A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

[Jolie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Welcome to aussie nurse! Wonderful support here - no judgement so read and post to your hearts' desire! My daughter is in her last semester of nursing school - I admire you wonderful people who choose that profession!

Happy Aussie day to both you and Mazzie! Great job on your success Maz!

Hi to everyone else and hope you have a great Tuesday!

[aussie nurse]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Thank you all for the warm welcome. Day 2 AF for me. Still feel a little seedy. I could bloody kick myself I had 4 months AF and then went on holidays at Xmas and quickly progressed back to 1-2 bottles of wine a night. I'm deciding whether to go on antabuse or go it alone, well I will go and get some counselling and address my underlying depression, perhaps some anti depressant med, as I drink to just get rid of that depression and feel "happy" but it always bites me on the bum and makes everything worse. Jolie, good luck to your daughter - we need nurses! I'm a detox nurse (what a joke, huh) so I know what I should do but doesn't necessarily mean I do it.
Hope you all have a fantastic day today!

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi Everybody

Just a quick check in. I'm doing good and still af. Just a few days to go to 1 month!! So pleased but now am finding other things in my life which need attention esp diet/sugar intake.

Jolie, have just been reading in Fluff's Journal located now in My Story, on page 3 there is a post by Redthread 12 with links about L-Glut. Lots of info.

All the best everyone. Lots of af days ahead - yeah

[Chillgirl]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Mazzie
Im the same as you on the count down to my 1st month AF, would never have believe i could do it.....!

Aussie you did 4 months! Thats fantastic...get back on track.

[Kimberley]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hey all - just a quick check in as I am busy at the mo - flatmate's birthday and god knows why I got chosen to wrap stuff- I can't wrap to save my life!

I am feeling really good just reading that Chill and Mazzie coming up to a month AF - Fluff you must be close as well.

A very warm welcome to Aussie - not like you didn't have one already! - great to have you joining us

Will catch up with you all soon.
K

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Morning all, all set for a great Thursday?

Chill, how good is it? Much congrats to you. The 2nd and 3rd weeks were the worst so far for me but this week I've hardly even thought about al at all. Hope that continues - makes it much easier. I am really determined never ever to go back to the way I was living (or not living). Just found a couple of empties shoved in the back of the cupboard from who knows when. Nope, definitely do not want to go there again.

Determination so good on week 2. Just keep going and never ever give up. It is so worth it and so are we!

And Aussie, you did 4 months - wow that's so good - I want to get there. Best part is you know you can just need to do it again!

Off to work now. At least I am going in clear headed and haven't got to drag myself there looking like I've been drinking all night!!!

[Determination]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Congrats to Chill and Mazzie! That is just terrific - close to 1 month AF.

I had a bad couple of days....I know that my biggest trigger is stress from work and it is just too tempting to have some wine so I won't feel anything. Any tips for working on an alternative for handling stress???

[jintymcginty]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

I enjoyed reading your stories, this is a great site, my plan is to cut down this year and wean myself off gradually. I was drinking half a bottle of vodka at night plus half a bottle of wine, this week I have not drank vodka at all, just wine but probably just less than a bottle and a half, is this still cutting down I cant really work it out unit wise, maybe someone else can. After this week I hopefully can reduce to one bottle of wine at night, and cut down that way, its not east but for the first time I seem determined.

[Chillgirl]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Determination I wish there was a magic wand for when you need to escape, all I can suggest is a bit of pampering instead of drinking. Have a nice long bath when you get home from a stressful day, put on some relaxing music. Make something nice to eat and keep in mind that if you drink it will be even harder the next day to cope with the stress. When your not hungover the stress never seems quite so bad....

That agitated feeling you get when its the usual time for the 1st drink does pass and its so so worth it to get some AF time under your belt. I would never have dreamed I could get this far, if I can do it, anyone can!! come on line, do anything to get over the worst hour.

I wish you lots of strength...

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi and welcome Jinty

Any cutting down has got to be good. Sounds like you have a plan and just need to stick with it. Stay around - good place here.

Deter, I have had a really good easy few days but this morning already I'm thinking that a bottle (not even thinking a glass!!!) but a bottle will really be needed by the time I finish work today. Not looking forward to work at all and just don't want to go and al is quick to come up with a 'solution'. To be thinking about al so early in the day and finding myself planning how and when to get some has shaken me a bit for some reason! Usually in the mornings I am just so grateful that I am hangover free and sober and have not had any al. But other than sticking with my original plan which is to not buy any in the first place I think I'll just be toughing it out today.

Chill has some good ideas and I think we should have a real plan in place about what we are going to actually do at the time for stress busters instead of reaching for the bottle which will never be a good option ever!

Hewy Kim, are you done messin with your hair. Is it purple and do you like?

Hey Cuckoo and Com 1 are you still around. I miss your posts.

Anyway all the best everyone. Must go - it defnitely won't help anything if I'm late today!!!

