Newbies Nest

[Samstone]

Newbies Nest

Thanks Lav
was a truly a weird day.

Beautiful day here in Virginia, looking forward to another AF day. It is only day three but it feels very energizing.

Greetings Sodagirl. Hope your day goes well!
SS

[Snapdragon]

Newbies Nest

jenniech;1505002 wrote: Snapdragon
I have been reading your posts both here and on other threads and you sound so healthy!!! I am inspired by your attitude...Thanks

Thanks Jenni - not only for that last comment but for all of your threads and comments which like those of Brydie, Lav, No Sugar, K9 and many many more of you here have been instrumental in me getting to this momentuous (for me!) day 43! I have been hanging around MWO for years and truly never thought I would find the strength in myself to get this far. For the first few weeks I was waiting (deep inside) for the day that I would fail - I felt that it was inevitable. However, I am feeling stronger and stronger each day and feel a little more empowered every single time I put my name into the Roll Call.

I think I have been lucky in that the majority of my friends (although I hadn't really realised it before) aren't big drinkers. My husband isn't, my parents hardly drink, my daughter likes to go out drinking with friends occasionally (and has had some awful hangovers on rare occasions). She sometimes has friends round to share a bottle of wine - but I am fascinated to watch this group of gorgeous 23 year old girls slowly sipping one glasses of wine (or maybe even two) and making it last all evening. They get together first to enjoy each other's company and the drink is secondary to that.

I wonder if maybe your friends who are noticing and complaining that you don't drink perhaps have a little issue and a worry with alcohol themselves? Perhaps they feel threatened that you can enjoy an evening without the crutch that they need?

I do have friends who are great drinkers - we used to have many an evening downing numerous bottles of wine, but I haven't socialised with these since going AF. I need to be stronger in myself before attempting that. My biggest challenge will be work colleagues. I work as part of a team three or four times a year with a group of 8 of us staying away from home in hotels. It is literally a drink fest for about 10 days each time out on the town til the early hours and relying on Berocca to cope with hangovers the next day. Fortunately the next event isn't until September so I have a few months to get my head around it.

I hope to stay close here with all of my MWO friends - so hopefully I will have plenty of support when that challenge is faced!!

[JackDanielsGirl]

Newbies Nest

Morning all,

Hope everyone is doing well! I woke up this morning with terrible cravings, even figured out a plan to get AL (what was I thinking)????? Even reasoned with myself I can have only half a bottle, even though just the thought of the smell makes me sick to my stomach. Now it has past took the advise of several members here and did some urge surfing, read posts of soberity, and remembered how I used to be on AL.

Remembering the drunk me and the withdrawls will do it everytime. Proud to say today is day 10 for me and I am enjoying life again.

Wishing all a very happy and AF Monday.

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest

Morning, Nesters! So good to see the new faces! Samstone, Sodagirl...Hadit, great to see you all! Those first 3 days are the hardest, once they are out of the way, you can put your back into this thing and get on with an AF life! After 36 hours, the AL is out of your system and you are operating under your own power! I haven't really heard of many (maybe just a couple) folks that had any physical symptoms like the shakes or sweats after that period of time. I felt flu-like, but achy and tired for a couple weeks...but it wasn't anything I couldn't pass off as a bug. Most don't have any physical symptoms at all. Like most everything else in life, the FEAR of these things kept me from doing it. I imagine next week this time all of you will be saying that it's much easier than you thought! I couldn't believe I was doing it because all that time I told myself I couldn't!!! Be careful of the Voices you listen to!!

I work for a company of mostly men. At our annual meetings there are 200 men and about 18 women. I held my own when I went out with them, too. Like me, most have AL problems, but unlike me, most haven't done anything about it. Like Lav says, it is NOBODY else's business what I put in my body....so don't be pressured. I'd much rather be known as the one who didn't drink that night than the one who drank too much and acted a fool. We had our morning session in Orlando a few years ago and the Vice President of sales was calling the meeting to order. He said, "If I had to bet money on the person who would be least likely to make it in this morning....it'd be Byrdlady." I could have crawled under the table. How humiliating. But even that didn't stop me. Even falling into a ditch filled with dirty water in an evening dress didn't stop me....This is a very powerful addiction. Once you break free from it, protect it with all your worth! You won't realize just how precious is it until you lose it.....so don't! Hang in there! It is worth it....cravings will pass, social situations will pass.....but feeding the beast is the worst thing you can do. Just one drink isn't going to do us any good it only prolongs the agony. Stick with this....we wouldn't lead you astray! Have a great Monday!! Byrdie

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest

Hey JackDan'sGirl!!! Great job on surfing over those cravings! Get yourself to Day 13 and you will NOT regret it. That's the day that my thinking totally changed and I realized this really WAS something I could do!! You are doing great, keeping reading and posting!!! Cyber hugs!! B

[JackDanielsGirl]

Newbies Nest

Thank you Byrdlady your posts are always encouraging.

