Hi everyone,

I have been a frequent user of this site in the past. I posted here regularly when I quite drinking for 3 years, from 2015 to 2017.

I have had a bumpy couple years with alcohol since them. I have managed to stay away from it for weeks and months at a time, but thats not long enough. I want to give myself a break of at least 6 months, then decide if I want to stay away permanently or it.

I have been going back reading my posts from when I quit before. They are really helpful. Its like my sober self is giving advice to my non sober self.

Also, I had great support here from Ashley, Lynn and other people. I am hoping to hear from more of you.

Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback from anyone. Thanks

Hey Lynn,

Its great to hear from you!

What I learned from reading my owns posts so far is this. When I quit before, I changed how I thought about drinking. As an example, instead of saying "I should not drink" or "I dont want to drink" I was asking myself the question "Why should I drink? What possible benefits will this provide for me?" The answer of course is nothing. Drinking provides nothing for me. It does nothing only creates problems.

Anyway, this site worked for me before. I plan on sharing alot here in the coming. Thanks alot for touching base with me!

My goal for now is 180 days alcohol free. I recall Ashley telling us many years ago that people need a MINIMUM 90 days to reset their brain around alcohol. I need above the minimum. I intend to post here daily just to keep myself on track.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hey Lynn,

I am filling up my evenings with things I can do now that I’m not drinking. I am much like you were when I drank - I drank alone when I wanted to drink to excess. That’s a very lonely existence! I am keeping busy and I’m asking myself “Why would I want to drink?” I can’t come up a reason why. My mindset is what I have to focus on in order to be successful.

Thanks for the support Lynn! I’m sticking with this cause I know it worked for me before and I know it will again.

Have a great day!

Hi Ashley,

Thank you for responding.

Yes, I'm ready to give my body and mind a good break from alcohol. I decided to give myself another break because the alcohol was again creating too many problems in my life. Its caused problems in relationships. It is also causing problems with how my mind functions. I am taking anti depressants right now, and I think I ended up on them due at least partly to alcohol consumption.

I know you recommended 90 days as a break, but I feel like I need a longer break. And yes, posting here regularly helped me immensely before, so I intend on posting all 180 days, even if Im not getting a response, just to keep myself focused.

What will I do if somehow rationalize the need for a drink? In my last stint being alcohol free, Im pretty sure that did not occur. But if it does occur, I have several tools I am going to use:

1)I have been doing a quit drinking hypnosis by Michael sealed lately (its on Youtube). He gets you to picture the urge for a drink in the past , then fast forward to the bad things that happened. I intend on picturing bad things happening the minute I get an urge

2)I can go for a long walk if I get an urge to drink. I recall doing alot of long walks when I stopped from 2015 to 2017.

3)I can attend an AA meeting on Zoom. If I attend those meetings, I wont drink. Attending those meetings is a good reminder of what can go wrong when I drink.

Thanks for asking the question Ashley. It just made me refocus on what to do if that happens.

Have a great day!

Great Post Lynn!

I listened to Allan Carrs book, Easy Way to Control Alcohol, back when I quit for 3 years the first time around. That was one of the first topics he covered. He called it Will Power. People only have a certain amount of will power. You can't have success relying on will power alone. Eventually it wanes.

And ".....doing what is right rather then what's easy...." is also something we need to keep in mind. The most fulfilling things we find in life aren't the easiest pathways. Some of the best things in life require us to forgo the easy path for the better path.

Have a great day!

Well I made it through week 1 with no alcohol. I honestly did not have any withdrawal symptoms, and did not have any urges to drink at all. Now I just want to repeat the week over again/ I don't expect to have urges, as my mindset is set up properly now. Even if I do have urges, I have my 3 option plan to get me out of that urge. Those being hypnosis, long walks and other exercise, and online AA support meetings. 

Have a great week guys!

Well I made it through week 1 with no alcohol. I honestly did not have any withdrawal symptoms, and did not have any urges to drink at all. Now I just want to repeat the week over again/ I don't expect to have urges, as my mindset is set up properly now. Even if I do have urges, I have my 3 option plan to get me out of that urge. Those being hypnosis, long walks and other exercise, and online AA support meetings. 

Have a great week guys!

Hey grapeseed,

Good to hear from you. I hope you can get a helpful idea or two from my posts.

Regarding the cravings issue - Allan Carrs book Easy Way to Control Alcohol clarified that issue for me. A “craving” is not really a craving for alcohol. It’s simply a feeling of uneasiness - that something is missing. When I drank, I did so in the evening, in front of the TV. I don’t actually “crave” alcohol. Rather, I am looking for something to have in my hand while watching TV. I have replaced alcohol with diet pop. I even pour it into the small glass I used when I drank alcohol. Diet pop is not that great for me either, but it won’t do the damage alcohol does.

I don’t know if my answer makes sense, but that’s how I’m thinking about it.

Also, I try not to worry about drinking too much. I have crossed the line in the sand now. I have decided on a 6 month break, which is August 31st. I’m not drinking for at least 6 months, so I don’t need to worry about it. I have found in the past that if I worried too much, I would think about alcohol too much. I’m just trying to form a new way living. Alcohol is not part of my plan for me right now.

One day at a time is the only way we can live. It’s the only way we can do anything really. You not skipping your workout today - that’s the type of living we need to focus on. We can’t magically get fit overnight. But if we stick with our regular regime, it pays off longer term. I just have to be patient. One day at a time can lead to huge improvement over the long term.

Hope you have a great day! Take care.

gus