AF Anyone??

[wakupmom]

AF Anyone??

A quick pit stop from me,as i have had a busy day and still have lots of stuff to sort out for the morning.Just wanted to say hi and well done on another victorious day.
Am going into day 4 i think.I am just saying not drinking today.
Anyway will post more tomorrow, and have a good browse to see whats going on.
Good night all xx

[AMELIA]

AF Anyone??

Hello All,

I had an awful night last night. Drank 2 large glasses of wine and had a huge argument with my boyfriend.

I did do the shall I or not, mind argument for about 40 mins then gave in (even after doing breathing exercises and taking Kalms to try and destress!!).
So my 2 weeks AF are gone now and I am starting at Day 1 again today.

This has taught me something very important though. That my work life ( and relationship of course) have a huge impact on how I feel about drinking.

At the moment I am ridiculously busy with work and it is all my own doing as I am self employed and manage my own diary.

Relationship wise, my man is still not working (its been 10 months) and I think I work my socks off to avoid dealing with the issues involved with that. Arrrrrrgh......long, long story.

Anyway. At least it was only a couple of glasses of wine and I didn't disappear into the woodwork and go on a bender.
Cindi, I am going to pinch your idea of the stars (if you don't mind) and start with one star this evening when I get home from work.

Hope everyone else is doing well. I am going to be chasing you all now......x

[Cinders]

AF Anyone??

Amelia,

Sorry about the stress. It gets to us, doesn't it? (Like last week for me.)

I would liken last night to Deilight's attitude. Two glasses did not make you drunk, so technically you still have all those SOBER days under your belt. For us drinkers, that is a big deal.

I'm hanging in there but having the sleep issues. I quit taking the melatonin and l-tryptophan for some reason and sleep is eluding me. I guess I'll start taking it again, it is in my suitcase...

Hope all to come today have a wonderful day.

Cindi

[prose]

AF Anyone??

Hello everyone,
Amelia-I have to agree with Cindi, as far as I am concerned if you can stop yourself once you get started that is what this battle is all about!
So please don't spend anytime beating yourself up, I think you should be patting yourself on the back, and see- you learned something which is the other part of this battle, if you can do that then you are doing so well....
Cindi, sorry to hear you are not sleeping, that is stressful in itself, sounds like you are not at home so I'm sure that doesn't help either, hopefully tonight will be better.
wakeupmom- day 4 or 5 for you? Hang in there!
cuckusnest83- how are you doing? everyone take care, P

[wakupmom]

AF Anyone??

Hi Guys,
I am here, and think we are all doing well. wether it be abstinence or just checking in,please do not loose heart!!
Amelia.Am worried about you sweetie-Can i help?I would adopt a WON'T DRINK TODAY stratoragy.Don't give up.Did you know we are trying to arrange a meeting of the UK Girls and Boys,(find in gen)Hope you can make it and any other brits.Would be so nice to meet all our friends,from all over xx
Hugs to all xx

[Accountable for Me]

AF Anyone??

Amelia, it really helped me immensely not to have any alcohol in the house at all. If there were I would of drank it .... I had to stay away from any alcohol for a few weeks. That included going to a grocery store that wasn't located beside a liquor store. (we are lucky in the fact they don't sell alcohol in any of our supermarkets or convenience stores here in BC). I had to completely change my routine. Bugger - it was HARD, but I look back now and WOW it was so worth it.

I know the irritations all to well when it comes to the other half. Mine drives me nuts at the best of times then I recently realized a lot of it was me too. I had such high expectations for him to be something he wasn't. I am definitely not condoning your BF's unemployment. I think he should get off of his arse and get a job. That is ridiculous. My suggestion to you would maybe to read up a bit in regards to Co-dependency and see why you put up with it.

We develop low self esteem and self worth when we become imprisoned to the alcohol. Once you start to deal with it, you will find your confidence coming back and you will be able to reassess your situation.

I wish you well, and I know you can do this. It is time to be a bit selfish and think of yourself and your recovery.

[cuckoosnest83]

AF Anyone??

Amelia, you still have had 2 weeks of AF and 1 day of 2 glasses of wine. That is so much better than 15 days of numerous glasses of wine. I'm on day 3 of AF and you have been an inspiration to me. I haven't had more than 4 days AF in years. Prose, thanks for your concern. I'm here, sober, and extremely tired because of the lack of sleep but still feeling better than I have. Take care all. I will be heading to bed shortly.

[Cinders]

AF Anyone??

Cuckoo, Prose, Amelia and everyone else!!

Hang in there, whether you have "slipped" or not. We are shooting for AF. It doesn't matter if it is AF in a row, AF in dribs and drabs.

I don't care. Most of us drink daily and waaaay too much.

Every day AF is a blessing.

Love
Cindi

[prose]

AF Anyone??

Hello everyone,
well, slipped last night, not sure what happened, had a really great day, anyway I am not going to freak out about it too much, know that i don't want to feel this way again so will get back at it,
I was so glad to read the posts from Cuckoosnest and Cindi, I have to say that Amelia you are a real inspiration for me too, all of you are!
and I LOVE what Cindi said- doesn't matter if it is AF in a row or ind dribs and drabs, I really needed to read that because I was feeling so crappy about screwing up my "days in a row", so thanks for that Cindi,
Wakeupmom you sound like you are doing so well, I am really glad to see that.
Cuckoosnest, did you sleep last night?
Well, better go, I will check in later, all the best to everyone! P

[AMELIA]

AF Anyone??

Hello All, I have just read through your posts and you guys are really amazing!!!!

I was so worried about leaving the post admitting to my slip, but you have all responded so kindly.....

