Day One

[jennyneric]

Day One

Choochie I uploaded a pic of me and my babies, aren't they beautiful? They are the reason I am on this journey!

[Sharky]

Day One

Nice job Jenny!
Wonderful story.. Nice to have these sober meaningful Holiday memories. So many of my past holiday memories are very blurry. Not this year!
Keep up the good work everyone!

[Choochie]

Day One

Awww Jenny - oh, you gotta give up the booze - you're so lucky to have these beautiful kids - and you're still beautiful, so don't compromise that! Not preaching, just wishing you the very best.

Hi Sharky - glad to see you here today!!

[Sharky]

Day One

Major urges and almost caved. I gotta say this site prevented me from consuming alcohol tonight. I really find reading the posts by you all very motivating! Thank you all. Hope everyone is doing great!

[Choochie]

Day One

Sharky - I'm so glad you were able to make it another day! Sending you good vibes!

Hugs,
Choochie:l

[Sharky]

Day One

Thanks Choochie!
You are so kind. I enjoy reading your encouragement to everyone in all the threads. I think everyone feels your good vibes! Back at ya!!!:thanks:

[jennyneric]

Day One

I drank last night, so unhappy with myself! I got up this morning poured out the rest (which was most) of the bottle and I'm done! No modding just done. I am a non drinker I do not drink period. Hope everyone has an AF day and an AF thanksgiving! Bring on the December sober challenge! I'm ready!

[Choochie]

Day One

Jenny, we're with you sweetie, so don't despair. You just had to find out and now you're back on track. Sending you peace and strength. Just found this and loved it - isn't it pretty - it's an S for Superwoman, which is now what I officially dub you - you are going to beat AL!!

[Choochie]

Day One

To Make Everyone Laugh:

[jennyneric]

Day One

Thanks Coochie! I love the support! Love the joke! Taking the kids to get pics done today and baking tonight! Me and my diet Sunkist will be ready! Lots of pics and love and holiday spirit to go around! And the "S" is so pretty!

[jennyneric]

Day One

Well there is a signature on here that says "first you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you" and that is what happened to me. I drank Tuesday then Wednesday, then Thursday, then Friday and now well its Saturday and my head hurts and my energy is gone and im shakey and, once again it's time to start over, day one. . . .again. This will be my second day one, and I hope my last. I must accept that I can not have drink one period!

In reading these threads I have seen that alot of people have trouble with day 5 or 6, any thoughts as to why. . .Choochie you normally have insight into things like this. . .thoughts?

[Choochie]

Day One

Jen, I think there are people here who better understand the crazy chemistry of why people have a hard time at different stages. I just know that the first couple of weeks was super hard for me, then it got a little easier. I would say after about 45 days I had no more cravings and had moved away from needing sugar. Here are the things that I think were helpful for me at the beginning:

First, I wrote a really lengthy letter to myself, actually mailed it to myself (got the idea from here). It outlined in excruciating detail what alcohol did to me and why I decided I had to try to stop drinking. I kept that letter with me and pulled it out to read whenever I was somewhere that I felt vulnerable about caving into drinking again.

Next, I read virtually everything on this website and other websites like Digital Dharma (and Spiritual River) - recs from Sheri.

Then I started posting like crazy - asking questions - responding to others. I pay special attention to people like Sheri, Doggygirl, Chill, Dancelot, Greeneyes, Zen, Saff, Techie, KTAB, Mario, Hillside, Fennel -- I'm not remembering all of them, but there really are special people here - intelligent, kind, great common sense, caring, etc. Amazing, really.

Throughout all of it, I took L-Glutamine and drank tons of water with lemon. I tried to eat a lot of greens, protein in the form of beans, cheese, fish, nuts (I think any protein will do). I also ordered one month's worth of supplements (the starter pack with the abstinence meditation tapes).

Around 5 pm (my typical starting to drink time) I would either get on this site and read or chat until 7-8. I also would do Sudoku puzzles, stuff like that (MSNBC has free ones). And, important****I did some kind of exercise (outside) every day whenever possible - a walk or a jog.

That's what got me to this point. I think I've mentioned to you that I believe I've made the mental switch from deprivation to gratitude. I no longer feel I'm missing out on anything without alcohol. Everything after that really tough two week period has turned into positives for me. The quality of my sleep is probably the biggest bonus to me.

I have down times - not really depression, just a kind of fleeting boredom, but I can always think of things to do. I read voraciously - I love books about addiction and just reading in general.

So, that's what I've done. I think about the sweet picture you posted of you and your kids and know they would have a better life if you could give up alcohol. And, of course, so would you!! But you know all that - you're just fighting the beast, and the beast is tricky.

There are a lot of people here, though, with some good sober time - 1, 2, 3 years. So, we know it can be done. One last thing - I am keeping the idea of AA on the back burner as a safety net if I feel like I might drink again. I will attend if I think I need it beyond what I'm getting here at MYO.

Hope this helps in some way. Really pulling for you!!

Hugs,
Choochie:l:l:l

[jennyneric]

Day One

Thanks Choochie! Really good advice! I just have to A) not ever go to a bottle store again and B) know that I can not have the 1st drink cause I won't stop there. I asked my husband if he would think about not drinking for 2 or 3 days a week and he just looked at me. Then last Monday ( when he got so drunk ) he decided not to drink on his days off (quite backward from other people in my opinion) so he did not drink Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday this week, that is the most time he has not drank since he turned 21 (he's 35) and oddly he didn't seen to have any trouble that he spoke of anyway. Yesterday he did ask for a 6 pack but as I was going out the door he recanted and said "no no don't get one, I don't need it " that kind of sticktoitiveness (our word) is one of the qualities I envy in him. When he says no it really means no. My no, with anything, is kind of a maybe. I have to be really angry to say no! Anyway thanks for listening. As with you 5-9 is the worst for me! But I'm ready today. I have a million things to do, I will just "put off drinking" with other thiings until its to late to start.

So far today I have gone shopping, cleaned 1/2 the house, got out the Christmas stuff, cleaned and mowed the yard, made spaghitti (sp) and turkey and dumplings. Still gotta mop and put up the Christmas tree and the lights. Happy Holidays!

[madmans]

Day One

Hi jenny just keep busy, eat well and let your husband go buy his own drink that way you wont have to be tempted to buy your own. ODAT

[teddybllgame]

Day One

Hi guys/gals,
Newb here to this website but not to the idea of not drinking. I just wanted to say count your blessings jennyneric, that you're still together with your husband and use that as incentive, but remember to do it for yourself! I'm seperated, but trying my hardest to work my program and prove to my wife and kids that I mean it "this" time.
take care,
T