EvolutionHealth.care

Home
Main Forum
Managing Drinking
Success Stories
So it begins

Advanced Search Form

So it begins

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 17

One week - whew!

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 17

Jeez - I feel like a kid who just got a gold star - really - no sarcasm intended at all. Thank you so much for the support and comments.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

allegron,

I have moved this to the success forum!

This is a success and a beautiful one, I see the smile on your face!

Cut and paste this into a success journal, it will be a wonderful memory to look back on and share with your family!

Keep strong,

Josie, Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 17

Saturday morning and no hangover or tiredness - how strange.... Dinner last night with my family was in a word - WONDERFUL! No hurry to get it over with to go home and drink, no worries about who was driving home. Great conversation and laughter. After we went shopping and no stresses about crowded stores or bad customer service. There is definitely a different flow to life when it does not revolve around alcohol. The awareness of how drinking controls your life and schedule is quite an eye-opener. My wife says I am looking good - energetic and not so haunted or tired. Another benchmark is that I got through an entire interaction with Bell Canada without once losing my patience or using profanity - this has to be progress.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11216

Allegron,

I am enjoying reading your observations. The are insightful and interesting.

I am glad you are sleeping better. I also like the idea of dinner out. What a nice reward. Remember however to take it easy on yourself. If you just need a few down days that is ok. You body and mind are going through a lot now. Be kind to yourself.

Be sure to let us know how dinner goes!

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 17

Observations day five. Two nights of uninterrupted sleep. Usually I wake up and then I done for the night. I was able to read last night before going to sleep, usually I hit the pillow and I am out. More energy and concentration last night during an evening meeting. Usually I am tired and distracted. I just want to get home and drink. I have been walking around with this strange feeling in my head since yesterday. I think the feeling is normacly. The weekend and its various events and committments is somewhat daunting. I would like to hibernate. My wife asked me what are we going to do tonight. She usually does not ask as she knows I am more interested in staying home drinking or going out to a bar. I think dinner out with the family would be a great idea. With all the money saved on alcohol this week we can easily afford it.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 17

Looking at my thoughts from Tuesday I feel compelled to respond to myself. While I like drinking I am weighing the control alcohol has over me versus the control I would like to have in my own life. The urge to drink yesterday was pretty strong and quite distressing. I found myself constantly seeking distractions - with success thankfully. I also feel somewhat detached - like this is an experiment on myself. At this point I seem to have no emotional investment in this beyond wanting control of my life back. And writing this I see, to some degree, that alcohol was a buffer for my emotions. I guess we not only drown our sorrows, but our joys as well.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 17

Josie - thanks for the advice and support. 48 hours in and I wonder about the whole counting the hours and days thing. I like the re-framing from thinking about this as loss to looking at what I am gaining. I am also finding the process surreal. I am not used to engaging in so much introspection and seem to dwell on what I am going through and why I am doing this. Beyond knowing that it is a bad thing, I like to drink, I like the taste and the feeling it brings while I am drinking. I would be interested to hear other thoughts about this. The guilt and physical manifestations the next day are another thing altogether.

What I do really appreciate is how safe I feel in sharing my thoughts and feeling in this forum. This is not something I could do with another person or in a group face-to-face.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

allegron,

This has been a steady existence in your everyday life. The sense of loss is normal, so turn it around and make it a gain. You have gained more time to do important things, reconnect with family, reconnect with your mind and body and refocus on what is important.

Journaling is a great way to realize triggers and areas to work on. Post often and let us know how we can help!

Josie, Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

Ice cream is a great coping mechanism!

Make a list of activities

Make a list of chores

Make a list of rewards

Make a list of relaxation techniques

Choose at will and use this to help with the craves, always be ready!

Josie, Health Educator

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

So it begins