Day 6 but had a good reminder

[Chief]

Hi Everyone, Today is day 6 for me and I feel great! I did have a situation yesterday that I want to share. As some of you know I've been doing good the last couple of days, posting alot and really taking an aggressive approach to this whole deal. Well yesterday everything is going along fine and then around 4:30 pm out of nowhere came this very sudden and VERY strong craving and urge to drink. You know the one, where you're almost 'robot like' and I actually started to think about buying beer. Well, and I'm SURE it's because I've spent so much time here the past week, I recognized what the hell was going on and I said to myself and to The Beast "O.K. let's go to the store". So I got in my truck and I drove to the gym, still VERY much in the middle of these cravings. I changed into my running clothes and started running. And here's where it gets good. After running about 15-20 minutes I started visualizing The Beast down in a hole in the ground popping his ugly head up out of the hole trying to get out and it was growling. Everytime it would pop up from the hole I would literally SLAP his ass. This went on for a few minutes. It would pop up maybe 15-20 times and every time I could see myself just slapping the Sh*t out of it and then it finally went down in the hole and I visualized slamming a trash can lid down on top of the hole. Finally it did not pop up again. Now, the whole time this is happenig I'm running around an indoor track and there are other people running and walking of course and at the end when I slammed the lid down I was still running and felt so good and happy I actually had goose bumps and was grinning from ear to ear and I realized that other people were noticing me running and grinning and a few smiled back.! They had no idea what the hell was going on and it was just so funny. I know I probably need some sort of therapy, but hey, it was war... I had to take him down!!! BUT, the lesson is Never let your guard down, the SOB will be quietly waiting in the wings for an opportune time to strike. Pretty wild, huh? I thought you might get a kick out of that.. Don

[Newyear]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Wow- that is tremendous! I can relate to your method - the visualization and strong determined feeling.
That is soooo great!!!!

:goodjob:
Lisa

[retteacher]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Chief: That's great! That beast will begin to recede, but never, ever let your guard down. Now that I'm on day 38, I don't get as strong a craving as I used to. The kind that I become robot-like to. However, I still feel the occasional twinge now & then. We were out to dinner last night & our table was next to the bar. Watching the bartender pulling out corks & pouring wine got me thinking. It passes when I think about how much better my life is now AF. A really rotten day AF is far, far better than any day drunk or drinking. Keep going you're doing great. Mary

[me145]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

haha ! way to go Chief.. you are being so strong!

[YoungAtHeart]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Way to go, Don!

Your story brings a big smile to my face!

[magic]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

There you are Chief

Bitch Slapping at it's best!

Keep smiling!

m. xx

[rvm14136]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Good job Don,

You beat him again. I'm not far behind you on day 4 AF and it's getting close to temptation time. I'm going to follow your lead and kick him in the head with ny size 13's when he rears his ugly head.
Rob2

[Chief]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

You go Rob2! I've made a game of it. I'm looking for the SOB...I figure he's been on my ass for years, it's about time he start looking over HIS shoulder... Don

[Riker]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Way to go Don.. that's how to do it.

I'm hanging in there on Day 4, so far so good.

See you later.

Riker

[Arial]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Hi Don - Way to go! Sounds like you completely turned the tables!! I think one of my turning points was realising I couldn't be passive but had to get agressive - I can now use the image reading your post has just created in my mind! - Many thanks!!

[evergreen]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Way to go Chief, I have to admit your visualization is a little bit too violent for me - maybe not enough testosterone. . . . . . But I am ready the Harry Potter series right now (on book 5). Maybe I need to whip out a wand and work on my spells and curses!!! lol At any rate way to meet things head on!!!!

[Chief]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Thanks All, I don't know why but this time I've decided to not just sit and wait for a weak moment. I've decided to engage the enemy.... probably has something to do with spending 20 years in the military. It's fascinating but now that I've made it to Day 6, I'm kind of having fun beating this. There is no way I can turn back now. I hope some of my craziness will rub off on some of you that are really struggling through the first 3-4 days. Those were the toughest for me. I think I just finally got it through my head that this is something I will always have to be aware of and it will never go completely away so I may as well try to at least have a little fun with it. It's funny but the first few days I would think, "Oh my God, I have to go through another day AF", now I wake up and think " Yeah baby, another day AF, I can't wait to get started!" It's amazing how not having the alcohol in your system changes the way you think and see things. I really listen and learn from people like Starlight and Retteacher who are much farther along than me and they are still very much aware of the possibility of a relapse and they cherish their sobriety. Maybe that's it- when we first start out we look at sobriety as kind of a negative thing but then when we have it we start to appreciate it and see how ludicrous it is to live a life of compulsive drinking. Just thinking out loud. Hope everyone is having a good evening. Don

[Skye650]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

This is fantastic Don, seems like we're both traveling this path at the same time, I am on day 6 as well today and must admit had the cravings yesterday, instead I poured myself a glass of grap juice and it was refreshing and great.....

[rvm14136]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Congratulations Don and Skye, you both are doing great. Hope you don't mind if I ride your shirttails. I am one day behind you at day 5 and feeling good. Day 3 was more difficult for me than day 4, but I know this weekend will be a challenge. I am a 10+ a night beer man and an NFL fanatic. It's going to be a challenge to watch my home team on TV tonight in a preseason game and drink juice, but I will do it.
Already good things are happening to me. I have lost 5 pounds and my wife says my face is not blotchy and that's only after 4 days. I'm cranking up the will power this weekend.
Rob2

[Riker]

Day 6 but had a good reminder

Hi Rob2,

I'm with you on Day 5 as well. And like you I drink 8 to 12 beers a day ,or used to anyways.. This is my first weekend as well and although my sport is different, I like to watch golf, it's 4 hours in front of the tube and a stocked beer fridge 12 feet away. I know exactly what you are saying and I can relate ! . I did not loose any weight yet but everone is different. You don't erase 12 months of heavy duty beer drinking from your body in 4 days. !!

Congrats Don and Skye, keep it up !

We can get through this weekend !! let's DO IT !!
Riker