paulywogg]

Good job on 3 days Daisy sounds like you do good artwork, Min,it'll click eventually, like Ginger,I regret drinking around the kids,I started when they were preteen and I think that was worse!they had a dipshit mom just when they needed guidance, I was a paaaarty animal!!sad cuz I thought I was just having fun anyways now I cringe when they drink,sounds like everyone is doing good,keep it going

[Ginger999]

Hi everyone. Couldn't get internet most of yesterday.
Min, know just how you feel about sober me and hungover me wanting to quit.....it's that wee bugger that pops up out of nowhere and convinces you otherwise!
Day 3 and doing fine. Got back to my art for the first time in a long time. Enjoyed it. I am doing a wedding banner for a couple, with pictures and slogans relating to thier life until now. It is fun and relaxing. Even got a bit of calligraphy onto it.
Anyway, keep trucking! Keep well everyone!

Daisy, that sounds amazing. I'd love to see a picture of the banner. Good job on day 3! ODAT

[Mr Vervill]

G-man posted this in the nest today.
I t hit home
Why have I been fighting to hold on to something that is wasting my life away and killing me surely and slowly in every way? Why G man why? Make sense fella? NO!


2. I know I would lay down my life for certain people/family without hesitation as many of us would for those closest to us, so........G man, if this is true, why don't you lay down your addiction, your boozing for the ones you care about, for yourself, and for the flippin world/humanity?! Why not man?! These have been 2 key thoughts I'm ruminating on happily at the moment. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Just this weekend my wife and I were talking about life, finances, our future, etc, when she let this bomb go, " I'm preparing for your death".
Sure hit home.

[MinStar]

Morning. Thanks everyone.
I know it just hd to click and wish it would hurry up and do so!
I'm going to print those links thanks.

I like the gratitude idea. Watched programme on the London 7/7 bombing. The courage and strength of those that lost and those that survived is beyond miraculous. Made me appreciate what I have.

Off to sort kids. Have a lovely sober day all x

[daisy45]

Min, it is a tough one. So many times I have felt the 'click'....or so I thought, and I think I see where I am most vulnerable after stopping - it is when I see myself as fit and healthy and looking good again...then I imagine I have a mindset to match that; a strong mind that is and can be in control of alcohol. So time and time again I test it.
This is what has to change, where the 'click' needs to happen....
Day 4 for the first tim in a while.....happy for that and another 24 hours for now.

[abcowboy]

Morning everyone! I must confess, when I first looked online for support to help me with my drinking, I was more than a bit skeptical. I had tried most everything as I'm sure all of us did, even AA wasn't working for me. I think back then I didn't fully open myself up to being helped in every way, mentally and spiritually. If face to face in AA wasn't working, if support from Bubba and the kids wasn't working, and if prayer wasn't working, how could an online forum help?

Yesterday was a very trying day for me, setting plumbing fixtures in a million dollar house for a young couple, hot, humid, laying on the floor working in cabinets, and nothing was going right...then I got an IM from Ginger, out of the blue! How did she know that all I needed was to hear from someone who was going through the same struggles.... Divine Intervention I think! I'm not going to say it was the closest I've been to drinking again, but the "I wish" was very, very strong. I worked a 10 hour day and got home to Bubba and Hank, my safe haven. After supper I spent about an hour on MWO reading, and it settled me down, inner peace once again. That's how important all you guys are to me and my sobriety! Thank you Ginger! It shows how important it is to connect with others who are sharing the same journey, that we can't do this alone...

Jackie, as I was reading last night, I read your post when you first came back to the quitters thread. If it's not to much to ask, would you share your story with us? I see that you had, at one point, 5 years sober and started over again. What happened? I think it's a story I'd like to hear, that it will help me when I have days like yesterday......

And a big THANK YOU to all of you for being here for me last night! I didn't quit, you better not either!

[paulywogg]

Hey guys, Cowboy, that"I wish" feeling is the most irritating thought!! Hell ya I"wish" I could drink like a normie sometimes, I"wish" it didn't turn into benders that make me feel crazy and sick,bleh,yesterday I was reading the need help asap area and I tell you, that will squash the "I wishes" real fast,even better for me than the toolbox in a way,just reading the desperation and remembering how hard it is to detox sets my head straight super fast,actually I never tried quitting until I came to MWO,as I said I thought I was just having fun,then one day I was drunk and left work early, googled online AA meetings and back then MWO showed up,the rest is history,glad Ginger got ahold of you out of the blue,she's a good friend off to get ready,hello to all,back later

[daisy45]

Cowboy, phew! Good to hear you got through.
You are so right that every contribution helps each of us in different ways. To even read of your close call is help....and how you came out of it!

