Being attacked!

[overittoday]

Hi everyone,
I have been AF for 22 days now which i am really pround of. Today i felt the first significant sign of the demon at work. All day i have been in my head fighting this thing. It keeps trying to pull me back to my old ways bastard! :upset:

I have had the ups and downs for the the last 22 days but nothing like this. I won't drink that i can say but its really exhausting the hell out of me. Can anyone who has been through these days advise on how best to cope. I have learnt that recovery is long road and i can take the good with the bad but i just hope there is an even balance of good days and bad days.

Just to let you know i was drinking a bottle of red a night and then alot more on the weekends. My last 3 month break from AL was 6 years ago.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.:l

[allswell]

Being attacked!

I take 2000 mg of L-Glutamine if a craving gets really bad. Otherwise I may have a glass of water with fresh squeezed lemon and lime, get on the treadmill if it's the evening or weekend, or get down and do 20 push ups. Anything to get out of the moment.

It's been 7 weeks AF for me and I would say although the cravings come and go they are certainly less intense than at the three week mark. Stay strong, it's get's better and easier.

[Hippy Chick]

Being attacked!

Hi overittoday. I can echo Allswell's advice as distraction seems to be a good tool to rely on. I am nearly seven weeks also and it does get better. I had a huge test at about three or four weeks. To me it felt like my booze brain was saying " this is the last of the physical cravings so I will just give it one more try and see if you keep your resolve.If not I will give up trying". I didnt give in and my booze brain stopped craving so much.
From what I can gather from the people who started around the same time as I did, alot of them folded at about a month. It seems to be a common thing to be able to get four weeks in then have a relapse. Not sure if it is just a co-incidence or what.
You sound strong so keep taking small steps and you will get there.
Good luck
Hippy

[Boss.man]

Being attacked!

If you can find it, try L-Theanine 200 mg every 4 hours or so. This helps lift some mood stuff. It is an ingredient in green tea, but you have to drink a lot of green tea to get 200mg.

[DAMO]

Being attacked!

Hi, I caved at day 45 and really regret it, it SOOO wasnt worth it, I would have a much better night if I resisted.
I am back at Day 2 and finding it tougher this time around, although I am going to get back on my sober horse.
I urge you to take the above advice and stay strong. Do whatever it takes, I am sure the cravings will go. 22 days are brilliant, keep it going, read the toolbox thread.
Rooting for you here in Ireland. A lot here are in the same boat as you and probably finding it difficult, but you CAN do it.

Best of Luck

[dancelot]

Being attacked!

Hi, Overittoday -

First, congratulations on 22 days!

I agree with all the above advice. There's also a saying "H.A.L.T." - it stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. These are often triggers, some small (hunger), though right before Christmas I had a major one (thankfully I got past it) which was Angry and Lonely.

If it's circumstances beyond one's control, the Serenity Prayer is good to meditate on (good advice even if one is not religious) - "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference" - it really covers a lot!

Always remember cravings will pass (and sometimes they may be those day long ones), if we ride them out.

DAMO - Glad you are right back on the "sober horse". That's key to not let a slip become a full blown relapse. And you did 45 days, that is still yours. A lesson learned is worth a lot.

I wish you both the best!

[overittoday]

Being attacked!

Thanks everyone for the great advise! I really appreciate reading all the replies and it has given me strength. Damo stick with you have been there once before so you know the rewards first hand!

I don't know if this is too personal but i checked my calendar last night and realised that my PMT has started usually 1 week before hand and i suffer quiet badly, yesterday was the beginning. In previous months my drinking doubles during this time because of sugar crazing and wanted to relax the madness in my head due to hormone activity. Sorry guys this one is for the ladies...does anyone else experience this? I am planning to ramp up the exercise and meditation to get me through this hell week.
Thanks again

[overittoday]

Being attacked!

Forgot to say well done on 7 weeks allswell and hippy chick that's awesome stories like yours really inspire me.

[dancelot]

Being attacked!

overittoday;810501 wrote: Thanks everyone for the great advise! I really appreciate reading all the replies and it has given me strength. Damo stick with you have been there once before so you know the rewards first hand!

