AB plunge...day 1.

[Running4life]

AB plunge...day 1.

Hi Pie;
Yes, I am taking AB, I find it stops the cycle of will I or wont I drink tonight. Just have to keep taking it.
That is another challenge because the demons keep talking me into not taking it.
R4L

[gmc38609]

AB plunge...day 1.

I have taken AB and had some success with it, however it does not help with recovery. Yes it stops you drinking but I just found my life boring without alcohol because I had not rehabilitated. Getting rehabilitated to me is much harder than not drinking if that makes sense?

[autumn]

AB plunge...day 1.

Hi Six,

Hope your doing ok, thinking of you with AB, and the "will I wont I take it" voices. I have used it on & off for a few years and I agree with all that has been said. Taking it first thing before the voices of un-reason start up, then it's game over for the day for them! Oh the silence it brings lol!

I managed 6 months sober (3 with AB, 3 with willlpower) but I took my eye off the ball & bang, back on the booze again. The speed at which I fell back down the rabbit hole, (it went from 1 or 2 beers an eve back to the bottle of Vodka a day) was terrifying!

Hang in there with the AB, it is wonderful for squishing the voices, after a while, you get such a sense of security as you really can not drink today, and yep, that feeling of opening your eyes first thing knowing you were sober yesterday is worth it.

This time I have finally decided to ask for help and have an Al key worker. She has no magic wand, but she is helping hugely. I have finally accepted that in order to slay this beast, I need help, as it is one huge beastie to fight alone.

I hope today is a good day for you, sending hugs.

[Pie]

AB plunge...day 1.

Six? R4L? Where the heck are y'all? Please check in.

Pie

[Running4life]

AB plunge...day 1.

Hi Pie
I am here. Doing okay and taking it one day at a time. Really wanting to hit this AL addiction hard.
Hope everyone is doing weill.
R4L

[Pie]

AB plunge...day 1.

R4L! So good to hear from you! One day at a time, for sure. Looks like you've been working at this for about as long as I have been. My Antabuse will arrive soon. Skeered!

[Running4life]

AB plunge...day 1.

Antabuse is a great tool but you need to be careful. It takes days to wear off so you really can't drink with it. You will feel terrible. I have been at this for a long time. I think I have been trying to quit off and on for 10 years. I have had bouts of sobriety that lasted 5 to 7 months but always convinced myself I could moderate. I wish I had given it more time. Quitting now seems to be such a struggle. Even to get 10 days.
I am really starting to worry about the ramifications on my health so I must keep at it.
Hope you are doing okay Pie, Autumn and GMC. Pie don't be skeered!
R4L

[Sixcat11]

AB plunge...day 1.

Hi guys...I'm still here! Except for that one blip I've been taking the AB and not drinking. Sorry I'm not more regular on here but I just don't find that posting is very helpful for me. I just don't care for talking about myself I guess. But I read a lot of posts and pick up good info that way. Pie...don't be scared...it hasn't killed me yet. Can't say I feel super great...but hopefully I'll get there.

[Pie]

AB plunge...day 1.

Hi Six! Like you, I too read much more than I post, especially since I haven't yet taken the plunge. Out of respect for everyone here at MWO, I'd just rather post when I'm sober. Think my AB may arrive tomorrow, am I'm lining up on Friday as THE day, and may start posting like a maniac then. Not all on your thread, of course, but if I do become annoying, simply tell me to bug off! You say you don't feel super great. Wondering if you felt super great while drinking? Wondering how I might answer that question myself?

Thanks to you and R4L for your assurances on the fear thing! R4L, is it the struggle to not drink, or something else you speak of?

Autumn, did you stop taking the AB because of side effects?

gmc, I agree with you about the need for rehabilitation, and creating a new life that doesn't revolve around alcohol. Just thinking I need some distance from the AL to get to that point. What are you doing now?

Pie

[treetops]

AB plunge...day 1.

Sixcat - great on you for sticking with the AB. Good luck Pie for the big leap this week.
You need to give sobriety time - and many of us don't feel that great for ages. Combination of mental and physical changes from stopping booze. Some people who are newly sober have a sudden fantastic change - that never happened to me. It was much slower and I never had the bells and whistles arrive. If I think back to the first few months I was pretty grumpy (still am but I was born that way!!!) and needed to keep to a fairly rigid schedule so as not to derail myself. But bit by bit being AF kicked in and the old daily routines fell away. I am so relieved I stuck at being sober and the support on MWO was crucial for me.
I did find that I had some minor physical irritations with AB (dry mouth, poor sleep, appetite changes - although I lost weight which I wanted to do - but hard to say if that was AB or quitting the booze) - but just keep taking the pill - and try to see sobriety in a positive light - as a release and a new phase of life.
I am a very cynical old chook and also cautious about medication - so it took a jolt to get me to take the AB - but that kick start was well worth it.
I keep up my contact with MWO these days but apart from that AL doesn't figure much on my radar these days - thats a long way from initially in my quit having to plan supermarket shops so that I avoided the booze aisles.

[Pie]

AB plunge...day 1.

Wow, treetops! Sober since Oct 2012 after a kick start with AB? I can do grumpy, and a rigid schedule, and MWO support. You make me feel so hopeful...

Pie

[gmc38609]

AB plunge...day 1.

Hi Pie, I am on day 2 of not drinking. I have certain times when I want a drink and if I can keep busy during those times its easier for me. It sounds simple it is simple but sooooo hard

[treetops]

AB plunge...day 1.

Yes Pie - it can be done! Although its best not to over-think - I personally think its best to see AB as just one of the tools. Just taking the pill is not enough. You need to think about daily routines, how you will respond when cravings come (cos they will). In the early days also think about where and when you will take the AB - do you need someone to be accountable to etc?
be kind to yourself - I was under a huge amount of work stress for the first 2 months of my quit -so that was hard - but time out for yourself can be done. Don't have AL in the house if at all possible and if you find it uncomfortable going to social events just avoid them - or leave early. I had to attend some events and was uneasy - I also kept quiet about my quit except to those nearest and dearest and a very few close friends/colleagues (be careful there). But now I am open about not drinking and I certainly don't bother to pretend I have an AL drink when I am socializing. I do not elaborate on the whys and my own history and I don't broadcast it - except on MWO. I also travel quite a bit and have had many nights alone in rooms with a mini-bar humming away - but so far (fingers crossed) I have coped. And I'm not especially a disciplined person - after all I am an addict!

[Sixcat11]

AB plunge...day 1.

Treetops, I think yours are among the most helpful responses I've gotten. I sorta expected that "pink cloud" I've heard about....or at least some "aha...so this is how great I can feel" moments. But they haven't appeared yet! Mostly I feel grumpy and bored...lol! I have to keep reminding myself why I'm doing this...and hope that better times are right around the corner!

[Running4life]

AB plunge...day 1.

Hi Six, Pie GMC: Treetops, I find your post hopeful. I do feel grumpy and bored but now I am realizing that it is okay. Routine is important as well and I am trying to find a routine in my crazy schedule that keeps me busy during the craving hours. I find that i am super tired in the early evening. That is the time when I am craving. Last night I went to bed about 8 pm and just read for a while. I had planned to run but just couldn't muster up the energy. Hubby couldn't understand why I was so tired. I am wondering if it is the mental energy of fighting the cravings? I just want to turn it all off. Have any of you experienced this?
Hugs to you all!
R4L