HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

[BurrCO]

I'm starting to think about drinking again. I've been on AB for 14 days now and my b-day is on St Pattys day (i know, how lucky am I?). I've been good about not testing it but I have started having thoughts about stopping and drinking on my b-day. I know it's a bad thing and I've tried some different things to get my mind off of it and force myself to take the AB but I've already skipped one dose and thinking about skipping another. Does anyone have any tips I might have missed on here already that they think could help? Forcing myself to take the AB isn't working by itself as I have already skipped 1 dose and have had thoughts about tonights. I really don't want to do this but like drinking always has it seems like a good thing to do. It's one of the ways I think that I'm trying to change but I've only just begun and it's starting to get really difficult.

It's hard because for the last 3-4 years I've had WAY too much all day long, not just at night. I'd drink first thing when I woke up, then I would even drink while driving to where ever it was I was going that day(be it job, school, friends, etc). Then I'd have something with me to drink either before I got out of my car or while I was doing w/e activity it may be. Then when I would get home I would sit in front of the tv and drink until I was either out of the AL or passed out on my couch. I never really gave thought about how bad it was until just not too long ago and I always had a reason to drink. Since my b-day is on St. Pattys Day I already have 2 great reasons to give in and convince myself to not feel guilty. Any ideas on what I can do to make it so I can just get through these next 3 weeks. Then I feel it will get SO much easier.
:thanks::new:

[NoraC]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Hi Burr...
I have been reading the posts under Toolbox to keep me motivated.
Do you take the AB at night? Is it possible to take it first thing in the morning before you have a chance to think about it? I know that my resolve is always better in the morning than it is later in the day. Much easier to skip the Topamax/Supplements later in the day. Have you tried L-Glutamine? Can you take that with the AB? I know that the L-Gluatmine does help me.
I'm new at this too so I'm sorry that I don't have any great ideas. But, this would a wonderful birthday present to give yourself. A really Happy Birthday that you could be proud of.

[Marshy]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Hi BurrCO,

I agree with everything NoraC said - read the tool box for some good ideas about how to distract yourself, find some healthy substitutions (exercise maybe?), take the AB first thing in the morning, and try to think of not drinking as a positive thing not something that you are being deprived of. There's a piece in the tool box about this idea - being in "gratitude mode" rather than "deprivation mode".

Well done on the 14 days!

[allswell]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

You need to find something to distract yourself from the alcohol thoughts. Anything you find enjoyable that does not involve drinking is a start. Are there people you know who don't drink you can spend time with on your birthday? Maybe a few days out of town, away from the triggers might help.

[hillsidetime]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Hey BurrCO, hang in there, you can do it. If you pop over to general disucssions, and go to page two, check out the thread called Urge Surfing. In there are some cool concepts, I learned from MYO members, that are helping me.
Hill

[gyco]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

hi C O. its called addiction,look the word up,that is one way ,you mt help yur self,RESEARCH,14 days is great,read your thread and it mt make you realize you have a problem,there are many solutions to this,delema,which it is,even in long term sobriety,i had that for the 1st 16 years of my life,or did I,reseach is the answer,there are many reasons to stay sober,there is only one, that u dont want to,is it worth the bother,i do wish you well,gyco

[Hippy Chick]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Hi BurrCo.

I find writing two lists helps. One list for all the good things drinking brings and one list for all the bad things it brings. I can guarantee that the list of bad things drinking brings will be miles longer than the good reasons.
It is such a hard thing to give up something you have been doing for so long but so worth it.
Keep visiting us even if you have to pop out of your party to check this site. It reminds you of your decision to stay sober and gives you strength.

Take care and go easy on yourself.

Hippy Chick

[BurrCO]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Thanks for the responses. I've been reading the Toolbox for a few days now and there are some great ideas, but nothing has been really powerful for me yet. I do like the idea of switching to taking the AB in the morning. It hasn't been making me drowsy at all so that would probably help my cause. I also tried the 2 lists of good and bad and a couple other ideas similar to that but I haven't had much results from those. I think being here with you guys will help me out. I just have to make it past these next 3 weeks which will be difficult.

