New here...first site I've joined.

[nancy43]

Hope I am doing this right. First time here. Have had not a drop for 20 days now and making it! I am so proud of myself. My counselor wanted me to go to AA; however, I told her that I felt it would be nothing but anxiety-provoking, and by nature, I would sit there trying to give advice and help others and not get benefit. She made me promise to join a site to talk with others for support..so here I am. I think I will enjoy and be able to benefit from talking with others who are healing as well.

[3June2013]

New here...first site I've joined.

Hi Nancy and welcome! 20 days AF is a huge accomplishment. How are you feeling? I'm a little behind you at 17 days, still getting cravings but the headaches have subsided! Now I am working on learning new behaviours and planning for social events that might be triggers. There are a lot of people here who can help and have been where we are. See the two links below my post? You can click on them to check out the Tools and the Newbie threads.

[nancy43]

New here...first site I've joined.

Hello Member! Each day is better. I am still dealing with GI symptoms, but that has gone on for over 2 years-before the "more than social" drinking began. Have specialists and good support at home, though. I have had 5 stays in hospital since March, on medical leave since March 12. Ready to get back! Hospital was for major electrolyte imbalances. I still find it difficult to make myself eat-but try to make what I do eat count-high proteins and such. My turning point came when my husband called my Dr. to inform her how much I was consuming...sometimes up to 1/5 per day. I was a "closet drinker"...friends, parents. co-workers have no clue I have a problem. If folks at social events won't take no to giving you a drink, try to kindly tell them you don't want a drink, and are working on being healthy!

[3June2013]

New here...first site I've joined.

Nancy call me June. I picked the handle 3June2013 not really realizing I would be staying here for a while. I should likely change it but that was my day 1 AF (alcohol free). Tomorrow you'll be at 3 weeks, that's great. Any headaches? Sugar cravings? How are you sleeping? How's your mood?

[nancy43]

New here...first site I've joined.

Hi, June...No headaches. The lack of appetite is the hardest. I am not huge, but have large build-so some to spare; however, I know nutrition is key in healing! No cravings for sugar. Mood is pleasant-have only been a bit "snappy" with hubby a couple of times, caught myself, and apologized. Had you been drinking long? What made you decide to quit?

[3June2013]

New here...first site I've joined.

I started drinking when I was about 14 and now I am 54 so I guess 40 years of drinking, and probably since I was about 30 I drank every day. As I got older the amount went up and I found myself drinking alone a lot. (My husband doesn't drink). I am not really sure what made me decide to quit but I had been thinking about it for a long time. I was always trying to moderate with no success. No drinking during the week, no drinking alone, no more than two, no wine, no beer, only drink when I am out you name it I tried to negotiate it. Menopause made it worse. I didn't sleep properly, I woke up hungover and feeling shitty I wasted days feeling shitty, I wasted nights drinking myself to sleep. I sweated all night. I became antisocial. I just didn't like what it was doing to me. I checked out this site and the more I read the more I realized that I wasn't just taking a break from drinking I was quitting for good. I know all the literature says one day at a time. In the beginning I was scared I couldn't quit. Now I am sure I don't want to drink again.

[nancy43]

New here...first site I've joined.

June...I was an alone drinker too. Husband works 10-12 hour nights, youngest is 14, and I no longer felt "needed". I am a nurse, and do a stressful job, although I love it! My husband doesn't drink either, so that helps a lot. Through the counselor, and a new medication, I am learning to deal with anxiety and stress. I think I have shed more tears this past 3 weeks than I have in months and months-I had pretty much isolated myself. Thank you for talking-hope to visit again soon. SOOOOO thankful to talk to people going through same situation! I'm headed to bed (SOBER-YEAH)-midnight here in Southern Indiana. I hope to talk again soon. Have a good night and stay strong!:thanks:

[aspman]

New here...first site I've joined.

good work on your sober time guys, you have come to the right place.
find a thread in your time zone and introduce yourself.

aspy.

[sweetpea29]

New here...first site I've joined.

Hi Nancy and welcome

Well done on your 20 days free from booze:goodjob:

Stick around you will find lots of support here

Best wishes xx

[MossRose]

New here...first site I've joined.

Hi Nancy. Good job on 20 days. I'm another "alone and at home" drinker. It seems there are a lot of us who managed to hide it from friends, coworkers and some family. I knew I wasn't ready to be honest with everyone in my real life quite yet, so I turned to MWO for help. It saved my life! This is such a safe, nurturing and supportive place to be. Welcome. Hope to talk again soon.

[3June2013]

New here...first site I've joined.

nancy it's three weeks today you rock!

[free at last]

New here...first site I've joined.

Hi Nancy, welcome. you have found a great site filled with caring people.

I recently read Unchain Your Brain (recommended by Unwasted). It was incredibly informative about issues such as sugar, hormone imbalances, and types of addictions (compulsive, impulsive, sad/depressed, anxious, etc). As a 54 year old woman, I especially thought the comments on how menopausal women start to drink to self-medicate hormone imbalances or to "get some sleep" and then their drinking turns into fullforce addiction. Seems there may be a lot of women here on MWO in similar situations so thought I'd share.

[nancy43]

New here...first site I've joined.

MossRose;1521852 wrote: Hi Nancy. Good job on 20 days. I'm another "alone and at home" drinker. It seems there are a lot of us who managed to hide it from friends, coworkers and some family. I knew I wasn't ready to be honest with everyone in my real life quite yet, so I turned to MWO for help. It saved my life! This is such a safe, nurturing and supportive place to be. Welcome. Hope to talk again soon.

Thanks, Moss Rose..today is a full 3 weeks! Feeling a bit better each day. I think a lot of what took me so long to realize I needed help was that I was not being true to ME! Then the reality set in! I am ready to heal and move on with a healthy, sober life! I am too young to let this stop me...just another bump in the road...OK much bigger bump than most other problems in life, yet must deal with and move on and remember that this change is FOREVER!!!!!!

[nancy43]

New here...first site I've joined.

free at last;1521946 wrote: Hi Nancy, welcome. you have found a great site filled with caring people.

I recently read Unchain Your Brain (recommended by Unwasted). It was incredibly informative about issues such as sugar, hormone imbalances, and types of addictions (compulsive, impulsive, sad/depressed, anxious, etc). As a 54 year old woman, I especially thought the comments on how menopausal women start to drink to self-medicate hormone imbalances or to "get some sleep" and then their drinking turns into fullforce addiction. Seems there may be a lot of women here on MWO in similar situations so thought I'd share.

Hello, Free at Last! Thanks for the book title. I'm not a big reader, but will try! As far as I know, I am not menopausal yet (had hyster 12 years ago, but ovaries still in me). Dr. thinks hormones may be contributing to my GI symptoms, so have been checking basal temp. every am for rise, then he will draw hormone levels. He says he can "give me medication to shut down my ovaries"...why does this sound like a trip straight into menopause hell? I think I'd rather put up with the intermittent vomiting and D.! Funny thing is, by basal temp is not rising through the month. I see him on the 26th again...we'll see what he has to say! Take care of yourself and stay healthy!

[NoSugar]

New here...first site I've joined.

What a social group of home alone former drinkers! I'd love to join this party :H!!

Welcome to MWO, Nancy and congratulations on already being on week 3!

Hope you post over in the Nest so other people can meet you, too - That is a pretty large and active thread and a great place to give and receive support.

:welcome::welcome::welcome: