My new life...

[stirly-girly]

My new life...

mauritiusdodo;1049287 wrote: Good morning all, got a lie in this morning - DS woke me at 6.45!!

Feel very positive today although I had a rubbish nights sleep, it is taking me ages to actually drop off without the assistance of AL and then I am tossing and turning and getting the sweats (sorry tmi) which is horrible, still, onward and upward, I know I have to get through all these negatives in order to get better!
Hey MauriDo. Not TMI - par for the course. We've all been through exactly the same thing. Crappy sleep and night sweats. Your body has to recover from the AL and the part of the brain that regulates your sleep has to be rewired. The night sweats are one of the ways your body is trying to get rid of AL. Stick with it. It gets better but could take up to a month or longer before your sleep gets back to normal and the night sweats should level off at some point. Maybe something like an herbal tea or melatonin would help a bit with the sleep issue.
mauritiusdodo;1049517 wrote: Day four today and keeping AF so far so good although I have had mixed feelings about AL this afternoon - cravings? Keep thinking how it would be ok just to have a couple although I know in my heart of hearts I can't/won't Off to make dinner now and have a V8 veggie juice to take my mind off it then having a soak in the bath and going to draw some mehndi designs for my homework from the class - I loved it and can't wait for next week - our homework is to find inspiration for designs from around our homes

Congrats on Day 4. It's usual to have those thoughts in the first few days. We get two or three days AF and then think that one or two won't hurt. But the thing is that it takes about 3 days for AL to get completely out of your system so "one or two" would set you right back at the beginning again. And the thing is - can you stop at one or two? Or will you do what I would do and continue to drink til you couldn't drink any more?
Sounds like you've got a good plan with dinner and homework and such so concentrate on that. The cravings and stupid "drinking-thinking" will pass. Stay close to MWO and post if you need to. Go to chat if it will help you. Be strong...

[Wagoneer]

My new life...

Congrats Mauri! As Stirly said, really nothing is TMI. If that was the case, they would have moderated by butt outta here ages ago. The more sober days under your belt you have, the better you wll feel. It's not always a walk in the park - I am almost three months sober and I still have twinges, but then I go play with my kids, have tea, come on this site, and POOF! It's gone. Your posts are wonderful and you should be very proud of yourself - your family is proud of you too! Bets of luck.

K

[mylife]

My new life...

Good job Mauri!

You have joined a lot of us who are in the same boat and on the same mission!

Have a great evening.

[BlondeAFAmbition]

My new life...

Hi Mauri!

Ditto to what others have said about what a wonderful job you are doing in staying AF! It is nice to have you as a member here! That is really fun that you are learning mendhi...we sell the body art quality henna at the health food store that I manage (that's my work) and I always thought it would be a neat thing to try. What are you coming up with for inspiration around the house? I thought of one, a houseplant I have sitting in a sunny window at my breakfast nook in the kitchen. It is a succulent and it almost has an asian look to it, but it's just an ordinary plant. I think I would try to draw that.

There is a shop nearby that has a henna tatoo artist in the summertime and she makes very good money doing it! As for crochet, I am hopeless at that and basically all knitting and sewing. Just don't have the patience for it. I would like to get back into writing and since I have been AF, there seem to be many open doors for me that were closed when I spent all of my free time drinking, or thinking about drinking, or making sure that I was in good supply for drinking, etc., etc.. Plus I have been reading quite a bit more and I forgot how much I really enjoy a good read! Anyway, it's been nice getting to know you and I'm sure I will see you on the other threads!

Many blessings!

[mauritiusdodo]

My new life...

Thanks everyone, you are all so lovely and I feel part of the fixtures here already and so welcome thanks to you all

Blonde I found tons of inspiration around my home, didn't actually realise how many pretty things I have LOL, candle holders, pictures, a shiva (hindu god) ornament, wallpaper with arabic mehndi style flowers, a pottery indian style elephant... I have done a few sketches and going to print out photos of the items later and then work on a design, I am soooo excited about my new hobby I feel like I have a whole new lease of life! (but hey that is the subject of my thread lol) As for the crochet it is really difficult and you are right it requires a lot of concentration, not sure it is for me but going to give it a few more goes before giving up

Last night was hard, AL kept popping into my head and the demons were whispering to me that it would be ok to have a drink on Saturday night - you know just the one night a week and I could moderate my drinking just fine like that I felt like screaming - NO!!!!!!! I DO NOT WANT TO DRINK,, but think that might make DH think I have actually flipped my lid and lost the plot so instead I took myself off to bed for a (relatively) early night.