[Tobbie1]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi Redhibiscus

I am new to this site and have read some of the posts and they are all great! Yours was especially interesting to me. I too am trying to stop drinking and am working hard everyday to be AF. I have read lots about proper nutrition and supplements helping us to be AF. Can you tell me what kinds of vitamins and supplements you take daily to help you? I would be interested in trying anything! Thanks, Redhibiscus!

No booze in the house.
Be aware of my hungry, angry, lonely, and tired times. They are when I relapse.
Get through the witching hours of 4 - 7 p.m. with a plan: food, support, waiting it out.
Daily exercise.
Healthy diet, lots of veggies and fruit. Less sugar and starch.
Taking the supplements and vitamins that worked for me in the past.
Visiting this site daily, giving and recieving support.

Whew, kind of overwhelming, but alot of this I have done successfully in the past for a period of time. Now I have to commit to longer than 30 days, yet ODAT. It starts for me with a committment each day.[/QUOTE]

[Kimberley]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Summing-up

Hi all,

Firstly sorry I haven't been on for a few days - absolute rollercoaster of a week at work involving untold overtime and other issues which I won't go into now. I think I am going to spend this weekend doing absolutely zero as I need a break. Maybe have a sit in the back garden for a bit and read - yes the weather is finally getting warmer and sunnier in the UK!

Determination, I also need to learn alternative coping strageies. I have been an alcoholic all my adult life, so I never learnt any other way of handling stress. I usually phone my mum as a temporary measure, but I have asked my GP to refer me to somewhere that I can learn these methods. People that have been through 6-month rehab usually know how to cope better I have found, but I hold down a full-time job so I need some kind of evening programme. Will let you know if I find anything else that helps. Stress is my biggest trigger so I appreciate how you feel.

Chillgirl is right - being kind to yourself is probably the mest method. But I find it incredibly hard to be nice to myself and I have to try to get over that. Funny cos I'm lovely to everyone else, just not to myself. Go figure.

Welcome JintyMcGinty, you are doing really well by tapering down. I hope you will stay with us!

Yes Mazzie, my hair is looking awesome - so that's something to be thankful for I may post a photo! Yes Com and Cuckoo are you still about? Miss you! And Winelover! And I know you have your own thread Fluff, but drop back in here once in a while!

Hi Tobbie and a massive welcome- you have a great plan and I'm sure you'll stick with it especially if you've done some of it before. Keep us all posted.

This post is too long to say hi to everyone on the thread, but Jolie, Jessie and all the rest of you - I am thinking about you too.

Well, as we are coming to the end of the month there have been causes for celebration and also setbacks to help us learn. I have had some struggles of late, but I will always come back here.

Overall a lot of the month has been good and I think a lot of us have had more AF days than AL days - we just have to keep trying to adjust the ratio. It's not easy and I think each and every one of us deserves a big pat on the back for trying to make it better.

I really appreciate everyone who has popped in and been supportive of this thread. I would personally like to keep it going the whole year so that we can all stick together. And I hope in December 2010 when we read back, we will all realise we have come a long way.

Lastly but certainly not leastly, I would like to send a massive :groupluv: to the entire lot of us on this thread and a massive :disco: celebration especially to CHILLGIRL and MAZZIE. You have both done 30 days and you have kept the mometnum of this thread going when I haven't been here. Thanks guys - you should truly be proud. Keep it up!

'Speak' to you all soon!
Much love,
K :h

[noons100]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi everybody

I really want to be done with alcohol. I have great plans but fail much as I do not stick to those plans. So, what I am going to do is share my weaknesses. I tend to keep to myself and stuff my problems, needs, etc. I know that is a big part of my leaning to alcohol for comfort. It is no comfort in the long run and I am very aware of that. The worse part is that I have no desire to smoke cigarettes until I drink. I can't hack cig. smoke unless I have alcohol. Perseverance is required so I am going to pay close attention to my trigger point and find an alternate route. One is being tired. I have a habit of driving home from work and stopping by the beer store before reaching my home. So, I am going to take a new route from work. I hear changing small things helps your mind think in new patterns. I am also starting a hobby, painting. Instead of being a vegetable full of booze and television. It is a boring, unproductive and sad life. I have been clean before for over ten years. So, I know I can accomplish this. Glad to be here to get support. Good luck to all.

[Kimberley]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

H Noons- a massive welcome. You ave been very honest. I hope you stick with us - that's what it's all about X

[Mazzie]

A new start for 2010 - who's in and what's your plan?

Hi All

Well, thank you for your kind words but I have to fess up. Friday night after having the worst day at work which I thought it would be, hub actually went into town and got me some wine and yes I did have some. Actually though, I only had the one glass which surprised me greatly and I really didn't even enjoy that. I had no inclination to finish off the bottle on Saturday (normally it would have been gone by lunch time) and really felt like water instead!!! Hows that!!

I feel like I have had a very lucky escape and am strengthening my resolve. I don't want to tempt fate again. I really really enjoy being af although as I am no longer numbed out I think I am being a bit more outspoken because I realise hey I am a person too and I am getting some self esteem back which I had none of before because of the shame of al.

Its an intresting journey and I am so glad I have all of you to share it with.

Thank you. All the best everybody.