Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

[sunshine_gg]

K.. I don't even know where to start.. my life has been turned upside down (once again) and I'm having to deal with a lot of stuff right now. And, dammit, I'm not going to use that as an excuse, because we all know, that dealing with difficult stuff SOBER is a heck of a lot better than seeing through the 'fog'.

I've been trying to 'moderate' the last month and a half or so.. with limited success (to be kind here). I can do 5-7 days AF. Whoohoo. Impossible 6 months ago, no doubt. However, the moderating game isn't quite working either. The old story, once I start.. oh boy.. watch out.

A week ago, I reverted back to DUI (dialing under the influence), etc. Drinking 4 days out of 7. So not cool.

Dammit, I HATE this. Really. I so thought that I was 'over the hump'.

However, no matter how you cut it, I am able to pull off several days of NOT drinking in a row - which is something IMPOSSIBLE a few short months ago... so I am grateful for that.

But now what? Where to go from here?

.

[changemylife]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Hi Sunshine:

Moderation is not all its cracked up to be!

We all need a reason not to continue drinking. Modding is difficult. I have had some bumps in the road. Here is how I deal with things.

Every time I take a drink, you need to know that there is a limit. The times that I have messed up, I did not go into it with a plan of attack.

Don't drink. I keep the option open to have a few if need be but...

I Never drink angry,sad, happy , etc. Only drink in the right frame of mind.

Pace yourself. Stop and feel it before taking another.

If I feel something is going wrong, stop before it is too late.

My reason not to drink is plain and simple: I have too much responsibility to myself and my Family. If I fail, my family,my business, my life fails.

I occasionally partake in a few but follow the signs and commercials: Drink Responsibly.

Remember too. We are never Cured or Free from AL so don't ever think that we can go back!

I have had many times where I thought I was cured and fell right back to "the shit"

I now realize that there is no cure.

[startingover]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Sunny butt!
Its good to see you!
I have no advice my friend as I simply know modding is impossible for me.
Maybe you need to go AF?
I am glad you are back, you have been missed around here...

[sunshine_gg]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

:wavin: Hey peeps!

Thank you cml... you've made some very good points. I guess, sometimes this whole thing seems TOO easy and that's when we forget that we've got a short in the off-switch. Staying AF sure seems like less effort than trying to moderate. Hmm.

.

[Evie.Lou]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Nice to see you again. Can't give you advise on Mod cause I can't do it (no way/no how) but it's nice to see you posting again !!! I have missed you and thought of you often.

[Sunbeam]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Hey Sunshine,
AF really is easier than this modding thing. For some, it seems you have to spend so much energy thinking about drinking that you need a drink! Having a drink isn't that great, it's not worth risking your health or well-being. I think you have already read all the posts and strategies under Long Term Moderation. If nothing you've read has helped you find a system that works, maybe drinking moderately is not an option for you. Many here say they can't moderate, and I believe them.

[DeeBee]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Hi Sunny,

I am sorry to hear you are having a tough time of it.
As for drinking moderately -- it's a toughie, because it's not the easier path tbh.
But if it is a path that you are committed to then you have to have a plan in place.
Did you have a goal for your drinking and what tools were you using to achieve your goal?

For me, I just love Sunbeam's definition of drinking moderately......."I drink on occassion, every week is not an occassion"

Please know that you will be warmly welcomed and supported on the daily Mod Squad thread if modding is your goal.

Best wishes to you Sunny.

[shirazgirl]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Hi Sunshine,
Modding is not something I can do w/ wine. Once the corks comes off, I come apart. It easier to not start, than you don't have to stop. DUI - Oh, I know it to well, I used to hide my phone from my own self when I started drinking. I have woke up way to many times and looked at my phone to see who I called and then started wondering what the hell I said. I smile when I'm sober.

[Seacailin]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Sunni Butt!!!!
Damn I have missed u woman. You know that I am a falling down drunken lush who can't mod.lol. It's all or nothing with me baby. Care to join me in my suffering? Kidding. I just must accept my fate. Great to have you back.

[acm]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

mod

Well I have been moding for about 3 weeks with good success. My secret is to drink red wine which lends itself to sipping because it doesn't get too warm to drink. Whereas, white wine, beer and cocktails all get warm and wattered down and therefore aren't as tasty. These cold drinks also make me want to drink them fast. I live in Florida.

Also, I make a drink last 1 hour. So, far I have had stayed the course by either not having a drink or by having 1-2.5 each nite. Because I am drinking at this slow pace I always keep my wits and judgement. I have to admit that I do enjoy having control of the situation. Also, when drinking this slow you really taste the complexity and tastiness of the wine. Hope that helps.

[mario]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

As a person who tried controlling my drinking i think its a no no,Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic,we always get worse never better we are never cured,our alcoholism can only be stopped if we stop.no matter how long we have been sober,if we try alcohol again we are as bad or worse than we ever were,we can never recapture the good times of the past they are gone forever.

[DeeBee]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Welcom ACM!!

Congrats on maintaining your moderation goals. Please feel free to come and post on the Mod Squad thread which is where many of us who's goal is to drink moderately "hang out".

Sunny, how are you doing?? I was thinking of you yesterday -- check in please:-)

[wino]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

This my first day on here -- have been to AA -- it simply didn't work for me. I am a daily wine drinker and would either like to stop completely or find out if it is "possible" for me to go back to moderate drinking.

[Sunbeam]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Wino,
Many here start out by going 30 days Alcohol Free, during which you can learn strategies for not drinking. Your decision may well emerge for you. I recommend that you join the Newbies Nest group, posting under the Just Starting Out section.

acm, you could also consider this approach.

[Minnie]

Wow... what a roller coaster ride!

Hi Sunshine

You are doing well to get 5-7 days AF - I've only managed one so far. I stay determined all day that I'm going to be AF and then when I sit in front of the TV in the evening my will breaks.

Any tips from anyone would be appreciated!