quitting for me

[caithnessgirl]

I.m new here and desperatley trying to quit drinking. I have no support from my husband and have no other family so I am hoping to find some-one here that I can at least talk to. I am too ashamed to tell any one I know about my problem, including my doctor. Today is my first day in many years without getting drunk enough to sleep. Thanks for being here, wish me luck.

[meggie]

quitting for me

ah, need to get there also. Can't tell anyone you are a drunk. Seems like people understand addicts, but not alcohol. I also need to quit, have done it before. We can do it.

[Unwasted]

quitting for me

Caith and Meggie,:welcome:

Just know that you guys are not alone - you can do this! Read here as much as you possibly can and visit the Toolbox and Newbie's Nest.

Here are the links:

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...box-27556.html

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...est-30074.html

Be sure to keep posting and tell us more about yourselves.

Big hugs to you both! :lilheart:

[Lavande]

quitting for me

Hello & welcome Caith & Meggie!

Glad you found MWO, this is a good place. There's lots of support here if you really want to take back control of your lives.

Use the links Unwasted posted for you & be sure to download & read the MWO book - great place to get started.

Wishing you both the best!

Lav

[caithnessgirl]

quitting for me

starting day one sober

Thanks for the support! I am sure it will make this first day easier just knowing that I have some support and some place to go for advise. I am off to work and will have to drive by a liquor store on my way home so I am leaving my money, debit and credit cards at home. I hope this is a good place to start. Thanks again! Caithness

[gingersnap]

quitting for me

I understand the feelings of shame and not wanting anyone to know. I have been doing Day One for so long, I want to be able to say day 2, 3, 4, Day 60..... I too have no support from anyone...my husband knows I drink too much, but no clue just how much...he is gone during the week. He drinks, so he isn't going to say anything to me...his drinking is more controlled. My children are grown and gone, so I only have to be sneaky when they call or come over. I am so sick of the lying, hiding, sneaking, all the dirty things you feel when you are an alcoholic. For me the ironey of this situation is...I have over the years read, studied, researched and even started an Alanon group in our town, due to family members overcome with the disease....now it has it's grip on me...I use to never drink in excess, then slowly slowyly over the last 10 yrs I came to have a full 360 understanding of it. Alcohol is the devil in disguise....it can lure you, comfort you, befriend you, make life easier, give you courage, make it easier to cope....but in reality it can take everything we hold dear, ruin relationships, destroy our self esteem and self worth and finally lead us to our grave. I am hoping to read posts, make friends, learn more information regarding health supplements and support systems. Thanks for listening to me ramble.....ginger

[Nelz]

quitting for me

Well, you have all made the first step in the journey, and that is having the desire to actually stop. You wont find one person on here to cheer you along, you will have several. Someone here will have some sort of advice/support that you can use. You may unknowingly help someone else with what you post.

A few tips I always share:

When your Alcohol(henceforth known as AL) brain tries to convince you that you "need" a drink, partner up with your non AL brain, and let it win, telling you that in fact you do NOT need a drink. The key is to redirect, or whats called surf the urge. With time urges will pass, and they will also start coming much farther apart. When they do, they are much easier to forget about.

Its really just getting past the initial stage that seems to be most difficult. Dont compare yourself with anyone else's progress...we all come around at different rates.

Set some very small attainable goals.....1 day 7 days 14......so on. Hitting the goals adds some very positive reinforcement to your journey.

Dont be afraid to ask questions...no such thing as a dumb question.

Try and stay hydrated.

Others will be along in short order to add to my list Im sure.....also what works for others may not work for you. All of us here have used all sorts of different techniques. If you try one, and it doesnt work, pick another item on the menu until you find success.

Wishing each and everyone of you the strength, knowledge, and support needed to have a successful journey.

[gingersnap]

quitting for me

The Al brain vs the non-AL brain is something I need to practice....I work all day, get up, don't have hangovers, come to work, do my days work, vow never to drink again...this is day 1, feel optomistic...and then about an hour before I get off work....I start having these little thoughts creep in...what will 1 more bottle of wine matter....just one more. It isn't that much and once more won't hurt...I know I have a little back and forth dialog in my mind...but not forceful enough....and when I walk out the door after work....I drive straight to one of the many places I get wine and buy some. It is like something beyond my control is controling me.

[Witching Hour Warrior]

quitting for me

Hi people, I am on day one too and want to finally do this. It's been ten years of steadily drinking almost every night for me too. I want to FEEL the emotions that I am supressing. I want to deal with them in order to stop stagnating and to evolve emotionally, spiritually and to reach my goals.

I just read an article in zenhabits.net that puts a lot of emphasis on the PAUSE. Every time we have an urge, it instructs us to pause before taking action. Even if we go ahead and take that drink or eat that brownie or whatever, just getting used to pausing before is a good thing.

Anyways, I would be honoured to join you and begin my A/F journey and this time successfully just DO it. I am peri-menopausal and think the timing couldn't be better.

[Unwasted]

quitting for me

WHW, welcome. :welcome: I've learned a lot from Buddhism - especially relating to tapping into that part of us that is not our thoughts. We are not simply what we think in our heads. This allows me to be mindful, pause, ride out cravings.....

Wishing you the best. Be sure to check out the Toolbox and Newbie's nest.

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...box-27556.html

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...est-30074.html

[Pinecone]

quitting for me

Welcome to Caithnessgirl, Meggie and WHW, :welcome:

There is alot of good advice here already, so I just wanted to lend some support.

[Witching Hour Warrior]

quitting for me

Thank you UW. I will certainly do that. I am slowly trying to learn to recognize the negative 'voice' in my head and to not take as truth but to listen to it and often let it go. Life is full of learning.

[Unwasted]

quitting for me

WHW, it's the truth! That's why my "Mood" here is always set to learning! Never ends, but that' a good thing!

[gingersnap]

quitting for me

I guess I intruded...posts have been directed to others...sorry. I guess I said or did something wrong.

[Pinecone]

quitting for me

Gingersnap, I'm really sorry I left you out! Welcome! I am functioning (not really...) on about 14 hours of sleep in the last three days!

This forum is a little confusing at first, because there is really only one "topic" and lots of threads, but you didn't do anything wrong at all. Just jump right into the newbies nest thread and post away, there is tons of support there. It is a very lively thread/