Irie's Journey to 30 days...

[Unwasted]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Irie, I see you have lots of support here.......just a quick stop in for me to wish you all well! You're doing great!! So happy for you all.

[sunshinedaisies]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Good Morning to all - this is so awesome with all these hubs joining in - quite amazing. I am getting ready for work - day 5 of a day 6 run....SIGH. Have a wonderful day everyone - and a sober one too - I think you are all just doing SO well !!!!!

Love, Sun X

[Ishybit]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Hello,hello,
I'm happy to see everyone is riding this AF high. My husband is also my best drinking buddy so he too cuts back or abstains when I'm not leading the charge. We're middle aged now and our health care costs are thru the roof, so we are both aware of trying to stay healthy and do the right things such as exercise, eating right etc...of course the only problem is the excess of alcohol. Ironic of course. so hopefully we will continue to improve on our health together.
Yesterday was a much easier day for me. With more time under my belt the sometimes the easier it gets. Irie, I'm glad you posted about a couple of rough spots. I think the early stages of being sober is called the Honey moon phase so once that starts to wane, the real day to day work begins. We have to careful of becoming Complacent and bored or irritable, angry, tired and on and on. Last year I went 47 days, when I said yes to that first glass of wine it was really a blas? event. No real reason to take it, no anxiety, I thinking was kind of bored and complacent.Just.like.that. Humph.

Next weekend a girlfriend is coming to stay for the night. I've known her since jr high. We've been boozing buddies forever except that she exercises perfect control and discipline. We will be going to a funeral of another friends father. I've known this other friend since college, we used to be roommates and we are/ have been boozing buddies. He however has a switch too. Anyway I got to thinking that I need to tell them I quit drinking because I have a problem. It's another way to be accountable. I've never said anything to either one probably because that would put me on the radar and I would have to actually act on it. They may be disappointed but I also don't think it will be a huge surprise. First things first, I must get thru ea day.
Irie, thanks for starting this thread. It's the only one I'm really posting on, maybe I'll branch out a little.
Thanks UW for checking in on us and thanks to everyone else!
Happy Sunday, well at least for some of us.
Ishy

[Ishybit]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Oh and I agree, any AF day is a friggin big deal!!

[Irie]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Day 14!

It's such a pleasure to wake up in the morning, check on this post and see that everyone is just doing so well. I think we share a similar mindset that's a big part of why we are making it. We've accepted the reality of our situation, made steps to correct it by sticking to our AF goals, and now are reveling in the benefits we had hoped would be waiting for us if we could only do it!

For me at this (almost) midpoint this is what is different...

Sleep I sleep like a baby and am refreshed in the morning. I don't wake up in the middle of the night feeling awful, checking the clock to see if I have enough hours left that I may feel better but the time I have to get up. No middle of the night despair or guilt. No middle of the night resolutions. If I happen to wake up, I smile at my success and fall back to sleep.

Mood I am so happy! I feel like life has so many possibilities for me now. Part of me had really resigned to the fact that I was never going to be free from alcohol. Now that I am, I'm happy about that, but it just seems like I'm happier about life in general. You always hear that when you quit drinking you will have to learn to deal with your feelings. Who knew that they would be joy, gratitude and a renewed love of life! I can deal with those feelings!

Health After just two weeks I wake up in the morning and love my reflection in the morning. Instead of trying to figure out how to cover up the ravages I could see, I look refreshed. My skin is clear and my eyes are bright. I'm well on the way to losing the 20 pounds that I accumulated from the last two decades of drinking.

Relationships I've already talked about how things are changing with my husband virtually not drinking now. This is a special time for us. But there's more than that. I'm more outgoing. I'm calling my children and my mom more often. I'm chatting with co-workers instead of holing up in my office.

I am more committed than ever to staying AF. When I started this thread I knew I wanted 30 days, and I hoped for 60. After that, though, I pretty much planned I would allow myself to drink because we have a vacation coming up in April. It's a trip we take every year with friends and we do a lot of drinking. Now, I am finally getting comfortable with the idea that I won't even be drinking then. I'm actually staring to think it might be more fun to do the trip AF! Now there's a thought!

I am so thankful to have found this board and the honest people who post here. I'm thankful I found the courage to tell my doctor I had a drinking problem and wanted to try Topamax. While I only took it a short time because I couldn't tolerate the side effects, it gave me a glimpse into what living without alcohol would be like, and I've been relentless about making that happen since then. I'm thankful for Jason Vale's book "Kick the Drink Easily" which helped me change the way I think about drinking. I'm thankful to have my life back.

[Irie]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Hi Ishy!

You said a couple of things that got me thinking. You talked about drinking for no real reason after 47 days. I can really see myself doing that. As things get better and better I can see how easy it would be to "forget" all of the life changing lessons I've learned and think that I could drink like everyone else. I need to put plans in place to keep that from happening.

