Sober October Challenge!

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

Thanks K9 and Dewdrop you both have won difficult battles. Off to pour large glass of Perrier in nice glass and eat some food. Still craving but will not cave in---

[mollyka]

Sober October Challenge!

Anon honey - just PROJECT!! Think how cross you will be tomorrow when you wake up. Think the hangover, think the self disgust, think the longings you will have resurrected. Think that 'ok the first 2 drinks will be lovely, then it's all downhill' .Think the last time I had a drink I was an arsehole (don't know if you were - I know I was!) Keep posting here till you can go to bed and my god you will be proud of yourself tomorrow!
Molly

[enja]

Sober October Challenge!

:yay: Thanks for starting this, Spin - I'm in!!! Good to see so many of the September crew already here and a warm :welcome: to any new folk - looking forward to taking this journey with you all.

Anon, sorry to hear you're having a tough night -hang in there, hon :l you're doing so well! How about taking a look through What I HATE, LOATH, and JUST CAN'T STAND about drinking (sorry, don't know how to make it a link)

Dewdrop, roud:

[mollyka]

Sober October Challenge!

Hello everyone else! Wanted to get that post off quick to you Anon!! Great to see you K9, is it that little dog you are taking home? He's lovely. Jeez, there are so many folks here, I cannot possibly at my age remember everyone!
Like Sept. I just know this thread is going to buzz. Just a word of warning to anyone who wasn't involved in the Sept. thread, we all take our sobriety very very seriously but if we feel like a little lighthearted banter - great!
Dewdrop - good on you, those are very dangerous situations and you did fantastically well - I sometimes worry that I haven't been TRULY tested I baby myself along very easily and don't find myself in vulnerable positions like Hips was saying about being alone - I'm never alone but if I was I definitely would be afraid of the 'who would know' syndrome.
Anyway folks we are up and running, hang tough Anon and anyone else having a weak moment - hope you are ok today Peace? See you all tomorrow
Molly

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

:thanks:Molly, Enja and everyone else sending helpful messages. On my own here with the booze calling me but I am managing to shut the alcohol voice up.Will keep close to this thread

[JackieClaire]

Sober October Challenge!

Oh no you don't,anon,

Press your fast forward button.There's something in the toolbox call urge surfing. I'll go find the tool box link. Hang in there.

Found it.

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...x-7-27556.html

I think the urge surfing bit towards the end.

[enja]

Sober October Challenge!

Anon, I have to go soon too but I just had another thought. Have you ever read a site called "Rational Recovery"? I've found parts of it to be very helpful - especially regarding the quelling of AL voices - just click through the pages/bullet points. I'm going to try and put a link in for you - hope it works.... Rational Recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction, non AA, crank, meth
:h

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

Thanks JC Cannot find it in that link? Fast forward button pressed!

[JackieClaire]

Sober October Challenge!

I've just copied and pasted. YAY me. I'm not very good at it that's why I got excited.

'Urge surfing is an important and very helpful way to deal with cravings. Every urge, impulse, or craving has a natural progression. It starts at zero, and then suddenly we become aware that the wish, desire, craving, or impulse has arisen in our minds. It can continue to get stronger, once it has arisen. And, eventually, it will fade away (so long as we do not give in to it). This is ALWAYS true for any and every craving or impulse.

Sometimes we have the (very false) impression that cravings are SO strong and powerful, that they will never go away and we MUST give in to them. One way to deal with that is to make a conscious effort to step back (mentally) and observe the craving, as if from a slight distance. Ask yourself: what am I thinking, what are the words running through my mind? Where am I feeling this craving in my body? Observe how the sensations and thoughts become uncomfortable; observe what the messages are that you might be telling yourself; and observe how you will soon become distracted, and find that you are thinking about something else... because the craving has faded away.

Once you have done that several times, you will have a different perspective on cravings, and you will be much better able to resist them. And you can always use this method, any time you find yourself struggling, or getting into a mental argument about whether or not you should or could have a drink.'

Hope this helps.:l

[neart]

Sober October Challenge!

Hi guys! Just a quick check in as I promised myself I would read my book for a good while tonight. Spinning, thanks for setting this up. Hi to all the Sober September group and everyone else who has joined. I can't believe a full month has passed!

Anon, hang in there and think about tomorrow morning, waking up feeling fresh and able to get out of bed early to potter about or to stay in bed with a cup of tea reading - whatever it is you like doing, but can't do hungover!

Dewdrop - massive respect and i'm so happy for you how well last night went.

I was at a party on Wednesday night - it was a traditional Irish music session (brilliant). I was having an AF beer, and after a while I thought to myself "why am I pretending to drink?" So I poured it down the sink quietly and made myself a cup of tea (was in a friends house). I felt weird being sober at a party where I only knew one person, but I had a really wonderful night, once I went easy on myself and realised I didn't have to talk to everyone, I could be the quiet one for once! And most people weren't really drinking, and it was so obvious who was after a few hours. My friend was pretty drunk and it was weird, I couldn't talk to her at all, she wasn't making any sense. Sober living is definitely the way to go for me! I'm starting to build some confidence now I think, I'm stopping worrying about what other people say or think when I say that I don't drink.

I hope everyone has a lovely Friday evening - I have to say, I don't struggle with Friday's at all - I love spending them sober!

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

Read the rational recovery Fascinating !

[mollyka]

Sober October Challenge!

Good stuff Anon - nearly bedtime now:H - oh another one that I used to think was absolute rubbish - wash your teeth - it really really works, I think it's a magic fix - honest!
Molly

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

Hi Neart well done on enjoying Wednesday night with a cup of tea. Yes JC I can see how the urge surfing can work I am sure that is what I did when I gave up nicotine and I know that has gone for good. Will these alcohol cravings decrease over time? It is 8 30 and I think another half hour and I will be ok. Sorry to sound so needy.

[anon]

Sober October Challenge!

Hi Molly crossed post Off to clean my teeth. My Mum also Molly used to think clean teeth were the answer to everything!!

[neart]

Sober October Challenge!

JC I cross posted with you - congrats on cutting and pasting successfully! I still can't do links

Anon, I had a big, mad craving last Friday - the strongest I've had since I went AF. I really thought I would chuck the towel in on all this, but it was in a more remote "why should I have to be a non-drinker" than a grab-the-bottle feeling. It felt dangerous though. You're not being/sounding needy at all - here is the place to talk about what's going on! Some people find going to bed with a book or a film works (When Harry Met Sally calms me down every time ) Or you could try writing down more about how you feel so that you can get it out of your system? Have you any ideas what would be something nice for you to do?

You are doing great, just keep surfing, and it will pass xx