I don't know if this is too personal but i checked my calendar last night and realised that my PMT has started usually 1 week before hand and i suffer quiet badly, yesterday was the beginning. In previous months my drinking doubles during this time because of sugar crazing and wanted to relax the madness in my head due to hormone activity. Sorry guys this one is for the ladies...does anyone else experience this? I am planning to ramp up the exercise and meditation to get me through this hell week.
Thanks again

Good that you're aware of that. Knowing any trigger or reason, physical or otherwise, helps you know to have a plan and tools in place. Mark that calender! Maybe try L-Glutamine if you haven't - it cuts sugar and refined carb cravings (as well as AL cravings). Sugar makes PMS symptoms worse, even while PMS makes us sometimes crave carbs. Good idea on the exercise.

[JimBeam911]

Being attacked!

I have been where you are at. At around the 25 day point for me, severe cravings surfaced out of nowhere. I remember feeling really bored and convinced that I would never feel pleasure again unless I brought alcohol back into my life.

However, I also noticed that in each case I woke up the next day with no regrets over having not consumed alcohol. In fact, I felt relieved. This illustrates the short-term aspect of our addicted thinking. Your previous habit will do ABSOLUTELY everything to convince your brain that it would be in your immediate best interest to take a drink. My advice; focus intently on how you feel the next day after having NOT taken a drink. This has really helped me.

Other than that, I don't know what to advise. I am now 37 days AF, and at this point there are strings of 3 or 4 days where I have no cravings, followed by days (like last night) where I experience rather intense cravings out of the blue. I suspect this is just an annoying remnant of our destructive habit that will ease with time.

Congratulations on 22 days, and keep it up!

[Hippy Chick]

Being attacked!

Hi Overit. Yes the week before I am due I get very stressed and I would drink alot more than normal. I think you have a good plan to increase the exercise as that is brilliant for PMT.
Not fair is it? Having to deal with the beast and PMT too....
Good luck
HC
(PS Although these questions are of a personal nature I think it is important we ask each other as it might help someone else. So sorry guys but we have to ask...)

[Guest]

Being attacked!

I am Male but I will add my two cents as even though I am a guy, I too have to live with that week of hell! My wife gets PMS soo bad that she is looking into getting an IUD (not sure if everyone knows what that is). It may help you guys reduce the PMS thus reduce the need for AL?

[Panno]

Being attacked!

I don't know if this is too personal but i checked my calendar last night and realised that my PMT has started usually 1 week before hand and i suffer quiet badly, yesterday was the beginning. In previous months my drinking doubles during this time because of sugar crazing and wanted to relax the madness in my head due to hormone activity. Sorry guys this one is for the ladies...does anyone else experience this? I am planning to ramp up the exercise and meditation to get me through this hell week.
Thanks again
Hi O think you may have given me the answer I was looking for - I had a bottle of wine last night and not sure why as I was feeling good after being 8 days AF and I was catching up with a huge back log of work that I had pushed to one side!! One thing I have just realised after reading your post I am hormonal this week!!! Off to the gym later and going for a swim. Good luck O :l

[gyco]

Being attacked!

hi overit,many ways to battle it,your at a great place rt now,if it gets really bad ,go down to your nearest hospital,im not being a smart a s s ,but ask for the sike ward,or just go to a main floor of the hospital,youll find many of the people tht are sitting or walking around are the sick ones,from Al or drugs,many dont like to,go to an AA meeting,the storie are mostly the same.SAD. the smartest being on the planet,but doesnt have enuff comin sense when to say NO,you said it.its long journey,sobriety,thro all this sarcasm,i do wish you well,gyco ps ive been doing this for a long time,and like you i can only do it a day at a time

[overittoday]

Being attacked!

Hi everyone,
Yes HC i agree its totally not fair having to battle both! but at least i know what it is that is causing me the discomfort then i can deal with it better.
Hoping - i have tried everything under the sun to help me with my PMS including a IUD or something similar unf. it didnt work for me but i know my drinking made it alot worse.
Panno glad you recognised it too - i have done a stack of research on PMS and it comes down to hormone imbalance. The sugar crazings for me are unbearable but that is what makes the PMS worse so try and keep away from sugar which obviously includes AL.
Thanks everyone for the great support!! 24 days AF today i feel positive and will make it through.
x