AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

[MormonMom]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Good Morning Everyone,
sounds like most of us are living in some pretty chilly weather. Our snow has melted where we've shoveled, but the roads are an icey mess.
Having a hectic morning; kids are crying, whining, etc. Nothing that makes me crave a drink, just a getaway. And speaking of, I leave for work tonite. Will be gone 'til tomorrow.
I hope everyone keeps their sobriety.
Have a GREAT day! :-)

[A Work in Progress]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

one2many;512745 wrote: "vodkapade" mental review as an anti-craving strategy


Wip, I can't find this, can you explain it?

Oney, it's just what DG and I were saying in our posts: when I am craving alcohol, or thinking it would a really nice idea to have a drink, it helps a lot to deliberately turn my attention to a memory of a drinking episode in which things turned out really badly, and to deliberately remember it in full detail, going through it almost moment-by-moment. Or you can also deliberately choose to picture what it will or would be like if you DO choose to go ahead and have that "nice drink," filling in the details in a realistic way, based on your own drinking history (and for me, that means that it always ends up poorly!).

[on my way]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Oney, feckin cold here too

[Cinders]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

WIP,

I like the Rewind Tactic, remembering in excruciating detail how our drinking ALWAYS ends up. Always, in my case.

I also like the Distraction Tactic.

Today, I was reading the "My Campral Journal" and Skinned Knees posted a good idea. I view it is the Delay Tactic. Here is an excerpt:

I have an idea that has worked for me. It takes AT LEAST a week, sometimes two weeks (and even longer in some of the cases with certain meds that I take), for the Campral to fully take effect. I said to myself "I'm not going to drink for a week to see if this med works. I can always drink after that." I know I can pick up the bottle anytime I want to, so what difference does it make if I don't drink for a week? The AL will always be there at the liquor store. It's not like the liquor store is going to run out and I absolutely have to drink tonight before they run out. So I am forging ahead and really giving it a chance. I did have a bad craving yesterday, but picked up a book and before I knew it, the craving passed.

I like the Delay Tactic because it fits so well with my ODAT ways. I won't drink today but I can drink tomorrow if I really want to. Now, I am not saying it is "okay" to drink tomorrow, but just the thought that I can if I want to helps relieve the anxiety of the "never drink again" fears.

I love all three of the tools.

Love,
Cindi

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Good morning!

Cindi, it is so good to see you posting here. I am glad you are feeling better.

I use the delay tactic & use the last time I had drank as a way of staying sober

I know I can drink anytime I want to. Even with a Court order for alcohol testing. The liquor store is only a block away from where I live. I could go there anytime and buy wine or vodka; whatever I want to. BUT a big "why bother, what will that do for you?" comes to my mind immediately. Then I think of how SHIIIIITTY I felt the last binge in December. How agressive and mean I was - just lost complete control of my emotional self. (sorry WIP.... and sorry to many others in my 'real life'). That is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow now. Not to mention that I simply DON'T ever want to drink again. The same goes with the smokes. If I do slip on the smokes eventually, I won't beat myself up as I am finding quitting alcohol much more important at the moment. But, both are doing very well.

LVT - I feel your frustration with the phone. I only texted my first message just over a week ago, and hated every minute of it. When I buy something, I want it to work immediately. I have NO interest in electronics unless they require minimal set up and work right off of the bat.

Hello to everyone else. No huge plans today as my little one is off of school on Wednesday's. I will send my resume out to where ever and just keep on, keeping on! xoxoxo

[charlee]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Morning all
I am at work and have not had the opportunity to read the entire thread......
Cindi when I went AF I promised myself to never say never, as never can be a hell of a long time!!!
I approached this (and still do) with the words I first said to hubby..."I am choosing not to drink today, but make no promise for tomorrow".....Keeping it simple for me works best. I just concern myself with today...not yesterday, and not tomorrow......
Everyone have a great day

[on my way]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

After reading thru the thread about vodkapades (sp?) angle I remembered something Larissa had posted last may in the what I hate, loath etc thread. All I need to do is give this a little look. it works for me...... Larissa said it very well:


-running out of booze before I'm passed out - having to drive to go get more
-not having any on Sunday when the liquor store's closed and I thought it would be nice (!) to have a sober day
-not being able to commit to things with friends because I know I'd rather drink
-lying
-having to get chores/errands done fast so I can drink
-not doing chores/errands because I want to drink
-30 pounds on my ex-lean, athletic body - who is this???
-my teeth wearing sweaters in the morning
-throwing up
-being broke
-lying
-constant dieting that doesn't work anyway
-trying to act sober on the phone
-screwed-up sleep schedule
-constant dehydration
-lying
-fuzzy head
-forgetting entire conversations/trying not to let it show in subsequent ones
-bathroom issues - both extremes - nuff said
-guilt
-trash cans full of more wine bottles than the liquor store and enough corks to get the cast of Lost off the island
-realizing I spent 3/4 of the weekend passed out, and it was beautiful outside
-being a slave

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

OMW - that is a GREAT list. SO true!

(thanks Larissa). Where is she anyway??

[stargirl]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Happy Sober Wednesday
While reading the thread I remember what the hardest part of imagining sobriety was for me. Like you said Charlee & afm..it was the thought of "I can't drink again...ever! " On my wedding day I won't be able to have a glass of champagn? My outpatient teacher told me "you can drink, whenever you want, you CHOOSE not to" My hardest part was the first night grocery shopping, walking past the booze section literally in fear of checking out without my box of wine. I was scared of being "alone" without my "best friend" that night. kinda scary really how important that relationship was...(still is) Oh, well that was a bit of a tangent hu? Sorry, I'm still new so I guess I have lots to vent still! Hope everyone is enjoying their day.

[LookingToGrow]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

OMW,
Love the list. Thanks for sharing :h

[BridgetJones1998]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Thanks to EVERYONE! This is so inspiring.

[Accountable for Me]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

stargirl, vent away. It is so helpful to get your thoughts down. Plus it helps us as well knowing what others are thinking and feeling.

New or not, you are one of us! xoxoxo

[LookingToGrow]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Accountable for Me;512879 wrote: stargirl, vent away. It is so helpful to get your thoughts down. Plus it helps us as well knowing what others are thinking and feeling.

New or not, you are one of us! xoxoxo

Ditto :h

[on my way]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Stargirl...you know what really kills me...I am a bargin shopper, my market every few months puts out a cart or 2 of wine 50% off. I walk away. Or more like run away.

[kitkatsue]

AF Daily Wednesday January 7th 2009

Hello everyone !

Sausage, not long after I went AF, this last time, I woke up with my whole right arm feeling dead, don't know how else to put it, anyway I thought I had slept on it. But it happened again the next morning. And it has happened a few times before, probably
just dehydration, sorry I can't help you more just thought I would share that I did experience a problem.

Vodkapade, now there is a reality check. I think if I even smell vodka right now I would hurl.

I enjoyed reading this thread i need to come here more often !

kit