7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

[free at last]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Unwasted, so glad to see you back. You were a great source of inspiration to me, back in 2011. Finally reached 30+ days AL free. Moderated for a few days while on holiday but noticed I was starting to think about AL again so I returned to the AF life, which is more joyful.

Have been away from MWO community for past two weeks due to holiday with limited/no internet so am not up-to-date on various members but just wanted to say how glad to see you here.

Warmest,
Free

[FreeFly]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

kuya;1508923 wrote:
remembering the total compulsion EVERY night to go and buy booze that I DID NOT WANT..........it was a living hell.

That bit right there, Kuya, is what began happening again last week, horrid, and why I knew it was time to come back for daily accountability. Freaked me right out. Anyway, day 2 and feeling good.

SL honeypie, keep posting. Sending you massive :l:l

Hello to all :l

[Unwasted]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Free At Last, Yes, I remember us posting on the same threads way back when. I so agree with you that this is better. It doesn't get rid of our problems but at least we can cope without at the same time trying to overcome a hangover. I feel like I really get it now because every single time I go back to trying to moderate (too many to count) I end up at the same place. Not a crazy amount of alcohol but enough to absolutely ruin my next day.

And, the compulsion that Kuya so eloquently discussed - just such a total drag. No way to live. I really can't fathom why we go back to it - EVER. I truly believe I'm done with alcohol. I know I felt that way last time, but I now have some good ole misery added to my memory to help me along.:H

SL, I'll try to find you on the boards. Please let us know how we can help.

FreeFly, glad you're sticking around. I'll try to also find everyone elsewhere on the boards (the Nest?). ??

[scottish lass]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Hi, feeling little better just now. I have so much stress in every aspect of my life - work, my girls, finances, social life - it seems relatively easy to have a drink and make it go away, but it just doesn't work does it?
I am glad to have this group here, so many strong people who are battling the same demons.
I do want to solve this problem, sometimes I just can't get the strength to beat it and I allow it to get the best of me - and 100% of the time I regret it, but oh how quickly I can forget!!
I have a tough month coming up, but I will get through it, put it behind me and finish this year strongly and in a better state of mind to deal with everything else that I am facing.
I do realise I am so much better than I was when I started here, and it is a bit of a relief to find my tolerance to alcohol has gone way down. It did not take anywhere near as much wine to have a horrid effect on me - I am taking that as a sign of progress.
It feels so good to be able to come here and have people who really understand what we are going through, even though we have different views/ideas/opinions - you all get it!!
I am so glad I posted last night - I was a relief to confess, and I did sleep pretty well last night.
FF - Day 2, lets do it!!!
TT - thank you, you have been a good support the last few months even with my ups and downs
UW - thanks for starting this thread off, and giving us another home within a home!
Hi Free....

I have to make a better life for myself and for my girls - there is no doubt about that, and wine has no place in that better life - i have to do a lot of recovery, healing and rebuilding...so here we go...

:l:l:l

[Doggygirl]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

UW - Welcome back!

DG

[Unwasted]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

SL, so happy to hear from you. Your're sounding much better today.

It is crazy, isn't it that we can't seem to remember the negative impacts of al? I posted this elsewhere, but will talk about it here again in case it might help you like it has me.

For me, knowledge is power and I'm always reading about recent strides in understanding addiction. I know this isn't terribly new information but I guess I'm just now reading about it more in depth.

Because two different parts of our brains are involved in addiction and higher level thinking, we can experience this dichotomy of wanting to quit but not being able to. In really simple terms, the high level thinking part of our brains tells us not to, but the primitive part that controls cravings that are healthy (like we have to crave and have hunger if we are to survive as a species).....is the same part that can make us crave alcohol. Something akin to grooves or pathways are formed when we drink or do drugs, and eventually our brain thinks that that craving can only be satiated with alcohol.

My understanding is that we can create new pathways with healthy behaviors like exercise, meditation, enjoying nature, drinking a cup of hot tea, reading a good book, eating healthy foods, doing volunteer work, etc. - things that aren't destructive and that eventually the destructive pathways don't have the power they once did and that the cravings and thoughts can subside.

I don't know how accurately I've explained this - anyone who reads it please feel to correct me.

I think if we keep trying and replacing the unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones, we can succeed. Obviously people here are doing it, and we can too! I really believe that. I guess when we come here to read and post, that too is replacing our bad habit with a good one. I know it helps me to come here during the witching hour, or at any time of day for that matter.

Anyway Scottish Lass, please do keep checking in with us. We're here for you and June will come and go. Let's do this!

DG - x post - Thank you and congrats on 5 years. You are awesome - the resident heroine to be sure.

xx,
UN:l

[nicelife]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

UNWASTED - Helllooooooo darling!!!! SO, SO, SO good to see you back here. I wondered how you were going a millions times.

It's is wonderful to have you with us again!! You know the ropes, and we are all here to help make it happen.....believe me, second time around isn't easy but you can do it.

You were missed!!!urgirl:

[Unwasted]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Awww, Nicey my buddy. :l. How in the world have you been? I haven't run across any of your posts! Tell me what you've been up to! I'm really doing well. Somehow it feels different this time - I HOPE the feeling is right and sticks. Please fill me in on YOU!

xoxo,
UN:l

[Guitarista]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Just a quick flyby to say Helloooooooooo UNstar!

Keep it going buddy. Looking good.

Yo!

[FreeFly]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

:wavin: everyone. It's Friday, sober weekend anyone? :l

[Unwasted]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Mr. G., thanks for stopping by. You are always a source of cheeriness and your presence on this site is a source of strength for me and I'm sure others as well!

Greetings FF - YES definitely a sober weekend for me. Feeling so good - hope you're doing well too.

Best to everyone checking in here today - otherwise I'll catch up with you elsewhere.

Big hugs :l
UN

[Struggles 106]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Hey Freefly---

I say yes to the sober weekend. Holiday weekend no less. I might just drive over to the coast and hang out with the wonderful Byrdlady. Beautiful NC weather and no reason not to. The only problem is we will feed our addiction to BEADS and go to the bead store and spend $$$. I'm pretty happy to have that bead monkey on my back LOL

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Every day I realize that my thinking is so much more clear, and my reactions to things are more tempered and thought out. Every little perceived slight does not become an indictment of ME personally. It's so nice to feel better about myself.

I am SO grateful to have all of you in my corner. There is a lot of inspiration here! The threads with the congratulations for one year, two year or whatever keep me going.

Peace and love on Friday

[Byrdlady]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Ann, do it! Git your bones over here! We'll be bead-monkies!!!
:crazymonkey:

XXOO, B

[Unwasted]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

Ann & Byrdie - how lucky for the two of you to be close enough to visit each other! That's awesome and I would say well worth any money you'll spend on beads!! Sounds like a cool hobby - I may have to check it out. So far I don't seem to be able to get out of the kitchen. But.......that does result in some pretty wonderful food if I do say so myself. Today I made bread from scratch and tonight I'm making homemade gnocchi (potato pasta). YUM - probably my favorite - or maybe second after my homemade cauliflower olive pizza.

BTW, my husband has a cousin who just built a cabin in North Carolina. When we get up that way I'm going to have to look you girls up! Well, you two have a great weekend!

[scottish lass]

7 MONTHS OF SOBRIETY BLOWN

I'm in for a fabulous unhung weekend - count me in!
Just had a narrow escape, but escape I did.
It is a three day weekend (well four day with Friday ) here in US, so strapping in tightly!
Hi to Byrd, Ann (enjoy your weekend the pair of you), UW, FF, G, DG and nicelife - good strong group here, lots of good energy....
I agree, reading the good long success stories gives me faith for my future - so glad people who have success continue to check in here to show us that it can be done!

TGIF everyone....