[mario]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Maybe this will help burrCO

101 Things to Keep You Clean & Sober
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don?t underestimate your disease. Every single person does at first.

2. Take care of yourself spiritually. Be mindful of your connection to your higher power today.

3. Ignore the dismal relapse rates. You are creating your own success.

4. Make a zero tolerance policy with yourself concerning relapse. Don?t even allow your mind to go there.

5. Avoid fundamentalism, even in recovery. Rigid thinking and dogma can undermine your sobriety.

6. You are creating a life of recovery and you are responsible for ALL OF IT. Yes, others can help you. Their ?help? is mere advice. It is up to you to recover.

7. Don?t confuse enthusiasm for action. Figure out what you need to do to stay sober and then do it.

8. Listen to what the relapsing addicts keep preaching. Then do the opposite.

9. Take care of your social network. Reach out to others in a meaningful way.

10. Figure out a way to help other addicts or alcoholics.

11. If you attend 12 step meetings, find one to start chairing. Consider H&I meetings (taking meetings into jails and treatment centers).

12. Use mindfulness and a heightened awareness to overcome ego. Use meditation to overcome self.

13. Practice forgiveness. Forgive all your past transgressors. Forgive yourself. You must do this to get long term relief from resentment.

14. Be aware of diminishing returns, and spread out your recovery efforts (i.e., don?t focus on just ?spiritual? growth).

15. Rearrange all the furniture in your house. Anything to get through the night sometimes.

16. Clean your house from top to bottom. Same as above.

17. Go for a long walk.

18. Buy a pet and care for it.

19. Eat a gourmet meal.

20. Cook a gourmet meal.

21. Practice the arts. Paint, draw, sculpt, sing, dance. Etc.

22. See a therapist.

23. Work on a puzzle.

24. Connect with someone else who is hurting.

25. Start a project that is bigger than yourself.

26. Revisit an old hobby.

27. Teach someone something. (Anything!)

28. Learn something new each day. (Anything!)

29. Write in a daily journal.

30. Stretch yourself spiritually by suspending disbelief for a day.

31. Write a letter to your addiction where you say farewell to it.

32. Join a recovery forum online.

33. Start a free blog over at blogger.com and tell the world about your progress in recovery. Figure out your own tips on staying sober.

34. Reconnect with your family and spend time with them.

35. Go back to school.

36. Learn a new skill or trade.

37. Sponsor a newcomer.

38. Make a commitment to chair a meeting each week.

39. Celebrate the recovery of a friend.

40. Spend time with your family.

41. Email the spiritual river guy and tell him your problems.

42. Celebrate your clean time with a cake.

43. Write out a gratitude list.

44. Read through your old journal entries and see how much you?ve changed.

45. Try a new form of meditation (or make up your own?there is no ?wrong? here). Some of the best tips to stay sober come from within.

46. Write out a to-do list and cross each thing off as you accomplish it.

47. Always have a big goal in the back of your mind that is challenging for you, but would make your day if you met it.

48. Practice balance. Challenge your daily habits.

49. Practice humility. Always be in ?learning mode.?

50. Forgive yourself and move on with your life.

51. Sit down and write 2 goals out for yourself: one big one and one little one. Keep the paper in your pocket.

52. Inspire someone else to grow. Challenge them to be a better person in some way. Encourage them through your own success.

53. Learn to relax. Find your quiet place of rejuvenation and return to it often.

54. Elevate your consciousness. Watch your own mind and see how it responds to events. Repeat often. Learn.

55. Find the beauty in life. Appreciate all of it. Be grateful for beauty itself.

56. Ask yourself with each decision: ?Is this the healthiest choice for me right now??

57. Quit smoking cigarettes already.

58. Be grateful for existence.

59. If you go to the same AA meetings all the time, switch it up and go to a completely new meeting.

60. Write a poem about how you are overcoming addiction.

61. Turn off your television and read a book. Better: read recovery literature. Best: write your own recovery literature.

