JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

[mylife]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hi Guys!

I slept so great last night - I really needed it - it's a stressful time at work and I have my Mom still in my house as she was sick to travel - but despite all that - I just feel happy to be sober for 2012.

Unwasted thanks for finding that post. I put it in my file of ones to remember. Every word is so true - every reason to drink was really only an excuse for something that never materialized.

K9 - I also decided this morning I need to get back on the exercise band wagon. I decided Monday will be a good day for that - they have spin classes in the evening at my local "Y" and it would be a much better way to spend an hour in the evening than sitting in front of the TV.

Jenny(eric) I think we're on the same day. Today is the 5th, right? Anyway, I feel good - but I have to say I really didn't drink after the 26th besides 3 glasses of champagne on NYE which I should not have given in to. It really didn't even taste good and just set me back to Day 1 - but since it wasn't much it probably got out of my system pretty fast so I'm feeling really good again. Alcohol sucks!!!

Hope you all have a great AF day.

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Alcohol does suck ML - OK, I have to be naughty for a minute cuz I found this hilarious picture. Hope I don't offend anyone, but hey, we need a laugh -- this ditching alcohol is such serious business.

SO LET'S SAY THIS TO ALCOHOL:

[RingingCedars]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Right on UW!!!!

[FreeFly]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

LOL UW :H

[jennyneric]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hey guys, checkin in, I had a hard time making it home without AL but I did it. I ate dinner n am watching ellen waiting for greys anatomy to come on. I will make it through this nite!

[mylife]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

UW :H:H:H That goes perfectly with my "Alcohol Sucks!"

Jenn - I had a craving out of nowhere on the way home myself. Probably because it's Thursday and I was making spaghetti and meatballs for my family and I thought "Wow, a glass of wine would be nice with that...."

Then I remembered a post in Newbies by UW about self control being something you have to exercise if you want it to grow stronger. And I thought - well today will be the day I grow a little stronger by just saying No instead of "Oh just one...blahblahblah"

Anyway, I'm sitting here sober and ate my spaghetti with water (ugh) and am thinking a pot of tea would be nice. I feel happy that I got a little stronger today.

[jennyneric]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

I saying I love "everyday we're weaker or stronger, everyday we're tighter or longer, everyday we choose the direction of change" my yoga instuctor says that in every class. My direction of change today will be I will acknowlage my craving and let it float by and not attach to it or act on it, its just a thought that I will let go so I have have what I want...a sober 2012! Can I get a hell yeah!?

[mylife]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hell Yeah!! You can do it.

[Running4life]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Unwasted, I love the picture. My sentiments exactly.
Stay well, stay sober everyone.
R4L

[Audrey14]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

mylife;1239014 wrote:

Audrey - :l:l we have been on this journey together for awhile now. I really think that mental attitude is important - I keep reading it again and again. I am really working on my own mental attitude that I'm GRATEFUL not to have to drink anymore. I really am starting to feel it. I can't wait to be a non drinker. You can do this! There is a great life waiting out there for us and it doesn't involve pouring poison into our bodies. :h:h

Hi mylife!!! Yes, we' re on this journey together for some time..I entered MWO site 2 years ago in January. I can see when i started to be serious about my drinking problem and how my attitude changed. Now when i drink i feel that i'm doing something not acceptable and only way to be for me is NOT MODERATION (this fairytale i had in my mind 2 years ago) BUT COMPLETE ABSTINENCE. Sad (i liked good wine) but i have to admit.
Now i know - if i' ll drink - it will be a binge 4-5 days, than again Day 1, 2, 3, 4, maybe 5, 6 AF and binge again..I'm really tired of it because after at least 3 sober days i start feeling better, make plans for future and oops - i have to start again recovery..
Glamor of nice dinner with wine unfortunately is gone..no joy anymore..just remorse and regrets,,
We have to change our how did you say "mental attitude".
I think we can do it together!!!!:l

[Audrey14]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

My Day 2 was successful even when my BF drunk beer tonight..
Unwasted - i agree with you that my situation isn' t the best for recovery - not working, having BF who' s drinking a lot, foreign country etc. But i have to find my way..It will never be perfect situation..

But fortunately i got an offer from my community here to assist as a teacher in summer camp-school. So, sounds perfect for recovery - being busy with kids and other teachers, no access to AL, or at least temptations, beach..and away from my BF which is good for my first AL free days.

Hey Broken halo!!!
I was yesterday total BROKEN HALO..
I hate Day 1!!!