You also talked about telling your friends, and that part of what holds you back is that it would make you accountable. I'm right there with you. I've told a couple of my best friends that I'm cutting down, but I haven't told them I've stopped. If I'm brutally honest, it's not because I'm ashamed of being an alcoholic, it's because I don't want all that out there if I ever drank with them in the future.

There are a lot of steps to sobriety, I guess, and we can't take them all on the first day. Thanks for giving me some stuff to think about. You've definitely helped me see some chinks in my armor.

I love this thread, too, and don't post as much anywhere else (no time!!). I was trying to think this morning if there would be a way to extend it past 30 days. A new thread for all of us, but without my name in the title, because it's for all of us. Well, there are 16 days to think about it!

[Unwasted]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Irie, I'm so happy for you! Just wondering if Antabuse would be an option for your vacation? Just asking because that's what I'm planning. You would have no chance of falling off the wagon if you took it. I just remember your vacation sounding like a huge challenge from the description of it. Best to you.

[mylife]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Good morning!

Irie - what a great post. Full of gratitude and acceptance. I started re-reading Jason Vale's book last night to remind myself that this is a gift not a punishment. My hubby hardly drinks so I am very lucky that way, and I have also noticed that since I quit he has not touched any AL - at least not in my presence. I'm very thankful for that.

I also have a trip coming up at the end of April with some friends of ours. I've been reflecting on that and I am planning to be AF for that trip. That's another reason I got the antabuse - as an insurance policy. I really want to get through an entire vacation AF because I think what I'll experience is how much more FUN it was in the end.

Ishy - I also have a friend since grade school that I get together with every so often. When we do it usually involves lots of wine. I've also thought I would just "come clean" with her - I've known her for years and years and I know she will be surprised but supportive.

Mum - thanks for the antabuse advice. I have been struggling since November of this year to get in a long string of AF days consecutively. Last year I made it 43 days and caved. I have really been working on my thinking and realizing that I'm not depriving myself but that I'm giving myself a gift. Irie couldn't have phrased it better - I can really relate to the "holing up" in my office vs. socializing with employees etc. at work. AL makes me a hermit!

Hope everyone has a great day!

[lifechange]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

just a quickie to check in and say good night.
Irie, i really enjoyed your list of how things in your life have improved. didn't see anything in the "cons" list!! i am also feeling like everything is different this time. don't want to speak too soon or jinx myself, but i feel so good and so dedicated to living AF!!!
hugs to everyonexoxo

[scottish lass]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Quick check in - busy weekend, staying sober - over a week now (day 8)! Lots of great posts on here, and maybe I can respond later.
I am so glad I am sober, having some realizations of life with a teenage daughter, and a little rebellion starting - I could not have managed it if I was drunk - I have had a few tears, and really almost went out to get wine last night, but didn't and having some great chats with #1 daughter, so maybe we both can get thru this time.
Irie - lets keep the thread going, I am feeling really good here - and have no problem with your name leading it - you took the initiative, and it is working for this really great group!
So in and out to keep me accountable.
I have been telling some people and finding it releasing to let it go.
And yes, it was so easy to slip after 67 days - the hard work really does start after getting thru the nail biting struggle of the first few days, when normal routine kicks in.....
Off to run one girl to a party then some one on one time with the other to try to work out how to work together - I have the peace of mind to do this!

[MumOfTwo]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Just droppoing in for a quick hi, dont have time for a long post as it is monday morning madness, school, work etc etc

Well done to everyone for an amazing AF weekend.

14 days AF for me today WOO HOOO Irie you will be 14 days when you wake up on Mon too

Will hopefully read back and post later today

Stay safe xx

[Irie]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Oh, wow! A really, really hard night out of the blue. I've been pretty much sailing along and Wham! Out of nowhere cravings, trying to rationalize a reason that would be okay to drink, the whole nine yards!

I basically just gutted it out. I know the time to make a decision about drinking is not in the middle of a craving. At one point I ran a bath and even washed my hair. I knew there was no way I would want to dry it, put on makeup and get dressed to go to the store. Or at least that it would buy me some time!

I feel like I dodged a bullet tonight, but it was a close one! I'm glad to hear everyone else is faring so well!

[Ishybit]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Witch, witch, witch, witch!!
why am I doing this? Ok. I remember, by now I would be chugging my second glass of wine and feeling euphoric, then I would pour a third large one and think that this is all I'm going to have but wait, how did that glass go so fast? Ah what the heck, I'll just have another and another and repeat.
I hate when I lose focus. Irie hang in there!
I'm having a cup of coffee which I prob will regret around 10 pm!
Ishy

[Irie]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Let's hang in there together, Ishy! We can do it! I completely agree with you, I dont have any desire for a glass of wine. I want want a whole bottle. And that's NOT going to happen!

[Today]

Irie's Journey to 30 days...

Great thread Irie! Its been a great read, and gives me a lot of hope (especially today)

I love your idea to have a bath/wash your hair.. basically do anything but go to the store and get AL. We have to watch out for those bullets!

Best of luck for this 30 days, and then the next and on and on.... for all of us

:goodjob: