Newbies Nest

[DreamThinkDo]

Newbies Nest

Sixtyfour, a lot more info and a lot more perspective. But, go and see a doctor anyway - can you go straight to a specialist or do you need a referral from your GP?

Keeping hubby in the dark, hey? Maybe a good thing until you've built up more AF days and have more resolve - but then, staying AF in the company of those temptations is awesome.

[Lavande]

Newbies Nest

Good morning Nesters,

I hope everyone had a good night
I slept like a rock for a change, yay!

DTD, no need to feel guilty about your summer weather - gives the rest of us hope that the snow & ice we are dealing with now won't last forever

sixtyfour, get yourself some guided meditations on CD or use some from YouTube! You can settle yourself down quite nicely with a regular meditation practice, trust me
Talk to your doctor about your concerns - a simple chest xray will reveal any damage you may or may not have endured. Congrats on your AF time!

Great to see you doing well Steady!

Wishing everyone a great AF Sunday!
Lav

[Londoner]

Newbies Nest

Just checking in - slowly coming out of this dark hole. Still living a horrible lifestyle - no exercise, poor sleep pattern, eating horribly.

But I have realised I am living my life through other people's eyes. I worry about other people too much. Time to live my life by my rules I guess.

[Dottie Belle]

Newbies Nest

MAE all,
Off to church them maybe lunch out. Dont want to go near any malls due to the shoppping insanity...
Weird dreams last night. Stress maybe I dont know but I forgot to turn on the sleep noise machine so maybe that was it.
Back later.

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest

Good morning, Nesters!

FD, what a great post! You nailed when you mentioned that we NEED that drink. Normal folks don't feel that panic like we do. When we get a drink it's like catching a life preserver out in the ocean. But that's not enough, we aren't happy until we are sideways....But food for thought....when we think we NEED a drink is the very time we have to stop and think!!
S Stop
O Observe
B Breathe
E Evaluate
R Respond

Our primary coping tool is to drink! That's no way to cope (and live!). Take a step back, and breathe.

Set yourself up for success today! Have a happy AF Sunday!! Byrdie

[Icanwithoutacan]

Newbies Nest

Back again. Got called out for first time by husband on my drinking. Been wanting to try again and this is what I needed. Day 1- missed y'all

[DreamThinkDo]

Newbies Nest

Ican, I'm so glad to see that you're trying again - stick close. You can do it!

[aclassicgirl]

Newbies Nest

I feel like crap but I'm not giving up. It's Day 1 and I feel even stronger about being free. Thank you for the encouragement. I now know I can make it through the feelings I had last night. I will not text drinking friends for support (sounds silly to me now. I don't know what possessed me to do that!). I will come here.
I love my kids more than AL. Someone has that on their signature.

[Pavati]

Newbies Nest

MAE,

64 - I read the diagnosis column in the NYT magazine and they say weird symptoms are almost always a rare presentation of a common illness rather than a normal presentation of a rare illness. Chest infections are pretty darn common, especially this time of the year. Google is not our friend in the illness category (I nearly drove myself crazy with Goggling alcohol withdrawal and I never even had a single shake). I would follow Lav and Byrdie's advice. Meditate, breathe. Go for a brisk walk. Alcoholism is more likely to get the best of you than a rare bird dust allergy...

Londoner - glad you're feeling better. At 25 I was certainly caring too much about what others thought of me. It is such a relief to live life on my own terms. I still care too much, but not nearly as much.

I Can - Welcome back! I don't know if you remember me, but I certainly read some of your story when I was lurking. Happy AF Sunday to you.

DTD - I need strong coffee today. I have been sleeping very well, but staying up too late so not sleeping enough. Crazy dreams which I always have when not drinking.

Off to get a Christmas tree today and lunch with the family. Will check in this evening. This day will mark my second week - 14 days.

