Abstinence Challenge

[JDizzle]

Abstinence Challenge

Thanks Mandie....that's sweet. I guess my main trigger is being awake. Just kidding. I don't have triggers really. Sitting at a bar would probably be bad. The desire is just gonna come when it comes.... Prob about 3-4 days from now. I'm just hoping to push through the first couple, then Juan is right, I should be on cruise control. Checking in every day is gonna suck because it will make me count and make it slower. But, accountability is important (I think I just heard bleep vomit) for me.

[Mandiekinz]

Abstinence Challenge

Haha...that it is. Especially in the early, weak days after a good run.

I always forget about counting, until I see this specific thread in bold calling my attention. Then I have to go back to my previous post and count days.

I tend to think that I've been sober for much longer than my actual count date. Always messes me up.

But here we are...chanting that stupid slogan in our heads and to each other "One day at a time.." That phrase, alone, will slow time down. HAH!

[StuckinLA]

Abstinence Challenge

JDizzle;1604159 wrote: I guess my main trigger is being awake.

:H:H:H

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Day 59 AF

[JDizzle]

Abstinence Challenge

Day 2. I have to come to terms with my Cowboys are always gonna be a circus. I renounce my 38 years of bleeding blue. U know...as it relates to abstinence or something. I HATE EM!!! Fuck day 2!!!!!! Someone find a hug emoticon quick.

[Mandiekinz]

Abstinence Challenge

Hah! Cutler is a one manned circus.

You can officially go wank with your blue tears of shame.

Aside from that, YAY for day 2!

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Day 60 AF

[neophyte]

Abstinence Challenge

skullbabyland;1605023 wrote: Day 60 AF

:grouptrophy:

now the test of NYE, but youre on antabus so that should be easy on to 90 days??

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

neophyte;1605119 wrote: :grouptrophy:

now the test of NYE, but youre on antabus so that should be easy on to 90 days??

Thanks buddy. Yup NYE as a temptation to drink is not an option due to the AB. So yeah. Definitely going on to 90 days. I'm already 2/3rds of the way there, so why not...

[Guitarista]

Abstinence Challenge

I'm still in Juan!

[spiritwolf333]

Abstinence Challenge

@Gt -(no, not GA Tech), you always know just what to say.

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Day 61 AF

[caro/2]

Abstinence Challenge

Hi,

I have not posted for a while and I hope what I post today may be of some use to MWO members.

I have been alcohol free for just over 7 months.

Background: I have had a problem with alcohol since being a young teenager. Suffered from anxiety and low self esteem that only alcohol seemed to give me any respite from the demons in my own head.

Decades later (I am now 52 )I met my husband and things improved for me on the drinking front. Still drinking too much but able to function, every day I would promise myself I would not drink, but you all know how that pans out.

About 18 months ago my husband lost his job and my drinking went up. Out of desperation I trawled the internet and came across this site.

I started taking baclofen I obtained from the internet.

Things went really well at first, big difference and cravings reduced nearly straight away.

I went up to 130mg (slowly) with no real side effects.

Still found that on occasions I would drink too much, but a dramatic improvement. Went up to 160mg in an effort to reach the elusive 'switch' things then went badly for me.

My anxiety levels went through the roof, I tapered down back to 130mg way to quickly and had severe anxiety attacks and attended A& twice in one week. Developed depression and started having suicide thoughts/making suicide plans. I was a complete mess.

This was a very bad time for me because I was also having severe pain in my hip. I spent an insane weekend googling hip pain and self diagnosed avascular necrosis. This diagnosis turned out to be wrong but I do have severe arthritis and will need a hip op. I was posting in this period and several people very kindly responded when I said I has AV. I would like to apologise for that, but at the time I honestly thought that's what I had.

I made a decision as all this was kicking off to stop drinking. I had read in numerous posts that the 'switch' would be reached earlier if one could stop drinking. But when I first started on baclofen I still wanted to drink, but to drink like a 'normal drinker'. Also, I didn't think I had it in me to stop drinking completely.

I really gave baclofen a chance without alcohol and things have improved for me a great deal.

I tapered down the baclofen to nothing (very slowly) and it was interesting to note the cravings coming back. I have stopped taking baclofen for the time being as I am doing a mini experiment on myself. My alcohol cravings are now very mild, but I will start baclofen again if they get out of hand.

Mistakes I have made:

I tapered down from 160mg to 130mg within a very short period. I think it was this that sent me
into my severe depression.

If I had my time again I would have tried harder to not drink while tapering up.

I would not have seen taking baclofen as the answer to all my problems. It is a very useful tool and without it I would never ever had been able to get to 7 months without a drink. But I was too passive in the process I wanted a magic bullet to end the misery.

I feel much happier not drinking and I am trying to do all the things I never got round to in the past such as meditation. However, I think I needed to have this melt down on one level in order to try and reclaim my life from always being under the cloud of booze.

I could never get on with AA because I could not get past the first step, accepting that I am powerless over alcohol. I do accept that now in my bones but if I slip again it is of great comfort to me that baclofen is there.

I wish everybody well and I am by no means suggesting people should/or should not take baclofen, one size clearly does not fit all.

Happy New Year

Caro

[JDizzle]

Abstinence Challenge

Ughhhhh New Year's Eve c'mon!!! Do u all honor mulligans in here? Yeah yeah yeah... Then I can roll it into my New Years resolution. Oh thank for the advice guys....that's what I'll do. (Talkin to my internal committee....they always have the answers I want).

[JDizzle]

Abstinence Challenge

I have to practice what I preach and be honest. What got me pumped to drink is Nothin But a Good Time came on Pandora. So Bret Michaels is one of my triggers. Ok, I'm going to go hide in a corner in shame now.