I am still working silly hours. My own fault as I have total control over my diary. However I do have a lot of clients that book me in for a certain amount of work then, when I turn up, they have decided that they want more (usually more, not less) work done.
So my days tend to run into one and other and I feel like I am always trying to catch up on work and keep eveyone (clients) happy.

You girls would die laughing if you knew what I did for a living!!!!???,.....
I am a signwriter. I spend my days in bars and pubs writing up their wine lists, champagne lists, Real Ale boards, Menu Boards, Pie Boards, Function Boards, Half Price Drinks Boards, u name it I write it.

It's ironic in a way. I spend near on 10 to 12 hours a day in pubs. NEVER EVER DRINK IN THEM,...and have never even thought about doing so.
I wouldn't be able to do my job. I have to keep my lines straight, my letters spaced and my spelling correct. I have never even considered drinking whilst at work. It only happens when I come home.

Which leads me swiftly onto Accountables message. Accountable you probably have a point about co-dependency. It has been so long since I have read up on that I am not completely sure about the ins and outs of it, but I will have a look.

I have been thinking a lot lately that I may be (subconsciously) creating a hectic diary so that I do not have to be home to deal with what is going on here with my boyfriend and I.
I managed to talk to him about that particular point tonight and he seems keen to pick it up in the next day or two and talk more.

His unemployment. Well, that is a strange situation as well. He finished his last project in Nov 2006 (He is an interior designer). He still had no work in March so asked his parents about the possibility of them lending him some money. His parents were more than helpful and decided to give him an early inheritance. A good amount of money. Probably 2 years of my earnings.....
But since then he has been looking for a huge property to buy and do up (which would involve borrowing huge amounts of money) and he is still doing that . Looking, looking, looking. It has been 10 months in total. He pays for all of his expenses, but still, it just doesn't sit right with me.
I worry he will just go through his inheritance and have nothing left.
It is a very difficult situation. I am fully aware that I need to stop distracting myself and just deal with it..............

Well, there we are. That felt rather cathartic for me actually. I'm sorry if I was rambling.

Cindi, I am loving your last two posts!! Very positive, just what I wanted to read. 3 days AF!!!!! Way to go. Keep it up girl. I agree with you, most of Britain drinks
'waaaaaaaaay' too much

Wakeupmom are you on Day 5 now??? I am not exactly sure...
Yes I am ok, thank you for asking. Just doing a lot of reflection at the moment.
I have heard that some members are meeting in the UK but don't know the details.
Do you? Are you going to go? Let me know.

Prose, that is definately the right attitude, to get right back in the saddle. Yeah I agree with what you quoted from Cindi, about AF being in dribs and drabs or in a row.
I am sorry to hear that you have had a slip, but I guess you are doing what I am now and looking back over the past week or so and trying to see where the 'seed of the slip' began to grow,..... Anyhow. You sound positive which is great.

Cuckoosnest, sorry to hear about your sleeping problems (oh I know those so well).
Thankyou also for your lovely comment in your post earlier.
The sleeping will become easier. Really.

I hope that all of us, whether we are AF, Mods or not always feel comfortable enough regardless of where we are in our journey, to just come here and post etc.

Phew. I think I have worn my fingerprints off.

Hope you are all well and happy.

[cuckoosnest83]

AF Anyone??

Hi all, it's Thursday and I'm still hanging in there. Tomorrow night will be the real test for me. I have gone 4 days w/o a drink in the past 15 years but never, ever a weekend. Prose I did lay awake quite a bit last night but it gave me time to think about how sometimes we offer such words of encouragement to others when they "slip" but then come down so hard on ourselves when we do. Cindi, I completely agree with prose about the AF in rows or dribs and drabs. What a great line. Amelie, hope things are better between you and your boyfriend and you are doing well. Wakeupmom, great job.

[Deilight]

AF Anyone??

Hello!

Been off site a couple of days, got quite busy, STILL SOBER! 4 days, Friday today, starting day 5.

Amelia!Don't worry girl, 2 glasses is not the end of the world but I know how you feel, like I did when I had 3 drinks! I haven't forgotten or scrapped my month of sobriety but am only counting October AF days so we're pretty close in numbers!

To all the rest of the group- you sound great and postive, keep it going!

Well done db2! Your stars are racking up nicely.

[Deilight]

AF Anyone??

cuckoosnest...

Weekends always did me in until the second one in September. The best advice I can give you is to plan a sober activity, something away from home and usual drinking spots, preferably something active, not major exercise but a walk and picnic in nature, go to the zoo or whatever it is that you enjoy (away from temptation). You need something to look forward to that you planned. GOOD LUCK!

[wakupmom]

AF Anyone??

Hi guys
Thought i would check in even though i have not done too well the last few days.The children are away again and i look ahead to the weekend with dread.All those empty hours.They are so excited as they move into thier new house today and i just feel so flat.I suppose i worry that they wont want to come home.I cant be so needing of them.Without them i am lost.Sorry to sound so negative,but i need to vent.
Prose, dont worry about your slip.This is a hard habit to break,but break it you will.
Amelia,Good to hear your getting things of your chest too.I am sure you will deal with B/F when you are ready.You have to have it clear in your own head first
Cuckoosnest,Delight,cindi.You are doing great keep that inspiration coming!!
Wishes to anyone else i have not mentioned xx

[cuckoosnest83]

AF Anyone??

Good morning all. Deilight thanks for the helpful suggestions. I will follow your advice and try to make the weekend busy with activity away from the normal temptations. One saving grace is this site. I plan to be on it quite a bit this weekend. Wakeupmom, sorry to hear about the children being away and the empty hours. Try to follow Deilights suggestion and plan something to look forward to. Perhaps some quality time for you. I have to get to work but as I said I will be on this site a lot this weekend. Everyone, hang in there and keep the faith. We can do this even if it is as Cindi said "in dribs and drabs".