[poppy62]

Newbies Nest

Happy Sunday everybody its mad Christmas preparations here which is lovely . Last night for the first time in the last couple of weeks felt quite annoyed that I could not have a drink. But I spent a little time rationalising my thoughts , all the bad stuff drink has bought to my life and the thoughts receeded. I also relfected that having put the word out to family and friends and logging onto the roll call everyday that having a drink would left so many people down and not just myself as well as a huge loss of face which really reinforced my resolve to stick with this !. Lamb cooking nicely in the oven some winter fruits juices chilling in the cooler - perfect. Enjoy your day everybody x

[Luckyflower]

Newbies Nest

Hi Nesters,

Just checking in to say hello to everyone and post. It?s been a while since I posted.
My life is getting better and better each and every day.

Not major things, just LIFE. I am living these days. I?m clear minded. Everything that happens to me is real and I feel it as I should with a clear mind and heart. Major change though, I no longer live a double (secret) life. Only one and it?s ALL real.

I?m watching a lot of AL documentaries and movies. Saw ?Smashed? and then others that I have seen in the past like ?Living Las Vegas?, ?When a man loves a woman? and ?flight?. I am planning to pull out Alan Carr?s and Jason?s books from storage. I read them in the past but would like to re-read them now when I am actually sober.

I am still not setting any goals. I don?t even think about it. It?s tiring and brings thoughts over thoughts over?I take it like my morning coffee One Day at a Time.

I don?t think about AL, not craving it and not tempted by it. I go out regularly and whatever poison others choose to consume is their own issue. I am fine with my ?cocktail? of cranberry soda (still not ready to deal or explain my non drinking reason).

What can I say?
I feel that I was given a second chance is life and I am taking it and living it to the fullest. I do not like to call myself an alkie, I try to dismiss the sad memories of how my life used to look as these memories bring tears to my eyes. It is so painful to remember what I did to myself, to my body and soul. I literally tortured myself for years not realizing that I was lying to myself every time I had a drink and I had plenty.

I cannot change the past. It?s done and over with. I can only create the now.

I know now what being sober feels like and it?s awesome people. I feel that I have so much power and control of my life. I know it in my gut that only good things will happen from here on out. I go to bed every night and wake up every morning feeling like a winner. ODAT

Thank you all for listening. Turns out this site, My way out, is truly ?my way out?.
I love you all.:h:h:h

Btw, today is my 60 AF day. The best 60 days I have had in years (including the downs). For the last 60 days I had no regrets and I know that I will never regret these 60 days.
Below, a few documentaries I?ve watched:

Cherry Healey - Old Before My Time - Alcohol Documentary
UTTERLY ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL (documentary)
Alcohol Will Kill You - Full Documentary
Beating Addiction (Classic Documentary)
Intervention CANADA || S01 E12 - Tracy - Alcoholic
Intervention CANADA || S02 E13 - Allisha - Alcoholic, Dilaudid Addi
Alcohol: True Stories
The Roots of Addiction

[DreamThinkDo]

Newbies Nest

Avail, just keep on keeping on - that's the best we can do!

Poppy, well done on out-thinking the cravings and the pity-parties.

Lucky, what a lovely and inspiring post - thanks so much! And congrats on 60 days!

[Icanwithoutacan]

Newbies Nest

Thanks DTD and pavati ! Luckyflower, your post really encouraged me today as I start over. I needed to hear how good it can be again...thank you

[little beagle]

Newbies Nest

I can So glad to see you.
We just got back from Doggie Emergency Room. Dollie (my Avatar) got something in the kids room and overdosed. Most likely Some form of Opiates. So now I'm not waiting any longer. A big confrontation tonight it looks like.
I know one thing from everyone here, drinking would only make this problem so much worse, I was talking to my hubby about me making it to one year. I will do this by the way.
He ask me "oh are you going to start drinking again after that?" my answer, why? I am so much happier Now. I have no reason to drink and probably 1000 reasons not to drink.
Thanks Guys, I just need to share this.

[little beagle]

Newbies Nest

Why should we have to explain why we don't drink? I don't explain why I don't eat the rat poison I keep under my kitchen sink. (And no that isn't what Dolly got into. That is no accessible.) Poison is poison and I choose not to consume it.