Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..:(

[Wine-no!]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Hi 199

I am only on day 8 but I really like your strategy of thinking it through to the end of the drinking fantasy. Like you, I would not stop at one or two glasses of wine so would drink the whole bottle, feel guilty and hungover the next day and most probably make an excuse that day too such as 'I will quit again on Monday', and so it continues,

I completely agree that it is a drug. When I gave up smoking more than 12 years ago, in my minds eye, I viewed the nicotine craving as an evil monster that needed feeding,,, If I fed it by smoking, it would get stronger and if I starved it - it would die... It was very effective for me... Now I wouldn't dream of smoking - couldn't think of anything worse....

Well done on staying so strong - you're an inspiration.

[199days]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Wine-no!;1502801 wrote: Hi 199

I am only on day 8 but I really like your strategy of thinking it through to the end of the drinking fantasy. Like you, I would not stop at one or two glasses of wine so would drink the whole bottle, feel guilty and hungover the next day and most probably make an excuse that day too such as 'I will quit again on Monday', and so it continues,

I completely agree that it is a drug. When I gave up smoking more than 12 years ago, in my minds eye, I viewed the nicotine craving as an evil monster that needed feeding,,, If I fed it by smoking, it would get stronger and if I starved it - it would die... It was very effective for me... Now I wouldn't dream of smoking - couldn't think of anything worse....

Well done on staying so strong - you're an inspiration.

Aww thanks Enjoy the ride ! Bumpy rocky and amazing at times, just NEVER give in ! Being bored senseless ( we all get bored if drinking or not drinking, dont forget this) is still better than the trap of alcohell. Grind it out , go to war with the cravings..see you on day 100 shall we say

[199days]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Had a lovely night, really really like the way I felt, sat in a bar with a band for 3 hours chatting away, kind of forget I was even drinking anything, My Brother was really tanked and that just made me feel even better, cause seeing anyone drunk only makes me stronger. Clarity, real raw feelings and I drove home. Cannot be beaten, love it. Day 497..over

[MonaCat]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Good for you 199 days !

[199days]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Day515. Feel very good of late, total mindset change. I look at pubs/bars now and see them as places where sheep go , people with no individualism just sheep all following each other drinking a toxic drug, ba ba ba. Smug, yeh hell maybe ! But its just so cool and rebellious being stone cold sober.

[Kradle123]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

199days;1518440 wrote: Day515. Feel very good of late, total mindset change. I look at pubs/bars now and see them as places where sheep go , people with no individualism just sheep all following each other drinking a toxic drug, ba ba ba. Smug, yeh hell maybe ! But its just so cool and rebellious being stone cold sober.

Way to go 199,, :goodjob:

Now you have to change your name to 515days...well I guess you'd be changing it every other day...:H
but can we still rethink the avatar...still gives me the creeps...:h

[Live_Love_Learn]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

You are an inspiration 199days- I'm going to read your story tonight when I get home, what you have done is incredible, I hope I can be as successful!

[199days]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Day 522. Hot and warm in London today , quite unnatural pubs and bars had lots of peeps outside all drinking their drugs. This time last year I was craving badly, this year no cravings. They are the ones missing out because they are stuck having to drink , honestly feel nothing as I look at people drinking apart from thank god I don't have to do that.

Anyone who is struggling, grind it out , think the drink through and the end result , it's same ole nothing changes bs.

Feel real good of late, things are really moving in the right direction.

[3June2013]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

199days wow 522 days AF I am so looking forward to being in your smug shoes. LOL

[199days]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Day 540. Not too sure what's been happening of late but I am not getting any cravings, all to easy hmmm must be on guard I think. It's sunny in London the badly dressed are out in their hordes . The sheep ba ba ba are outside the bars and pubs having to drink their drugs in the name of enjoyment sociability or whatever, so glad I don't have to , but one must be decent and have nothing but pity for them.
Was at a BBQ last weekend and one of my friends wife's asked why I was not drinking , I asked her seriously why are you drinking, she kind of blushed and changed the subject ASAP, sometimes I may say I only do crack or meth, all drugs all the same.

I do not care what others think because I do not drink, my total mindset change sees me as the cool one and them as the lost souls devoid of any individualism all following each other.
Read the Craig beck book and watched some of his short videos on you tube, really cool he thinks how I think . Anyone struggling search out Craig beck on you tube look at his stop drinking vids.

Have a great weekend all, getting my crocs Bermuda shirts on and stringed vest on to go shopping, a la British style.

[DriftyAlison0]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

I am at 2 years and every now and then (rare) I do get a craving. But I repeat no and then get my mind off it and the cravings leaves knowing I am not going to drink.

[199days]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

S o S

Crazy struggle with thoughts this weekend, think Iam on top of it and then I get a bit weak and crave it ffs wtf lol.

Facebook pictures people post, cold beers in Garden glasses of wine all like fecking SHEEP !!! but it has been getting to me of late, starting to feel like an alien living in a strange world where all around me people talk of beer and wine.

Been getting a bit preachy on twitter must stop that, no point trying to talk to people who say they love drinking about living sober and how cool it is etc.

Gotta grind through this, roll on cold weather, a lot lot easier then.

