Hi Violet, my name is Chera and I, too, am a recent signup.
Quitting alcohol is very hard...so here is the question...
'Are you fed up with being fed up?'. That is what I finally realized.
Here are some questions to help you answer that question.
Do you have health issues because of your drinking?
Are you becoming a loner?
Have you lost the respect of some friends and family?
Are you drinking way to early in the day?
Have you lost your motivation to follow thru on important parts of your life...school, work, seeing or talking to friends and family,
exercising, eating, sleeping well?
Those are all things I lost until I got fed up. REALLY FED UP!!!!
Fed up enough to say 'I quit' out loud and to significat people in
my life. I asked them for a kick in the butt, because I knew I was strong enough to do, I just needed support. Any kind of support.
Whether it be a friend, family member, AA meeting, 12 step readings,
inspirational readings, self help books, anything....
There is something, person, place, or thing that can give you the strength to look past your guilt, your feelings of failure, your low self-esteem and make you see you really are a GOOD person with a BAD habit. Remember that...'You are a GOOD person'. Right now you just have a problem fault you need to come to terms with.
I am no saint by any means. The first time I quit I went like 80+ days before thinking I am doing so well, maybe a glass of wine or two wouldn't hurt. But the whole self-destructive cycle started over and got worse and worse. This is my second attempt at abstinence and I am only on Day 12 but I am doing it different, and better this time.
I worry about another relapse. But I am not going to dwell on it.
I have staying sober as a number 1 priority in my life and work
the 12 step program. I say a prayer every morning to thank my
Higher Power for giving me the previous day of soberness and for giving me another day to live the way I want to live...Alcohol free.
Hope that helps. Just know you are not alone and every day is not
going to be a struggle. It is a struggle because we make it a struggle. Acceptance is the key. Accept that there is someone, something, some place wiser than you that will help you through this.
Take care