Taking it one day at a time and counting each day as is passes.

[Lasha]

Newbies Nest

Hi All,
I've been tapering for about a year and cant seem to get below my 3 drinks, I'm pragmatic, so today I'm going for it. I wont have any physical withdrawals just psychological ones.

Today 13/05/13 is day 1 about time.

[Tess-2]

Newbies Nest

Greetings to All,

Jennie and Halo - thank you for your sweet words. Your posts are a tremendous inspiration. Gracias!!

I found this quote by Louis L'Amour, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."

L'Amour describes my experience with alcoholism. At the point that I thought all was lost, felt nothing but hopelessness and despair, and concluded that suicide was the only solution -- I stumbled across the My Way Out website and found a way to begin again.

If you are feeling a bit hopeless today or maybe are just exhausted from the struggle to stay sober, take heart. You are at the beginning of an amazing journey toward freedom. All is not lost. Nope!! You will re-learn how to choose -- how to be in control again -- rather than being "pushed around" by the bully known as alcohol. You will find the strength to put alcohol in its place (which is the trash). I strongly encourage you to remove any and all alcohol from your home. Yes, even cough syrup. This may sound silly. Trust me: dump it, get rid of the containers, and enjoy those first fabulous steps of freedom.

You are much stronger than you realize. :yourespecial:

[little beagle]

Newbies Nest

Thank you Byrdie. That was very inspiring for those of us who are just starting down this road. I remember a wise woman telling me that the same amount of time will pass whether I work to improve myself or I remain stagnant. I am trying to improve myself now. It isn't easy and not everyone wants to see you succeed. It is about what you want for yourself.

[Guitarista]

Newbies Nest

Greetings everyone.

Back in the arena.

Best wishes, G.

[Guitarista]

Newbies Nest

Tess-2;1505061 wrote: Greetings to All,

Jennie and Halo - thank you for your sweet words. Your posts are a tremendous inspiration. Gracias!!

I found this quote by Louis L'Amour, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."

L'Amour describes my experience with alcoholism. At the point that I thought all was lost, felt nothing but hopelessness and despair, and concluded that suicide was the only solution -- I stumbled across the My Way Out website and found a way to begin again.

If you are feeling a bit hopeless today or maybe are just exhausted from the struggle to stay sober, take heart. You are at the beginning of an amazing journey toward freedom. All is not lost. Nope!! You will re-learn how to choose -- how to be in control again -- rather than being "pushed around" by the bully known as alcohol. You will find the strength to put alcohol in its place (which is the trash). I strongly encourage you to remove any and all alcohol from your home. Yes, even cough syrup. This may sound silly. Trust me: dump it, get rid of the containers, and enjoy those first fabulous steps of freedom.

You are much stronger than you realize. :yourespecial:

Love it Tess. Thanks. G.

[kuya]

Newbies Nest

Lasha;1505057 wrote: Hi All,
I've been tapering for about a year and cant seem to get below my 3 drinks, I'm pragmatic, so today I'm going for it. I wont have any physical withdrawals just psychological ones.

Today 13/05/13 is day 1 about time.

You won't regret it.

At three drinks daily you will have made the job easier but still be ready for a battle. Check in here daily and often.

Have you got glutamine and Kudzu? They help most people so much, I certainly couldn't have done this without it. Also multivitamin and minerals......check the link in my signature.

Lasha.....I got my life back last September and it is a glorious feeling. I wish the same for you.

[bcp2013]

Newbies Nest

Hi all,well it's day44 for me today'l'm doing good,better all the time,l went to a party on sat night ,a lot of people drinking.not me,l even danced and felt great,l was worried but l concored it,feels good to be in control, anyway l am really happy with my results,didn't think it would be okay,but now it seems to be,l'm not thinking of wine as often,l,m feeling good about quitting,feel like a kid when l didn't,t need or want it,hope this feeling lasts l love it ,as well as loosing weight,through diet as well as my job ,very physical,l just had my sis who quit DRI king with me over for a week,been great,very happy with results,l'm not crying all the time ,like earlier,thanks for reading,have a great day,sober!!!

[kuya]

Newbies Nest

Well done BCP....keep on trucking, it gets even better

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest

Good to see such forward motion! Lasha, welcome! Glad to have you here!

Bcp, 44 days is awesome!! I cried a lot more when I was drinking than I have after I quit. There towards the end it was a miserable existence...if I could impart one thing to newbies it would be that there is nothing to fear. You won't be living without your best friend you will be shedding your worst enemy! Changing your thinking around slightly will help so much, at least it did for me. Sometimes it just takes a leap of faith.

Wishing everyone a safe and cozy evening in the nest! Stay close and you'll be fine! Do not let DickHead derail you today! (and that's all we gotta worry about, right? Right!) Byrdie