62. Use overwhelming force to conquer a goal.

63. Use the Sedona method to release emotions that are holding you back.

64. Write your bucket list. Then, act.

65. Figure out your life purpose.

66. Write out a fourth step and share it with your sponsor.

67. Take care of yourself physically. Exercise. Take a walk. No excuses.

68. Keep your priorities straight. Physical abstinence is number one. Simple and effective.

69. Keep a high price on your serenity. Don?t sacrifice it for just anyone and their whims.

70. Use a sponsor for stage 2 recovery. Let them guide you through holistic living.

71. Take care of yourself mentally. Go back to school. Get that degree.

72. Find your own path. It is your responsibility to do so.

73. Practice humility and stay teachable. Always be learning.

74. Go to long term treatment and be done with it. Best decision I ever made.

75. Don?t pin your hopes on a short stay in rehab. It takes more than that.

76. Call your sponsor.

77. Get a sponsor.

78. Use a zero tolerance policy when it comes to self-pity. Never allow it for yourself ever again. Ever. It is poison.

79. Read recovery literature.

80. Join a recovery forum.

81. Use outpatient treatment if that works for you. Take it as seriously as possible and connect with the others in your group.

82. Meditate.

83. Pray.

84. Go out for coffee with a friend in recovery.

85. Find your passion.

86. Work out.

87. Join a church.

88. Volunteer.

89. Take care of yourself emotionally. Don?t get knocked too far off your square.

90. Stay vigilant against potential relapse. The disease can find many routes (gambling, prescription drugs, sex, etc.).

91. Go to a meeting.

92. Don?t pin your hopes on long term treatment. It takes a lifetime of learning for alcoholics and recovering drug addicts to recover.

93. Use long term strategic thinking. Care for yourself, network with others, and pursue conscious growth.

94. Don?t ask ?why me?? Instead, ask ?how can I create the life I really want now??

95. Call a friend in recovery.

96. Sit down and write out a gratitude list.

97. Don?t live in fear of relapse. I wasted 5 years on this. Embrace the creative life and know you are strong in recovery.

98. Get extreme. Figure out what you need to do to stay sober?then double it and add ten. That?s how hard you have to push yourself.

99. Raise the bar. Stop settling. Use your talents as a gift to the world and make a difference in some way.

100. Live consciously. Set deliberate goals and go after them with overwhelming force.

101. Embrace the creative life in recovery and live holistically.

SOURCE: Spiritual River | Addiction Help

[KateH1]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Lots of great ideas here. I also think you should ask yourself why you still see alcohol as a reward and something that will make a celebration better. Clearly, neither of these are true, or you would not be here! In fact, none of us would be here if that was the truth!

Rember what we "think about" we become, thoughts create action. So change your thinking and really prepare to stay AF. You have 3 weeks to make yourself strong and make arrangements to enjoy a great AF B-Day. But, if you continue to entertain drinking thoughts, you will surely drink!

Best Wishes!

Kate

[mollyka]

HELP PLEASE!!! IDEAS NEEDED!!

Reckon Mario covered most everything there! Well posted! my tuppence worth for your specific query bout birthday/Paddys day, it sounds like you don't have a problem with being AF in the days before that 'occasion'. I too found occasions a major danger so I decided to dissassociate the 'day' from alcohol...........I'm making this sound very complicated. What I mean is, I gave up alcohol two weeks before Christmas ( did have a slip up after but thats another story) on purpose, my reason was that I could say on future christmases that I 'managed last Christmas without alcohol' therefore I can manage this one......... I also gave up ciggies (albeit 31 years ago) two weeks before I got married with a similar thought process i.e. that if I could get through a wedding without nicotine I could get through anything don't know if that is any use or if it even makes sense??