Day 2 and struggling :-(

[Quest for the key]

After many years of alcohol battles I found this site yesterday and decided that enough was enough - time to take action ! And I did not have a drink last night. But today I am struggling !!! You see my problem is that I can't go more than 2 days without a drink :-( I don't drink every night - its every other with a minimum 4 out of 7 nights on the pop ! Please help ??? I have so much to lose if I carry on the way I am but the niggling won't go away :-( :new::new:

[kdog]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Quest, Just wanted to welcome you to a wonderful site, you will recieve a lot of great advice on here! I too recently quit drinking and it sure is a battle those first few days, but after you get a few under your belt, you will feel great! For the first few days I drank a lot of water with fresh lemon, and gatorade to rehydrate myself. Not much sleep the first few days, but that gets better with time also. Today is day 14 and I never thought I'd make it this far, Trust me, its a great feeling! If you really want to,you can do this, PM me if you need to and Good luck on your journey! Keep us posted.
Kdog:welcome:

[K9Lover]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Welcome Quest!

We're glad to have you here! I completely understand the struggle you are going through. I don't know how MANY times I quit for 3-4 days, only to start feeling better and reward myself with a drink! Too many to count, that's for sure. I was a 12+ beer per day drinker. I blacked out about 5 times a week. I drove drunk more times than I care to remember, and I have many, many embarrasing episodes. The anxiety, guilt, and shame finally became too much for me, not to mention what I was physically doing to my body. I swear if I'd had blood drawn in those days it would have been 90% Bud Light! My body was literally soaked in beer. I can only see it clearly now that I've quit. Ok, but enough about me I just wanted you to know you're not alone in this. The first thing you've got to do is make a plan, it can be simple at first, of what you'll do during your normal drinking times. I only drank at home, so I changed my drinking spot, I moved furniture, and moved a lamp or two, that way my environment didn't trigger wanting a drink. Sounds kinda dumb, but it worked! If you drink outside of home, stay home for a week. If you drink at home, go out to places you can't drink...the library, the park, shopping...

Please let us know how you're doing. Keep reading and posting. Jump on over to the Newbies Nest...there's lots of support and encouragement there!

K9

[Nelz]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Coming from a guy with too many day ones to count, what you are experiencing is completely normal.

Some quick tips for you. Stay hydrated, instead of drinking AL replace it with water. I prefer the seltzer waters, and I cut up fresh lemons/limes......deeeeeeeeelish.

When the urge hits, you need to surf the urge. That means doing something to take your mind off the fact that you want to drink. I used to say to myself "I dont drink" when the desire to drink came into my head.

At first it happened with much regularity, it felt like it was a constant thought, but eventually, the thoughts started to get much farther apart. You have to look at it as I wont drink "right now" not, oh, why cant I ever have a drink again. Pretty soon, the right now moments will add up and you will be through day two, then day seven, then viola, 30 days and more.

You may also think that life without AL will suck, I too was guilty of that. But now, I know that life with AL is what does indeed suck.

Wishing you strength, knowledge and support in order to reach your goals

[mama bear]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

we are here for you Quest.
Been there, done that, have the tee shirt.
Please keep reading and posting...that's the key!!
Stay busy and the cravings will pass
I had to get in ALOT of trouble before I decided to be done!

[allankay]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Quest welcome to this site. I think the most important change that needs to happen before you successfully quit is your mindset/attitude. Only you know if you are ready to stop for good but what I can tell you one thing for sure, that if your mind starts to bargain with you and tell you that one drink is all you need or maybe you can control the amount you drink, that is when you have to step up and say NO. MODERATION = FAILURE (at least for us) I have not read a single story by a recovering alcoholic who is now a successful moderator.

Whatever you decide to do, we are here to help!!!

k9, that’s amazing what you said about re-arranging your furniture and re-conditioning yourself.

ALLAN

[Quest for the key]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Awhh thanks guys x I'm totally overwhelmed !!! I've felt so alone off so long and now I know I'm not ! Anyway I made it home - made a stir fry and put my pjs on !! Just having a cup of tea ! My mood feels a bit up and down but I suppose that's to be expected. 2 days sober - the fight will be on tomorrow though so I'll be asking for help if that's ok x thanks again Xx����

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Well done Quest.
Best not to look too far ahead, one day at a time, one hour, one minute if needs be. The best description I have heard of the craving is to imagine it as a big wave coming toward you. It will come and it will pass, try and imagine it rolling over you and it will soon pass. The good news is that the longer we stay AF the less often and smaller they become.

P.S. Welcome to a great site.

Keep safe
KTAB

[FlyAway]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Good job Quest.

Think of this as a problem of procrastination. You are procrastinating with your desire to get sober. You think, "What the hell. I'll have a couple drinks tonight and then tomorrow I'll stop." Then "tomorrow" you wake up at 3am feeling like hell and swearing "never again." The Quest of this moment right now is craving booze and is totally not giving a crap about the Quest of tomorrow morning. As if it's a different person! Think of tomorrow morning. When you wake up sober, will you wish that you drank the night before? Do you ever wake up after drinking and think that you wish you had drank more? Of course not! So when you're craving, don't think about right now. Think about tomorrow. Find a way to distract yourself right now with exercise, a movie, a book, going to sleep, whatever. And think about how good you'll feel tomorrow.

[allankay]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

@FlyAway. 100% agreed on the wishing I had drunk more the previous night comment

[Quest for the key]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

KTAB and flyaway - I've never even considered those ideas before - the craving has just been so strong and down into the rabbit hole I've slipped ! Cos I've never been able to talk to anyone about it and had no feedback either - so thanks - ill think waves and tomorrow mornings x

[mama bear]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

I try to hang onto my last hangover....it wasn't pretty!

[Slaythefear]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Quest for the key;1379914 wrote: KTAB and flyaway - I've never even considered those ideas before - the craving has just been so strong and down into the rabbit hole I've slipped ! Cos I've never been able to talk to anyone about it and had no feedback either - so thanks - ill think waves and tomorrow mornings x

That's the beauty of this place. You don't feel alone in your struggle like you are the only one and you begin to load your mind with thoughts and ideas that come to your rescue when those waves come and they come for us all. Tune in when you need to vent or gain some strength. There is no shame or judgement here. You can openly admit your weakness and find strength to battle it.

:welcome:

[spuddleduck]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

good luck quest. hope you can get through the urge. ditto to all the above advice ....... i find bed,duvet,pillow and mindless tv very helpful

[Byrdlady]

Day 2 and struggling :-(

Hey Quest....Day 2 is hard, no question...but day 3 is easier! I'd like to invite you over to the Newbie's Nest, we have folks in their first days just like you. You can have a partner! We have lots of success over there! Well done on these 2 days, tomorrow you will be SO HAPPY you did it! Byrdie