Monday, January 8th...

[Olly]

Mornin' Absville,

I actually am reluctant to start this new thread as the one started on Saturday (Jan 10th) is filled with such good stuff that I hate to start fresh. But, I'm trusting that PaulB, Lisa, Mike and everyone else here will pitch in again today and create yet another "thread" (um, more like life-line at times!) for us all here.

I'm officially at day 8 after the wine with dinners and the New Years' Eve drinks... but, having experienced 25AF days before the holidays, I'm really happy to be back on the uncharted trail of sobriety again. I really do love it here.

Lisa and Mike...you are huge inspiration. Thanks.

Okay, off to the gym to start my day with an endorphin high and a cleansing, spiritual sweat.

Have a good one, all!
Olly

[Mackeral]

Monday, January 8th...

Good Morning Olly, and all yet to visit,

Day 7 Today, longest i've gone since the end of November..
Got an appointment at the doctors this morning. Since going AF again my sleep has been terrible..Going to bed about 4am..and getting up about 9am...This has been going on for a week now..I just lie there wide awake...Then you start thinking..Then worrying...So hopefully he will give me some elephant tranquilisers or something..ANYTHING..

The diet has gone out the window aswell...I'm struggling to do both at the same time...And getting off the drink is more important...

I got football tonight aswell, i havnt been able to go since my little op before Christmas...So hopefully that should tire me out aswell...
Always good to get some of that aggression out..lol

Have a great day everyone...Love Macks:l

[Olly]

Monday, January 8th...

Hey Macks,
Sorry to hear about the sleep deprivation... yikes, I would be off the wall! Hope the doc can help.
Have you tried a good long walk (in the evenings maybe) to fill you up with fresh air, maybe get out a little stress? It might help to sleep better. But, what do I know. If there is one problem I don't have... it's sleeping.
Here's to looong, sweet dreams for you tonight!
Olly

[Newyear]

Monday, January 8th...

Mornin' Olly and Macks!

Congrats on days 8 and 7 respectively macks - sorry also to hear about the sleep issue. Sleeping well is underrated. I've read and heard recently that lack of sleep will cause you to eat more too...not very fair is it? I got to sleep late last night - talkin on the phone to my mom. Melatonin has really done the trick for me for helping me sleep - have you tried that macks? I am still taking it- about 1.5mg a night - half a tablet. I was having a terrible time getting to sleep - heart racing at times, anxiety etc. The melatonin helped me relax enough to fall asleep. I like it because it is a natural supp too - on a sleeping pill.

Well, since I got to sleep late I got up late. But I'm headed to the gym too Olly in search of some of those endorphins!
I'm working from home this week - Yea! No 45 min commute to work for the next 3-4 days.
Have fun - and be safe - at your football game Macks!
Hello to everyone not posted yet too
Lisa

[Java]

Monday, January 8th...

I didn't make it last night, that sucks. I am trying again today. I am doing pretty good with the no smoking thing ( day 2 today) I think it is easy to quit smoking b/c all i can think about is what I will be doing tonight and how hard Iwill struggle. Who knows, I am also going to go buy the calms forte I have heard a few people recommend, I am going to see if that helps. Thanks for listening ( oh yeah, not being able to get on here yesterday was horribel)

[mikeupnorth]

Monday, January 8th...

Hello Olly, Macks, Lisa and Newgrl,

And of course all the rest of Absville,

I don't know yet what I'm going to write here but I just posted under Long Term Abs if you want to pop over there.... I posted about my weekend painting at my new condo (and how I had to make an attitude adjustment in the middle of doing it). I finished but I'm sore all over!

Speaking of the painting, I observed that I had the desire to drink each evening after I got done working on it... Actually it kind of freaked me out a little. I guess it's because I do these kind of projects so infrequently, and whenever I've done them in the past I always "rewarded" myself with alcohol after a hard day's work. (This kind of work is much different than what I do for a living, too.) So I turned on my "It's not an option" mantra and came home and ate instead... eating usually takes away the desire to drink, and it did. But then last night I had a drinking dream! Yikes. Time to start paying attention to my program and getting back to basics... I REALLY don't want to blow it after getting this far. I'm not having physical cravings -- I think I'm past those at this point -- but these are psychological cravings due to situations I find myself in. And I just have to learn to adjust to those situations without alcohol. It's all part of clearing the path of sobriety, I guess.

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well out there whether you're just starting out, or just starting again.

