String a few AF pearls together with me!

[ChickenNumber3]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

1 pearl!

So much going through my brain right now that it almost hurts!

Will try for another pearl tomorrow..maybe more if I'm brave and strong...

I am the only one diving,but for now I shall do so. Anyone who wants to join is welcome...I am just doing the best I can right now...one step forward...etc etc

[ChickenNumber3]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Going to start diving again!

I'm returning to my old diving grounds to gather a few pearls.

I am proud of myself for getting through last night. We had some good friends over who like to come over for 'a drink'..we don't see them often, but when we do it is usually a big night.

I drank about 4 bourbon & cokes..I say about because one of them got knocked over by someone during the evening and I had only had a few sips of it..so.....?

Anyway, between the alcoholic drinks I had lemon & soda water. Then after the fourth one I drank the lemon & soda water for the rest of the evening. At one point I was tipsy..but today I have a clear head, no hangover and not tired..despite the late night.

Today I will be AF...but the first two days are never the struggle...so I shall see how I go getting some pearls strung together .

I am wondering if AK is hanging about? Hi AK

Chook

[jodiex]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Hi Chicken

I'm on day 3 here so ill " string " along with you, Ireland has joined too.

Carol

[Ringing Cedars]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Hi Chick3....good to see you! I'll dive for pearls with you. I've been practicing in the pool for awhile now. Might as well get some bonus pearls for the effort.

[Ringing Cedars]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Hi Jodie. :goodjob: on day 3!!

[ChickenNumber3]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Hello Divers!

Well how are the pearl collections going? Mine is still pretty small..but I know I need to get more happening. Nice to see others here, I am somewhat sporadic when I come online,but I do enjoy checking in and catching up. It's good to know there are others out there struggling with this thing!

What troubles me most about being an alcoholic is that not only am I killing myself slowly, but that I make myself so vulnerable to others. If they know your 'secret' they use it against you on a day to day basis, and you know they could use it on bigger stuff!

Maybe I sound paranoid, maybe I am...but if for no other reason, I need to stop this addiction.
So here I go diving some more.......
Hi Ringing and Jodie..well met!!!
Chook

[Ringing Cedars]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Hey Chook...
19 pearls today....I'm gonna be rich I tell you! Actually I tried to sell a string of pearls Monday and they said no one wants them. ( Oh well, they are pretty. )
I think it's a crime to use someone's weakness against them in an effort to boost their own self esteem. Which is what it likely amounts to. Do it for you girl! Catch your breath and keep diving!

[NoraC]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Chook - so good to see you!!!! How are you??

RC - Well done! You've got quite a strand there now.

[mollyka]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

I know exactly what you mean Chicks, it is a vulnerability when we are drinking - the self esteem being sober is mindblowing - I feel nearly arrogant in my self confidence, I feel noone can touch me, and I no longer have to go thro lists in my head as to whether I have covered my tracks (hiding the bottles, dumping the empties, no smell on breath, no half drunk glasses left lying around etc etc) Its worth it!!
Molly

[Bandit]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Totally agree with you there Chicken & Mollyka

This has happened to me so many times, especially with work. My next door neighbour also is quite aware of my 'liitle problem' and in nearly every conversation I have with her she brings some ref to AL into the conversation in an apparently innocent but snide way (well seems snide to me, I could just be paranoid). Yet she is on treatment for giving up smoking and the whole neighbourhood prob thinks shes a hero. No disrepect to anyone trying to give up smoking out there but the difference in the way people with AL problems are treated is def way more negative in my experience.

Slowly gathering up my pearls again

[mollyka]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Why is that Bandy - I never understand the way the two addictions are treated differently
Molly

[Bandit]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

I guess besides the direct health damage that both cause, its all the crazy and potentially very dangerous stuff you can do while your drunk that is the issue and all the embarrassment and upset that can go with it, which isn't an issue with smoking tobacco and I can understand that but it does pee me off the level of taboo that goes with having a drink problem

I walk past tons of chemists every day and the windows are full of ads and promotions for giving up smoking, my local resource centre runs a free training programme sponsored by the HSE for people giving up smoking but if i walked in and said i had a drink problem that would be a diff story

Please no-one get me wrong, i know its really hard to give up smoking and i had to do it myself. Sorry to hi-jack this thread ..will get off soap box now

[Ringing Cedars]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

NoraC;932253 wrote: Chook - so good to see you!!!! How are you??

RC - Well done! You've got quite a strand there now.

Nora ~ Thanks! How are you doing?

Hey Molly and Bandit!

[AKwineo]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

Record Breaking Diving! I am up to my personal best. Today is day 20 sober! I feel great! I will go until Sat. then my BFF is flying in, so I am giving my self one day. After BFF leaves I go on vacation, and have every full intention of drinking MODERATELY!!! When I get home, I will go back to diving. I really want to get 30 pearls, and know now, that I CAN do it.

[ChickenNumber3]

String a few AF pearls together with me!

I have a few pearls at last!

Hello again!

I've gathered 10 pearls..as of this evening! The best I've done in a long time. Feeling cautious, as today and yesterday I experienced cravings,not bad,but makes me nervous!

Hubby and I had a talk after my last big bout of drinking and we both came to the conclusion that I can't moderate, that I just have to stop!!!! He has been pretty supportive, but I think he finds it a little hard to believe that anyone 'struggles' to stop or lets it control them. He stops or drinks as he pleases!!!!!

But anyway, its been good in some ways having his 'support', but at the same time I do resent the 'eyes' watching me. NOt that I've planned to go all covert and drink, but I don't like feeling like a naughty child!

Anyways, I agree with the whole double-standards in regards to different 'addictions'! I think I can say that I even subconsciously classify myself as 'worse' than a smoker!!!!

AK..big congrats on the 20 days AF and how are you going now?
Ringing and Nora and Molly ...so good to 'see' you all
I finally feel brave enough to come back to the forums and post...so I will see you all on the other side of day 10 af!!!

Chook