[Unwasted]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

199,

I feel like you also - like I'm living in a parallel universe. The rest of the entire world seems to drink. I look at those people, though, and figure they're on a kind of sliding scale, many on their way to having a problem. I've always been fascinated by the theme of appearance versus realty. Most of the time what we're witnessing has something very different going on beneath the surface. Alcohol is SO addictive! I just watch people and figure a lot of them are headed for problems and remind myself that I don't want to start this process over and get back on the roller coaster.

You and I both were impacted by Jason Vales's Kick the Drink. After I read that book, I was just SURE I would never drink again. But, I did. Seven months later I got bored and thought that drinking again would fill the void in my universe. Of course, it didn't and I'm back to being AF. I think the component Vale misses is the way we've changed the hard wiring of our brain. Once I read about how I'd actually changed my neural pathways by drinking for decades, I was able to understand my compulsion to drink even despite dire consequences when I did. When that all came together for me, I was able to get to where I needed to be. I think Vale's book is invaluable, but needs to be accompanied with the brain science of addiction.

Anyway, didn't mean to ramble. Basically just wanted to say that romanticizing others' drinking is just that - a fantasy. Most of them are probably struggling in some way and if not they very well could be down the line. I told this story recently on another thread. I was at a grocery store a few days ago and one of the very young women working there was saying that she wished she had a margarita - it was 10:30 in the morning. I just cringed when I thought of the struggle she might be in the process of creating for her future!

I much admire your hard-one battle and look forward to being where you're at - on my way to two years sober! HUGE congratulations to you!

Best to you,
UN

[199days]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

Unwasted;1532575 wrote: 199,

I feel like you also - like I'm living in a parallel universe. The rest of the entire world seems to drink. I look at those people, though, and figure they're on a kind of sliding scale, many on their way to having a problem. I've always been fascinated by the theme of appearance versus realty. Most of the time what we're witnessing has something very different going on beneath the surface. Alcohol is SO addictive! I just watch people and figure a lot of them are headed for problems and remind myself that I don't want to start this process over and get back on the roller coaster.

You and I both were impacted by Jason Vales's Kick the Drink. After I read that book, I was just SURE I would never drink again. But, I did. Seven months later I got bored and thought that drinking again would fill the void in my universe. Of course, it didn't and I'm back to being AF. I think the component Vale misses is the way we've changed the hard wiring of our brain. Once I read about how I'd actually changed my neural pathways by drinking for decades, I was able to understand my compulsion to drink even despite dire consequences when I did. When that all came together for me, I was able to get to where I needed to be. I think Vale's book is invaluable, but needs to be accompanied with the brain science of addiction.

Anyway, didn't mean to ramble. Basically just wanted to say that romanticizing others' drinking is just that - a fantasy. Most of them are probably struggling in some way and if not they very well could be down the line. I told this story recently on another thread. I was at a grocery store a few days ago and one of the very young women working there was saying that she wished she had a margarita - it was 10:30 in the morning. I just cringed when I thought of the struggle she might be in the process of creating for her future!

I much admire your hard-one battle and look forward to being where you're at - on my way to two years sober! HUGE congratulations to you!

Best to you,
UN

Thank you so much, this post means so much to me !

Never going back, forwards only .

[NoSugar]

Over 300 days and Brutal cravings today..

199days;1532244 wrote: Crazy struggle with thoughts this weekend, think Iam on top of it and then I get a bit weak and crave it ffs wtf lol.

Facebook pictures people post, cold beers in Garden glasses of wine all like fecking SHEEP !!! but it has been getting to me of late, starting to feel like an alien living in a strange world where all around me people talk of beer and wine.

Been getting a bit preachy on twitter must stop that, no point trying to talk to people who say they love drinking about living sober and how cool it is etc.

Gotta grind through this, roll on cold weather, a lot lot easier then.

Hi, 199

I hope you're feeling better after your surprisingly tough weekend. I'm not nearly as long AF as you are but I felt like I was kind of sailing along and then was brought up short by a drink I wasn't expecting to see last weekend. Anyway, temptation passed and I'm fine but it was a reminder about staying alert and having plans in place.

I try not to "preach" to people in the real world (some people on MWO might think I'm a bit dogmatic but I hope my true meaning and concern come across and at least people here obstensibly want to quit drinking). Anyway, like you I feel like I'm observing some people heading for their doom and it is a challenge to keep quiet. I also am concerned about how many people eat and fear that they are setting themselves up for all sorts of metabolic problems.

But, no one one wants to be told what to eat or drink, right? And I don't like feeling negative and judgmental about others. It brings me down and really, most people are doing the best they can, given what they believe, and some of them will be fine, no matter what they eat or drink.

I disagree with Vale and Carr that everyone who drinks is trapped. It also is possible that at low doses, alcohol has some health benefits (although most data come from observational studies and should not be considered a reason to drink, in my opinion, despite the fact that I used that excuse to justify my behavior for a long time...).

I agree with you that being a non-drinker feels kind of cool. Placing an AF beverage order proudly and clearly feels good. But we live in an ethanol-soaked world and need to be able to get along in it. On the upside, I have noticed that people I am with frequently drink less than before (and definitely eat less sugar :H). For me the best way to go is lead the best life I can given the limits I've set for myself or have had set upon me. Maybe others are observing me like I'm observing them and will make some changes if they like how I'm living. I hope so.

I'll never catch you 199 but one of these days I'll be relatively close!

Take care, NS