JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

[BelleGirl]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

jane27;1245734 wrote:
I know I really struggle after day 10 because I feel good about the accomplishment, and an anxious mood or craving can open the door for a spontaneous flip switch, where I turn my back on myself and race to drink (once that first glass is down I don?t have to worry about NOT drinking.

Jane, you really hit the nail on the head there...this is exactly what happened to me on Friday which happened to be my Day 10. I raced to the drink without thinking and yes, once that was done, it was "why not more", as long as I will be back on day 1 anyway.

Irie, yes, let's show how well we can get ourselves back up and get going again. I've got young-ish kids and they are already driving me crazy on this day off from school. I am determined not to let it get to me, i.e. drink. Vini, come join us back in the saddle.

UW, CanadianGal, mylife, spuddle (love your avatar), Rups...good to see you here today. Avail...keep it going. ChillGirl, thanks for reposting that article from Greenie. I need to print that out and keep it available next time I have an impulse.

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hi Everyone - no time today but wanted to send my well wishes. Day 63 for me.

Big hugs to all and welcome to new peeps on the thread.:l:l

[available]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

morning all, laying in bed about to face the day and get ready for work. so very tired and foggy. having the worst nights sleep tossing and turning but could be the heat here too. I've done the no sleep bit before when i made 11 days and i know it will get better but geez louise give me a break tonight please. I'll be a walking zombie soon. Cravings are getting better and tomorrow will be a trying day as payday and food shopping but will take my niece as she is living with me and she does not need to know her aunty is a full on alcy and i dont want to show her. she knows i drink but not how much so she is a very good incentive.
It is so good to read all the positive talk from all of you, really keeps the incentive going and its nice to know that AL plays mind games with us all and im not alone.
DAY 3 and feeling good.
have a great day/night all xx

[RingingCedars]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

jane27;1245767 wrote: Hi Belle,
I'm glad to hear empathy. Here I am feeling great on day 7, and yet I'm holding hands with the devil. Its a 2 sided coin- feels great to be clean, in control, have extra time, clear conscience...and right of the other side of that coin is a race carwith the keys in the ignition.

Bringing me right back to the question, how can I be so madly in love with something I am desperate stop. The answer I'm feeling today (for the first time ever)...it can't be getting drunk that I love so much. Yea...I do like the escape and lightness, but I feel like I haven't ever given cred to the fact that a huge % is chemical. I am in fact fighting my own self. Totally aside from the escape, the lightness, even the routine as I'm used to it, my body chemistry wants alcohol. Its like have a really bad itch, and fighting the urge to scratch.

I have no idea re: taming the 10 day demon beast. Its a monster tha needs restraints!

Good thought provoking point here Jane. It's almost like an auto immune disorder. And we enable our body to attack itself by feeding it alcohol.:goodjob:

[RingingCedars]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Another day done and dusted. If I'm honest week three is when I usually start romancing the thoughts again. Feeling good and why not like thoughts. Guess I'll take it as it comes.

[canadian gal]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hey Jammers!

SL- thanks for the explanation about bitters. I don't think I can get em here, so I will just have to stick with lemon.

UW- Congrats on 63! How you holding up?

RC- You are coming up to 3 weeks in 4 days. Do you have an emergency plan just in case? The mental game is so hard, but stay strong. I know you can do it. The bitch al just isn't worth it. Don't throw away your amazing progress to something that has never done anything good for you. Congrats on 17 days! Stay strong Canucker!

Available- You should start to sleep better after day 3. It's hard being a zombie for the first few days, but it sure feels better than a hangover IMO. Congrats on day 3!

At the end of day 19 here. I went to an all you can eat/drink restaurant tonight with hubby and the teens. I saw many people pouring their own beers or carrying beers and the thought never once crossed my mind that I should get one. I had no thought about it at all. When I went to the drink area, I was really craving an iced tea and that's what I got! I think that's a little progress. And all in just 19 days!

Have a great day Jammers!

[mylife]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Good morning jammers! Wow - I made it to day 17. This was a rough weekend but somehow I made it!

SL - I never knew what bitters were either. I saw a woman at the bar the other night (can't believe I had to be at a bar to eat) anyway, I had a feeling she was drinking something AF - it looked like it could have been 7-up and something pink. Anyone have an idea? I think in the US there's something called a Shirley Temple??? I wish I'd had the nerve to ask but I still feel self conscious about this whole thing...I'll get there eventually!

CG - good job on not even caring. I go through those phases and they are SO nice. I'm hoping it will be a permanent feelig soon.

