Question for long term AF ers

[damo180]

Hi all,
I would like to ask all you long termers was ther a time when you said the battle was over. That you have beat this addiction. Or is it it just a very gradual thing ?
I am 11 days AF and want to beat this bastard.
Please dont worry about telling me "its a constant battle" and you always have urges from time to time. It will not stop me from attempting to quit. I am feeling very positive at the moment, but still aware of the cravings that just creep up on me.
I quit smoking 7 years ago. After about 6 months, I was confident enough to feel and say "I will never ever smoke again". I think about the cigs from time to time but its a "thank god I dont smoke anymore" feeling.
Am hoping I will get a similar feeling about AL after a certain amount of time. I have decided 2011 will be the year I quit alcohol. It is my ONE GOAL , and am prepared,have a plan, and ready for the cravings. I really hope I do this.
Life is already much better after such a short time AF.
Thanks
Damo.
(you long termers are my inspiration)

[caysea]

Question for long term AF ers

Hi All
Long term abstainers around here is considered a few years. In AA circles it can be 10 15 20 years. I mention this because of the way I view my time sober. I had a drinking lifestyle for over 40 years. I consider my time sober [2 and 1/2 years ] not very long.
I can give you insight into what did happen to me during different times.
The first 1-10 days sucked!! The ride to about 60 days was filled with battling the cravings.
It seemed around 60-100 day that the cravings eased up a bit. I am not going into what I did just giving a time line of how i felt. At 6 months a little confidence started to come but fear of the unknown kept me [then and now ] on guard.
At 1 year cravings and being around al was not a problem. The 2 year mark had me feeling as if I am a non drinker. Al is a non thing in my life. Don't desire it Don't long for it Don't have any just as I don't eat something I don't like.
I will never feel as if I have won the battle. I am an alcoholic who doesn't drink. I have mentally accepted that I have altered my ability to ever have al without it causing me problems because of how long I abused it.
It really does get easier the longer you have al out of your life. It is a different view of the world around you. It is as if you come out of a thick fog that you function in. To live life in a constant state of being drunk or hung over I can no longer understand. I wish I could speed up everyones sober time so they could see and feel what it will be like. It is so worth the fight!
Hope i was able to give you some insight.

Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF 5-16-08

[LVT25]

Question for long term AF ers

Hi Damo,

My feelings are pretty much the same as Caysea's.

I would say being af was much easier after a year, but once I got past the 2 year mark, it feels more natural and I don't miss it. I don't miss the feeling of being drunk nor hungover. Oh, once in awhile I think it would be nice to just cut loose and relax with a few beers and cigarettes, but then I remember that feeling and the urge goes away rather quickly. I notice I get those feelings mainly when I'm hungry or thirsty. I quit smoking and drinking at the same time by the way.
I say a lot here that when I was drinking I had so many regrets, but I don't have any regrets about quitting.
Stick with us, and work the program!:l

[mario]

Question for long term AF ers

Hi damo,
I dont miss drinking or that drunken buzz whatsoever, and thankfully for me i have never got that urge to go back to my old way of drinking life,it certainly does get better.

[gyco]

Question for long term AF ers

letting go

damo180;1041205 wrote: Hi all,
I would like to ask all you long termers was ther a time when you said the battle was over. That you have beat this addiction. Or is it it just a very gradual thing ?
I am 11 days AF and want to beat this bastard.
Please dont worry about telling me "its a constant battle" and you always have urges from time to time. It will not stop me from attempting to quit. I am feeling very positive at the moment, but still aware of the cravings that just creep up on me.
I quit smoking 7 years ago. After about 6 months, I was confident enough to feel and say "I will never ever smoke again". I think about the cigs from time to time but its a "thank god I dont smoke anymore" feeling.
Am hoping I will get a similar feeling about AL after a certain amount of time. I have decided 2011 will be the year I quit alcohol. It is my ONE GOAL , and am prepared,have a plan, and ready for the cravings. I really hope I do this.
Life is already much better after such a short time AF.
Thanks
Damo.
(you long termers are my inspiration)

hi 180,interesting question,i don t beleive it ever truly goes away,i quit smoking 30 yeas ago,i know i d never smoke and if i kept smoking i d surely be dead,i am one who has wondered about alchohol abuse for years,i think in my case it is all in research,what we were tot as youngsters,the fun of drinking over years of drinking,goes away,habit.my father who was a wonderful man in his own way,had a interesting saying,we smoke and blow it away,iover time that saying got me,thinking,smoking is no good,drinking ok,and alls we do with drink is PISS it away,i ve stopped and started for 41 years,i d never ever change what ive done in my life,but since ive found mwo,ive received a greater understanding of what is rite and wrong,time is on your side :thanks::goodjob:gyco

[Lavande]

Question for long term AF ers

Hi Damo,

I think we all feel the same way but each with a difference or two!
In my case I quit because I HAD to for many reasons. I managed to change my thinking enough to believe that AL is poison & not my friend. I don't miss it, think about it - it just doesn't exist for me.
I will be 2 years AF in March & intend to remain that way, no matter what!
I wish I could stop thinking about the smokes too. Unfortunately they still enter my consciousness several times/day. I will be 2 years NF in May. I smoked much longer than I drank so I think I just need more time to complete that adjustment. I do consciously tell myself that smoking & drinking never made anything better in my life, no point in going back