Wishing everybody to stay strong and avoid Day 1..but if it will happens - we' re still trying to reach our goal.

[Prairie Fairy]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Great Job Audrey! Hang in there - thinking of you!

[broken halo]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hi everyone, Happy Friday!

Audrey, great to see you and well done on day 2! Memories of day 1 are a big part of my toolbox, I never want to feel like that again!

Unwasted, love the pic! :H

This being sober malarkey gives you loads of energy. Been to the gym, done housework and now getting ready for work. Downside being I don't get as much time to post as I would like.

Looking forward to my first sober Friday in living memory, The weekend is definitely going to be a hurdle so I should be here lots more on Sat/Sun, although I plan to keep as busy as possible to keep the demons at bay!

Have a great day everyone! :l

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Good Morning Jammers.:l

This article is long, but has some great points if you care to read it: (sorry the spacing came out strange - also posted in the Newbie's Nest). I don't know about you guys but it helps me to read articles/books about alcohol.

The emotive component may be a central area to work to work on to build tolerance and
emotional resilience. Both procrastination and substance abuse involve some level of low tension tolerance and discomfort dodging activities, such as following a path of least resistance.

Procrastination is easy and you can slide into an illusion trap by telling yourself you?ll build
tolerance later, or you NEED to use right now because you had a bad day, or you can?t stand the tension of not drinking or using. This vicious procrastination-substance abuse circle includes a specious reward in the form of an immediate relief from tension. That relief just rewards these two self-defeating problem habits, thus increasing their chances for re-occurrence.

Effectively curbing dual procrastination-substance abuse habits normally involves a
comprehensive plan, tools to execute the plan, and a deliberate exercise of free-will, or the ability to choose a productive path when you could have yielded to irrational drinking thinking beliefs and impulse.

By simultaneously refusing to capitulate to procrastination and substance abuse urges, you act to shape your life direction by executing rational choices. Through exercising these choices, you avoid hassles associated with drinking or using. You gain productive advantages. This learning, experimenting, and progressive mastery approach marks a path with greater promise for positive change than a vague hope, such as ?I need to do better later.? This hope is an illusion than moves in tandem with procrastination.

When it comes to coping with procrastination or substance abuse habits, I know of no quick fix. Quick fix techniques may create an illusion of progress that is rarely more than a placebo effect that soon wears out, leaving you frustrated and discouraged. Paradoxically, if you choose a challenging ?long-term gain? path, and act to stay on it, you will have simplified your life, have less reason to feel stressed, and have more reason to experience a higher level of self-efficacy. This is a belief that you can organize, regulate, and direct your actions productively.

Relapse prevention for procrastination is part of this self-efficacy process. But that is a plus. When you get to the point where you concern yourself about relapse prevention, you have made progress.

A key relapse prevention approach involves completing a weekly cognitive (rational), emotive, and behavioral checklist without procrastinating! For example, (1) Do I experience drinking thinking and act to debunk it? (2) Am I accepting that I?ll have cravings and feel tempted to drinkuse, and allow myself to live through them without acting on them? (3) Do I take problem solving actions to contain and control drinking behaviors, such as buying or using addictive substances?

You may stay sober and clean forever. However, when it comes to procrastination there are so many nooks and crannies in life where procrastination urges lead to procrastination diversions it is impossible to be perfectly consistent and never procrastinate again. Nevertheless, productive gains in major life zones where procrastination recurs can feel like paradise compared to the alternative that comes with (1) a sense of lack of control and feeling overwhelmed by things left un-started or undone, (2) diversions along troublesome pathways that keep leading to the same dead-end results, (3) false promises to do better, handicapping yourself by giving yourself reasons why you expect failure, and making up excuses to explain away negative results so as to avoid blame.

By jointly addressing common components in both procrastination and substance abuse, you can accelerate and strengthen your self-help efforts. As a byproduct, the outcome is likely to prove productive and satisfying.

A life-time life-style change process of stretching your resources to actualize them is neither simple nor easy in the beginning. It becomes less difficult in the long-run compared to seeking easy paths to meet complex challenges.

[mylife]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Good morning all!

Thanks Unwasted! I love reading articles to help me along the way.

Audrey - good job on finding work that will get you away from the AL trap!!
Broken Halo - I agree those Day 1 memories are very useful. All of us have been there and none of us want to go back.

PF and Jenn - good morning! Jenn - doesn't it feel good to be on Day 6?!! I know it's Friday but we have done a lot of Fridays sober by now - so we can make it a lifestyle. It just takes practice.

Have a great day all!