Anyway this morning I feel ok, my mouth is very dry and I had the sweats again in the night, I hate that feeling, sweaty but cold - UGH! I do however feel very proud of myself for making it to Day 5 and I am determined to get through tonight and the rest of the weekend AF! Today I am meeting up with a friend and her two girls at a soft play area so the kids can burn off some energy, we will have lunch there too (no AL available to tempt me thankfully) I am looking forward to seeing her as it has been a couple of months, she is a heavy wine drinker so wondering whether or not to confide in her that I have quit ? will see how the conversations go and decide at the time I think...

[mauritiusdodo]

My new life...

Had a drink last night :blush: not feeling very proud of myself but I did manage not to drink too much I stopped before it was all gone and am starting afresh today and determined not to let that be the slippery slope it used to be into drinking all weekend, I suppose I am bound to give into some temptations along the way and as such I am not going to beat myself up, planning to up my dosage of kudzu today and off to the library to see if they have any books on self help etc...

Sorry for letting the side down folks, hope everyone bears with me...

[Flossie]

My new life...

Hi Maur,

Could you imagine if we all got it right the very first time, well for a start we wouldn`t need MWO as we`d all be as sober as judges wouldn`t we.
The point is just keep trying and trying again, you are more in danger of failure when you give up trying so onwards and upwards ok.
With luv Flo x

[mauritiusdodo]

My new life...

Thanks flo Managed to keep on track last night and feel so much better for it today, although I broke a tooth eating dinner last night (was one with a filling in and half of it came away and I swallowed it ) it is quite painful when I eat or drink anything or breathe in cold air so desperately need to get to a dentist, I tried ringing emergency NHS but they can't do anything but advised me to get a temporary repair kit from the chemist so that is my mission for this morning once DH gets up - can't bloomin believe it as though I don't have enough to think about

DH did a strange thing last night, he had been doing some airbrushing then came to sit with me in the lounge with his coffee cup and suddenly I smelled wine - he had a mug full of red??? I said what are you drinking and he looked sheepish and said oh sorry I didn't want you to feel bad cos you haven't got any wine - I think he was doing it so as not to make me want some but I found it very odd!!

Anyway on a lighter note I have been improving on my crochet andhave created a little circular piece now - about the size of a beer mat LOL I am enjoying it and it is impossible to do anything else whilst crocheting (like picking up a wine glass ) as both your hands are occupied !!

[Flossie]

My new life...

Hi Maur,

So sorry to hear about your tooth problem, I loathe going to the dentist at the best of times and only go when absolutely necessary, the last time I had to have a tooth pulled and he was literally kneeling on the chair pulling and in the end the nurse said if you keep that up you`ll dislocate her jaw :upset:
I do hope you make it through tonight AF but if not there is always tomorrow, that sounds flippant I know but as long as you keep trying thats the main thing.
I have given up 3 times I expect the first one was a test of my will and I thought I could go back to moderation deffo a no no for me, one is not enough and neither is 14.
The second time I done it for the wrong reason and the third I really meant it but had such a knock back last May I went back to drinking but this time way worse than before and its taken 8 months to climb back on board, I had doubts whether I could give up again as I couldn`t see a way out but I done it, this time last Sunday I started drinking about 8ish and hit it bad so much so I didn`t know what I was doing Monday but it was enough to make me stop and here I am 7 days later free as a bird.
It takes so much time up drinking that you do have to find other things to do so I am getting into books again and catching up on all manner of things I let slip, I can`t crochet but can knit as long as I don`t drop a stitch lol.
Where abouts up North are you, my partners family live near Kendal in a place called Burton you probably know them lol
On another thread I said I live in Cider Country for my sins and you said you used to love cider, I loved anydrink as long as it got me where I wanted to be oh dear lol.
Have a good eve love Flo xx

[mauritiusdodo]

My new life...