~ Mike

[Newyear]

Monday, January 8th...

Hi Mike,
Thanks for posting that here. I sometimes miss things on long term abs. I appreciate your honesty, and as someone else said here - it is nice to be alerted to things we might expect down the road a bit from those who are already there.

Congrats on the new condo. It is fun and exhausting at the same time. When I moved into my townhome I wanted to paint everything - and did! It is so hard! Seems so easy!
I painted one bathroom twice (didn't like the color). Enjoy it though. Feels great to have your own place doesn't it?


Lisa

[lorisunshine]

Monday, January 8th...

Good morning all,
Am officially starting day 8. Yesterday was somehow stressful. Had to work all day and wanted to get on the forum, but no way was that happening until late evening. This morning I need to make an appointment with my dentist, I broke my one and only good bicaspis in half. I probably need an implant, oh sh.t...... can you guys see the dollar signs flying through the air. Well, just one of these things. If it's not my teeth, it's the roof or the dryer. Always something to curdly ones milk.

Mack, by the way I am sleeping way better. I am taking one Valeriana at night. I don't know if this is really helping or if my system is just starting to sort itself out naturally. If I get woken by the bloody cat, who wants out, then at least I fall back asleep.

Mike, I understand the cravings. I had that with smoking. There is a strong association for doing a physical job that is out of the ordinary. When you stop, your subconcience thinks it should be rewarded with a treat. For me it was a coffee and a cig. For you it might be a beer or the likes. I really don't think that at this point its a concious decision. Just tell that "other" voice that, unfortunately, you are fresh out of treats or even better, replace it with something save.

I am still suffering from the creepy crawlies in my extremities and don't know if that is even fixable. I hope it is not permanent nerve damage.
Well must attend to my broken biter. Love you all and hang in there.
Lori

[InnerStrength]

Monday, January 8th...

Hey all
I am on day 6. I have to admit the weekend was really hard and i was so grouchy. I hated that I felt like I was :missing something" but then in the mornings (ex Sat and Sun morning) I would think to myself, well, if you're missing anything, its the hangovers!
It helped....a little. Friday night was really hard and Sat was somewhat hard but by evening I was ok again.
I think I really need to find an alternate way to have "fun". I'm working on that...

I know that over a period of time of heavy drinking, the brain stops producing certain "feel good" chemicals because it relies on the constant alcohol to provide this. However, it's my understanding the brain can be somewhat 'fixed' through the use of the supplements and vitamins and, more importantly, over time. This thinking, surprisingly has really helped me deny the alcohol recently. I keep thinkiing about my brain and how each day I go AF, I am helping repair my brain a little (I have no idea if its true but it really helps me).
Anyways, hope all is well - love you all!
Love Jen

[southernbelle47]

Monday, January 8th...

Good Monday Absville,

Not a good weekend here. Lots of stress.
I need to start a "dog holiday" thread over in general. Belle decided that she and Daisy would go for a "walk" in the woods. This was after I took both their collars off. It took about thirty minutes of calling and looking for them to come back. Belle (son's dog) came out first. Then after about fifteen more minutes Daisy (daughter-in-love's dog) came out smelling of something dead! Yuck!
I put them both in the tub and scrubbed and fussed on them. Belle wouldn't make eye contact for hours! I think she thought she would "loose" Daisy and then get all her food, toys and attention! Just like a three year old child!
The good news is ....Daisy went home last night and Belle is once more the spoiled only child!
The bad news is.......I drank a bottle of wine with dinner.
@#%$##@#$ not sure what that means but its got to be better than potty mouth!!
Had a long "come to Jesus" talk with hubby Sunday morning and while he really doesn't understand why I can't just have one drink I think he is understanding more how hard it is to have so much wine around here.
I feel bad about this because wine making has always been fun for him. We discussed, where do we go from here to get me the help I need. Just talking about it helped.
OK back to day two here.

Hi to Olly and Lisa and Mike and Macks.
I understand the sleep problem as have had trouble for years. Have tried almost everything...sleeping pills and Ativan and now benedryl. They all work for a while. I have melatoin but have not tried it. Calms Forte and sleepy time tea, and a long warm bath. For the last year I have tried to go to more natural products. I know they have side effects too but not like prescription drugs.

Mike..........Paint and then craving? Maybe an allergy to fumes? Read that somewhere. I think it was in the thread about what KIND of alcoholic are you?

