Completed my first day of no drinking

[Nelz]

Completed my first day of no drinking

I can only mirror what others have said, Im certainly no expert on the field, my journey has just started as well.

Things I find helpful:

This board, reading, posting, laughing, its a great place.
Staying busy with something.......ANYTHING, you know what they say about idle hands
Varying your routine, and avoiding triggers.

I know thats all easier said then done, but it CAN be done.

Like DG said, if I can do it, you can do it, good luck and stay strong

[Jordan]

Completed my first day of no drinking

I'm on day seven--feeling great! I too would wake up so disapointed in myself and depressed. I had a rough week family wise--something that would have gotten me drinking as soon as 5 o'clock hit--or earlier if I thought I could hide it. I'm proud to say I stuck it out, and even my husband who normally would have started drinking on Wed hasn't had anything. Oh, I lost a pound and half!

Good luck!

[Wanna be free]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Awesome responses! I am so amazed that there are so many that experienced the same thing. I thought I was the only one. I was sitting out by the pool wondering if I had drank enough liquor in my lifetime to fill a swimming pool? It seems like it. Anyway, I so appreciate hearing from all of you. I find myself going about my business and then checking this website several times a day. When I feel like I want to drink - I go to this website. It is awesome! A real Godsend!

[ThreeDogNight]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Keep it up!! Don't do what I did,

Hi, Wanna and all the other kind people on here.

I haven't posted in a few weeks--just reading all the posts and trying to get myself back here.

It will be a month ago on Monday that I got a DUI. Horrible thing, and believe me, the guilt that comes with that is just terrible. My husband has to drive me everywhere, and there is no place I can walk where we live. I was a professional --taught for 26 years, then worked in the pet industry. Because of the economy and the crazy company I worked for for three years, I lost my job just over two years ago. It wasn't due to alcohol--I had not "crossed the line " then. I sure crossed it after my job loss--easy to sit at home and hide my drinks. I did an out patient program in August of 2009, but I guess I wasn't committed and never got sober. Did a rehab in January--just for eight days--and the facility was just not good. I know Doggy Girl will say that I am making excuses, and I may be doing that, but I tried to make a go of it. Have been in AA for a year, although after my DUI, I have gone only once ( a neighbor drove me) and left early. I am looking into rehabs, and have an appointment at one just an hour and a half from me on Monday. It is private pay, but isn't $22,000 as some are! And I have checked other places, but they do not accept my insurance. It is so sad that some people can go to a reahb and have everything paid for because they don't have insurance, and others of us have to pay ourselves. I've been an independent sales rep for a year and a half, and the money I've made has been so little that our tax guy told us that my expenses outeigh my earnings. So I took a local job, but told them yesterday that I needed some time off due to a family emergency. A few of my good friends know what has happened, but most don't, so I am going to tell them that I need to go and stay with my sister, as her nanny has left. A lie, but I just can't tell them yet.

The heartbreak of this awful disease is so bad. I am a kind and caring person, but I cannot overcome this on my own. I hope to recover and be able to help others one day.

Stay strong and I wish you the very best in your recovery!

Oh--the legal fees are high, too. Such a mess.

And the DUI was in another state, but I will have to go by my state's laws, and may lose my license for over a year.
TDN

[Barbara1234]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Hi TDN,

We sure missed you around here. I'm so sorry about everything, I mean everything that has gone wrong for you. Many people are in the same boat as far as the economy effecting their jobs, and income levels. It has effected mine as well. I am also a professional, I have 2 degrees and several licenses, however the economy has left me almost broke. I am in the process of having to move to another city in my state just to try and get back on my feet.
You should visit us more often, just to stay connected.
I'm glad you posted your story, I'm sure it will help people to realize that this is a horrible disease and that people are here to help. I hope you don't lose your license, and I hope you find the help you need as well.

[ThreeDogNight]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Thank you

Thank you, Barbara.

Yes, the economy is so bad now. I'm sorry that you will have to move. My husband is retired, but at least we are luckier than many people who are trying to make a living now.

I have spent the whole day exploring different treatment places, and have had the help of two wonderful friends. I was also given the name and phone number for a place that specializes in helping find treatment programs that might accept insurance plans. They will call me on Monday, and I am visiting a place only an hour and a half from me on Monday, too. I so wish I'd listened to people last year and gotten into treatment.

I will stay on here and will keep posting. It's such a great resource. I have the CDs and am trying to listen to them on a regular basis. I find that I have odd dreams which bring up some past trauma. Have you found that??

Have a great sober weekend, and know that you are an inspiration to me.