Thanks for your lovely post Flo, I didn't make it through last night, my only excuse is that all the painkillers didn't work and I was at the end of my tether with the toothache so succumbed to the evil drink which did actually work and I am not in pain this morning either bizarrely! I really don't want to continue using alcohol in this way (or any way) though and am aiming to be AF again startiing today, you are right it takes up so much time to drink, I didn't get any more crochet or drawing done last night, just fell asleep (passed out) on the sofa midway through a film :blush: what a waste of an evening!

I do know your inlaws they are lovely people :H joking aside the lakes are lovely although I haven't been for ages! Well done you on going 7 days that is a great achievement you can have a gold star!! I hope I can say the same this time next week

Right, off to sort out breakfast for DH, DS got me up at 5.40 this morning so we shall be off back for a nap once DH is away to work!

[mauritiusdodo]

My new life...

OOh btw just wanted to say I LOVE crocheting, it is my new obsession LOL I need to go and buy more yarn as I am rapidly running out! Haven't made any actual useful things yet just practising still but it is really addictive!

[mauritiusdodo]

My new life...

Whoah this is so hard, nearly caved in and had a swig of home brew earlier but put the kettle on instead!

Finished a little crochet bag today its just a little drawstring one but I am soooo proud of myself!! Off to decide what to try next, my aim is to make a summer vest top for myself but need to practice lots more before I try!

Hope everyone is coping ok this evening ...

[RudyB]

My new life...

hey mauri,
keep plugging away at this process. drinking will fall by the wayside if you keep your efforts toward sobriety. it's great, that crochet thing. i have a big plan for you: make bikinis. a gal who's buying my goat got hers on the cover of sports illustrated, did quite well for herself (why not aim high, just for kicks). you can check her stuff out at ambikaboutique.com if you're interested.

someone above mentioned how much time is consumed by booze. i'm sitting here in a two day snowstorm w nothin but time and i think it's a wonderful miracle that i'm not drinking to quell the restlessness. i must admit, though, that i've found some old nasty cigs and am having a few, after quitting four days ago. well, just for today. i'im back to the gum tomorrow. and the gym on thursday. my priority is to stay sober. so that's the main thing. and these cigs sure aren't doing much to get me high!

now, if i could just rest upon a habit like your creative ones. hmmm. i shall check out something on netflix, as i'm getting tired...

everybody, thanks for staying great and supportive. i feel like mentioning the beauty of everyone's responses, especially in contrast to some stuff i've read on another quit (smoking) site. seems like whenever anyone slips, there's a bunch of aggressive booing going on. i'm sure they mean well, but it can seem a bit unforgiving. never find that to be true here. give thanks.

keep your spirits up, mauri. you sound like you're doing great, above all else.
~rudyb

[mauritiusdodo]

My new life...

Thanks Rudy, I have checked out the bikini site, she has done so well for herself and made some beautiful things! how come you have a goat to sell if you don't mind my asking?! Thank you so much for your contribution to my thread it is lovely to know someone is reading my waffliings !

It has taken me soooo long to find hobbies I am interested in pursuing, I trawled the internet for weeks for inspiration then found the Mehndi course and the crochet idea just came to me when DH pointed out a pregnant lady in a car knitting as we drove past!

Well I survived another day without the evil drink - just another one to chalk up to prove to myself that I can in fact do this if I keep my mind on the job in hand!! And so onto day 3 - plans for today are to take my son to Eureka (childrens museum) and then visit a wool shop in the nearby vicinity to pick up some supplies, I am going to have a go at some bookmarks, they are good for practising different crochet techniques and apparently very easy and quick to make so you see results fast OOH I am so excited LOL I can't actually remember when I looked forward to something so much in my AL fuelled haze of a life (how sad is that!)

Hope everyone is having a good day so far xxx

[BlondeAFAmbition]

My new life...

Mauri,

I have an idea...crochet us all some cute bikinis for the next cruise on the SS MWO! I would like a hot pink one please! LOL.

On a more serious note...hang in there. You are doing the right things by keeping busy and starting new hobbies, and appreciating the way you feel when you wake up the next day after not drinking the night before. I hope by now your tooth problem has greatly improved. Keep up the good work!