Newgirl......one day at a time and one addiction at a time...be patient with yourself. We don't get addicted over night.
:h to everyone else that comes here.. post or no.
Nancy:l

[southernbelle47]

Monday, January 8th...

Hi to Jen too!
I think you're on to something there!
Love,
Nancy

[YoungAtHeart]

Monday, January 8th...

Hi All,

Boy, it was hard having the site down for so long yesterday!! I'm glad that I had a lot of other things to do though.

After posting yesterday, I've been able to do more thinking. Instead of feeling trapped, I can feel the little brain cells starting to rearrange themselves. Instead of feeling rather envious of everyone else's success, I am starting to feel that I CAN be abstinent again and it doesn't have to be horrible or anything. Rather I can feel the joy and pride that I felt before. It is so amazing how these old mindsets and patterns can grip you so quickly! :sighbubble: At any rate, just coming on here and posting the truth help me enormously in getting started on a better path, at least in terms of my mindset. I'm now looking forward to my sister leaving for NY so that I can have some alone time for me.

I have things to do this week to get ready--getting some stuff out of the garage so I can set up my exercise room, primarily. I hate exercising outdoors during the winter and being at the mercy of the weather. It sounds stupid, but I am also going to take my supps FIRST THING in the morning instead of farting around with my coffee, getting on the computer, etc.--that way, I will be sure not to FORGET the darn things.:duh: Sounds simple enough, but there have been days when I have left for work and realized that I haven't taken them!

So again,:thanks:

Olly, I hope to soon be joining you in the gym! Keep up the good work, and don't ever be reluctant to start the thread. You always have good things to say.

Macks, keep your jewels safe during football tonight, honey! I hope the exercise helps you to sleep and/or the doc has something to offer in the way of help.

Nice to work from home, Lisa, enjoy! And enjoy your time at the gym, as well!

I'm glad that you are trying again today, Newgrl. Continuing to try is the best guarantee of ultimate success!

Mike, congrats on getting into the condo and the "joys of painting". Good for you for resisting the urge to drink! I'm glad that you come back here and share with us; it is always helpful and instructive, as well as encouraging!

Lisa, thanks for the PM, I'll get back to you soon, love!

Lori, good work on reaching day 8. Yes, I can see the $$$ about your tooth. It does always seem to be something, doesn't it? I hope the tingling in your extremities eases up. That must be a little scary. Are you taking topa? Topa can cause that in some people. I think there is a supplement that can help, although I don't know if it works if you're not taking topa. >

Hey Jen, good to see you here! I'm sure that my brain is depleted of those "feel good" chemicals, for certain! I think that it is a good idea to remind yourself that you will be interfering with your brain repairing itself if you have a drink. I will be using that one when I go ABS for sure!

Anyway, that's all for now. Everyone take care, and for all yet to post, I hope you have a good day!

Hugs,
Kathy:l

Oops! Hi Nancy! We were posting at the same time!

[Accountable for Me]

Monday, January 8th...

Good Morning!

Day 10 for me... Gosh, I am so thankful the weekend is over. Like many, I struggled through it as well. I believe it is the after effects of the holidays! Back to 'life' and it's 'responsibilities'. Anyhoo... just wanted to wish you all a great day!

[kitkatsue]

Monday, January 8th...

Hello all,

Day 10 for me as well. I have had some awful Monday's after a weekend binder. Mondays that I would go to work and the day would not seem to end, and I dreaded the beginning of it and I would tell myself I would never do that again and for awhile I would be fine, but then I would just end up going back.

Today I don't feel that way I feel like I can face the day without dread and it will probably go along much quicker since I'm feeling so much better. I wouldn't trade this feeling for anything.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!!!!
Kitkat

[Birdman]

Monday, January 8th...

Hello Everyone

Wow, what a great weekend of postings.

New Girl, we are all pulling for you.

I was wondering if most of you out there are doing the entire prescribed program. I have tried to do the entire program and am starting to evaluate what parts are the most helpful but I am still not sure. What I am sure of is that every day that I have taken my meds and supps and excercised and listened to the hypno cd I have not drank. It has not been easy and in time I am pretty sure like Mike up North and many others I will be able to determine what is necesaary and what is not. Most projects (not drink related) I have done in the past I have only participated in part of the recommended plan and when it failed was always left wondering why it didn't work.

Your thoughts?:thanks:

Best wishes to you all.

Birdman.