Ringing - I know what you mean - that 3-week "I can handle this why not have one" feeling. Just fast forward to the end of the week if you do have one...

Available, UW, Jane & Bell great to hear from you and good job on the AF days!

Have a great AF day!

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hi Everyone - lots going on so just stopping by to say hi - day 64 for me! Keep the faith friends.:l

[available]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

morning all day 4 for me, feeling the good vibes

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Jammers - loved this post by Red 67 and thought I'd copy it here in case anyone missed it:

Hey all, i just wanted to give you some support and strength to get thru this. I will be 10 months tomorrow and when i look back i am amazed i did it. I drank everyday for 10 years and had tried everything (halfheartedly) to quit. I had a very humiliating experience while drinking last march and decided i just could not do it anymore. In the early days i just kept remembering how that experience made me feel and i knew if i drank i would be right back there. I had to relearn how to live again, how to feel again and it was terrifying. I also did Smart Recovery and came here everyday for reinforcement. You ladies can do this. Your confidence will come over time, trust me. Once you make it thru each situation without drinking you will feel stronger and stronger. You will still find challenges down the road. Yesterday i had strong triggers because the Packers were in the playoffs and last year i drank thru every game throughout the Superbowl win. It was such a strong feeling to drink, my mind was trying to make me think how much fun it would to be buzzed and watching the game. It was all lies. I use follow thru thinking to get thru the cravings. I play the scene all the way thru to the end and realize i would end up a drunk stupid mess and end up back in a bottle, slave to the demon. My biggest fear that i use now is that i never want to end up back at day one. As each day, week, month passes it does get easier. You learn from practice how to ride the cravings and they become less and in general weaker.

Just trust me and keep racking up the time. What have you got to lose if you dont drink? What do you have to gain by drinking?

You are doing great. I know you all can do this!!!!__________________
Last drink March 17th 2011...loving this life. No drinking no matter what.

[broken halo]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Unwasted, what a brilliant post! I have been doing a lot of of that 'follow through' thinking myself this time, I am starting to realise that the romantic notion of having a couple of drinks and getting a mild buzz although it sounds great, just won't happen for me. I'll end up a drunken mess, just like you say.

Well done on your 10 months and thank you for all the support and encouragement you have given us, you'r a star! :l

[FreeFly]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

on their first week and doing a great job!

Belle Started 1/14/12
JennynEric-1/14/2012
Available - 1/14/2012
Free Fly-1/19/2012

Double Digits
K9-12/27/11
Canadian Gal-12/30/11
RingingCedars-12/31/2011
Hyper Nova start- 12/31/2011
Believer-12/31/2011
My Life-1/1/2012
Vini-1/1/2012
Broken Halo-1/2/2012
Irie 1/4/2012

over 30 days!
Scottish Lass-11/28/2011

over 60 days!
Running 4 Life-11/3/2011
Pinecone 11/12/2011
UnWasted-11/15/2011

3 months or more
Drifty Alison-5/21/2011

Good morning Jammers,

No beat up for me this time. My AF days are racking up, just not all in consecutive order! I intend to change that. Apparently it takes 21 days to change a habit. I will reach for that this time.

Happy Thursday to all

[FreeFly]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

I cut and paste but all the happy cheerleaders disappeared! Jenny, over to you

[Irie]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

FreeFly;1247651 wrote: on their first week and doing a great job!

Belle Started 1/14/12
JennynEric-1/14/2012
Available - 1/14/2012
Irie 1/17/12
Free Fly-1/19/2012

Double Digits
K9-12/27/11
Canadian Gal-12/30/11
RingingCedars-12/31/2011
Hyper Nova start- 12/31/2011
Believer-12/31/2011
My Life-1/1/2012
Vini-1/1/2012
Broken Halo-1/2/2012

over 30 days!
Scottish Lass-11/28/2011

over 60 days!
Running 4 Life-11/3/2011
Pinecone 11/12/2011
UnWasted-11/15/2011

3 months or more
Drifty Alison-5/21/2011

I needed to reset my start date on this thread, too. I also had a slip a few days ago, FreeFly, but like you am appreciating that I am now consistently racking up AF days with small slips in between. And like you, I'd like to finally crack this once and for all. So day 3 for me. I missed this thread, but I wanted to be sure I was firmly back on the wagon before posting. I admire all of you who are racking up the days! I'm right behind you!

[FreeFly]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hi Irie
Well done on day 3. We're getting there and we're back on that wagon quicker than we ever were. I was going to wait for a few days to face this thread too but thought, what the hell, this will keep me accountable to myself. Onwards and upwards