[JackieM]

Hello All-

Cowboy-Two years ago NoSugar started a thread called Relapse In Retrospect. Here is what I wrote:
My relapse

Hello-
I first joined here in 2006 after blowing five years of sobriety. I have struggled ever since to stop drinking again. I wish to God I never, ever would have started again.
My reason for relapsing? I did not deal with anything during the time I did not drink. I did not deal with my crappy marriage, depression or anxiety. I started having full blown panic attacks and after five years without alcohol, I made the stupid decision to "calm" myself down with a drink. That is how it started-a glass or two of wine. No big deal right? I didn't drink for five years...I must be cured. Anyone reading this can guess where that thinking led me-right back into the abyss.
My husband told me for years that all of our problems were because I drank and I guess I thought giving up alcohol was going to solve everything in my life. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I think there is a big difference between not drinking and actually becoming sober. Sobriety takes major work. I failed to do the work.
Yes, giving up alcohol is a major accomplishment in itself. But, (at least for me) the major repair work comes after the liquor has left the building. Had I put time and effort into actually becoming sober, I think my quit would have stuck.
I am now looking back at seven (drunk) years wondering what the hell happened to me.
Please do whatever it takes to keep your sobriety. Read, research, post, seek therapy, use supplements, take medication-whatever it takes.
Good luck to everyone on their alcohol free journeys.

JackieM

[open halo]

Very insightful Jackie, can totally relate, my husband says all our problems are my issues with AL as well. I have been left wondering why is it all my fault, being sober for 5 months didn't magically make everything fabulous. And then when I slipped and drank again, the blame game continued, which then makes me extremely resentful. I like how you mentioned the difference between not drinking and being sober, this is definitely food for thought.

I am still not drinking as of today , this is good for me , working on being sober.

Sending positive thoughts and vibes to everyone here :hug:

[JackieM]

OH- I am sorry your husband puts all the blame on you. I know how tough that is to deal with. One of the reasons I haven't been able to maintain a quit is my brain tells me there is instant relief waiting in a bottle.
At the time all I want is instant gratification. In the past I haven't been able to stop and play the situation forward. I have really been working on that. I got slammed in the head with the urge to drink last night.
My screwed up brain tells me, "C'mon-just a beer and a shot. You can stop there". There is no way I will stop after two. When that urge strikes I really have to dig deep and remember the horrible consequences of my drinking. The hour or two of false relief I would feel from drinking is in no way shape or form worth it.

For years alcohol has been like a psychopathic therapist to me. It promises to make me feel better only to turn the tables and make things a million times worse.

Stay strong and keep posting. Nothing helps like being able to work on things together.

JackieM

[Ginger999]

Wow! Some really really good stuff here today. I'm so glad you guys are here and so willing to share you stories with us. Without a doubt I wouldn't be where I am today without all of you and this site. Thank you each and every one!

Went to Mom's this morning to clean out some closets. OMG!! She's a clothes horder. I took away 5 black garbage bags to Goodwill and barely made a dent in it. Note to self: get rid of clothes you don't wear or need!

Now off to take her twin sister to see the hemotologist. Oh the fun never ends in my little part of the world. LOL

[abcowboy]

Some great posts today! Thanks everyone, and thank you Jackie for sharing your story, it reminds me that being sober doesn't end at quitting drinking...

[BeachGirly]

Great post Jackie - thank you for sharing that. It is a very good reminder, that even after 5 years we still need to be aware.

Good job Cowboy on getting thru that awful plumbing day!!! Glad Ginger messaged you when you needed it most. Isn't that just amazing how "the universe" just knows, or gives back to us what we give to others.

I am still caring for my mom with her broken leg. My sons knee is healing nicely and does not appear to be fractured as we first thought.

Work is still busy busy... staying up late tonight to get the last of this typing done.

Ha ha Ginger - I can see you doing Moms closet. I have done that recently as well. Pant suits from 1970 to the goodwill. Maybe there is a 70"s party that someone needs a costume for???

Be happy friends. Hi to all our new friends. Glad you have joined us and we will be here for you!!