TDN

[Barbara1234]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Hi TDN,

If you have the CD's that are Sleep Learning, Clearing, Subliminal and Hypnotic, that is what I have, and I believe they have changed my life. The Sleep Learning and Subliminal are amazing. While we do not know what they are saying because the person speaking was recorded at such a low decibel, it works for me. I can't fall asleep without the subliminal CD's. I have always been a good subject for hypnosis anyway. I also have been getting acupuncture for stress, and to reduce sugar cravings.
Now I am going to easy off of the acupuncture and start taking the supplements.
I am 28 days AF tomorrow. I never thought I would get this far. I was bad. I was hiding for years, drinking alone and under tremendous pressure since '05 when everything turned bad for me. Everything I worked my entire life for disappeared. My colleagues all moved away because of the economy. Company after company that I worked for went bankrupt leaving me really struggling. My only option is to move. I own 2 houses, and I am not married, so holding on to the homes has been a real struggle for me.
Anyway, yes I do have weird dreams, and sometimes when I wake up, I'm not sure if they are real or not. They are very disturbing, and are about past trauma as well. Everyone that I have asked about the dreams on this site say it is normal and it is because I am detoxing. I went through about 2 weeks where I had zero energy and I was worried. Again, everyone said it is because I was detoxing.
So, my goal is total abstinence.
I read your posts when you first got your DUI, and I posted a few times back to you. I am so guilty of deserving many many DUI's and for whatever reason, God has put me on this path. I can't believe that I didn't hurt someone or myself while driving drunk. I am so glad you didn't either.
I would encourage you to keep doing the CD's. The subconscious mind is very powerful. Obviously my conscious mind can't be trusted, so I am hooked on the CD's and so far, it's working.

Wanna Be Free, and everyone reading this, I would suggest getting the CD's because they really help you to relax and reprogram yourself.
Good luck to you TDN, I will be looking for your posts. I will pray that you fine exactly what you need for recovery. I remember someone told me once....."when the student is ready, the teacher will be there".
Have a restful evening........everyone.

[Muppett]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Gidday WBF. I was terrified of not drinking. I kept thinking "I don't know how to live my life sober". I've been moderating and have had more a/f nights this month than I've had in 30 years. Now I'm getting to the point where I prefer to go to bed a/f. My life is soo much nicer for it.
Tonight I went out to a winery for a poetry recital. I drove there, had a glass of wine and another of water and drove home, completely safe in the knowledge that I was capable of driving and no worries about being breathalized. How liberating is that?
Give a/f a go. You might be very surprised. Kia Kaha.

[ThreeDogNight]

Completed my first day of no drinking

CDs

Hi, Barbara and others.

I do have the CDs, but have only listened to the first one. I am trying Melatonin or L-Tryptophan to help me sleep, but it's not working very well. I fall asleep while listening to that first CD--think it is the clearing one--but will try to listen to the others today while may be less apt to fall asleep.

I can't seem to focus on anything except for the DUI. I am supposed to go back to court on July 14, but the attorney said he could get the date moved forward to give me time to do a 30 day program. Just need to find the right program for me and one that will accept partial insurance payment or 20,000 or more, as many are.

Thanks for your support and your story is really inspiring.

TDN

[Wanna be free]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Hi TDN: I know the fear and anxiety you are feeling about your DUI. I got one in 1991 and the only thing it changed for me about my drinking is that I did not drink and drive. I did lose my license, but I guess back then you were not required to go into a treatment program. Anyway, I got a permit to drive for work - can't remember how it all worked out - never got out of my fog - and here it is 2011 and I continued to drink - but not drive. Anyway, the reason I am telling you this is that you will survive and get through it - and hopefully it will be the catalyst for you to end the madness of drinking.
I got through Day 3 - yea!!! I have ordered the tapes and the nutritional supplements - I am not going to go with the Topa or any other medicine - because I am of the mindset that I do not want to take a pharmaceutical drug - spent too many years promoting those kinds of drugs as a career and I just do not want to get on that merry go round; however, I do not condemn anyone who does - just have had my head filled with too many stories of side effects. So bottom line - it is a new day and I do know this - don't want to get too spiritual on you - but ALLL things work together for your good - so for you and me both - something really good is going to come out of all this!!!

[ThreeDogNight]

Completed my first day of no drinking

Good job, Wanna Be!

Thanks for sharing your DUI experience. Here the laws are really tough--there is no "hardship license" which would allow you to drive to work. And although this happened in another state, whose laws are much more lenient, I will be subject to our DMV's rules. I won't know the exact outcome until my new court date, which will probably change once I enter a program. That is turning into another issue, as my insurance doesn't seem to want to cover out of state programs. I did a short detox/rehab in January, and they paid very little, and I am still facing bills from it.

Anyway, you are doing great, and I think you'll benefit from the CDs. I have listened to a couple of them and I fell asleep and had a better night's sleep than I've had in a month. Still woke up a few times, but didn't lie awake for hours. Tonight I'll listen to the sleep CD.

Hope you are all having a nice weekend.

TDN