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How do I stay motivated?


13 years ago 0 1022 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
OMG! Athena, you just described my social life to a T.
I love Scrabble too :)  I play online with the computer and sometimes with my sister who lives clear across the country.  Computer games are one of my resources for distraction.  check out pogo games on yahoo
13 years ago 0 2606 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello Athena,
 
Establishing a support system can definitely take time. Although it can be difficult, do try to be patient. Finding the right group of people to confide in and share your deepest thoughts with is no delicate matter. You need to make sure you can trust these people and feel comfortable with them.
 
It sounds like the women for sobriety group will be a great place to meet other women with whom you can relate to. 
Hopefully you will connect with even one other lady at the group meet. Keep working hard and stay focused on your goals. There are lots of people out there who enjoy playing board games and chatting. You could always try to find a meet up group in your area for people who enjoy board games.
 
We are here for you, you are not alone! 
 
Members, how did you build your support system?
 
 

Samantha, Health Educator
13 years ago 0 1562 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0

Here is a snippet from the book called AA. see if your experience fits one of these categories:

There are many situations which arise out of the phenomenon of craving which cause men to make the supreme sacrifice rather than continue to fight.

The classification of alcoholics seems most difficult, and in much detail is outside the scope of this book. There are, of course, the psychopaths who are emotionally unstable. We are all familiar with this type. They are always "going on the wagon for keeps." They are over-remorseful and make many resolutions, but never a decision.

There is the type of man who is unwilling to admit that he cannot take a drink. He plans various ways of drinking. He changes his brand or his environment. There is the type who always believes that after being entirely free from alcohol for a period of time he can take a drink without danger. There is the manic-depressive type, who is, perhaps, the least understood by his friends, and about whom a whole chapter could be written.

Then there are types entirely normal in every respect except in the effect alcohol has upon them. They are often able, intelligent, friendly people.

All these, and many others, have one symptom in common: they cannot start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a distinct entity. It has never been, by any treatment with which we are familiar, permanently eradicated. The only relief we have to suggest is entire abstinence.

13 years ago 0 171 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
For so much of the day I have the best intentions.  My primary goal over the past two weeks has been to begin to establish a support system.  I am posting here.  I have found out when and where I can attend a Women for Sobriety group (AND I WILL ATTEND NEXT WEEK!) and I accepted an invitation to a social event with a group of my former co-workers, a group of women I really enjoy (even though I usually prefer to be by myself).
 
I had a couple of glasses of wine before I went out to give myself courage....  It was a "jewelry" party where someone was selling jewelry.  I have never been to something like this before.  It was really stupid (sorry, very judgemental, I know).  I sat around with a group of people I have not seen much for the past three years and everyone pored over these catalogs of overpriced , mostly ugly, costume jewelry for the whole evening.  I ended up spending $100 on christmas presents for people who would probably prefer to receive something else and when things finally started to wind down and I was ready to sit down, mellow out and catch up with old friends, everyone else was ready to go home.  I had three or four glasses of wine there and another one when I got home.  Social situations are really stressful for me.  I can't make small talk.  I like to talk about things I feel passionate about and it often turns other people off.  I'm sure that if you asked anyone else who was there they would say that it had been nice to see me - but I find myself left with this horrible feeling of hopelessness and isolation.
 
I know that I need support from other people if I am even going to begin to address my drinking problem.  But somehow when I am with other people, I feel much more lonely than when I am by myself.
 
I seem to go from feeling somewhat hopeful to completely hopeful, dozens of times every day.  How can I stay hopeful?  How can I make a commitment to myself and stick with it?
 
Where do I begin?  I would really like to hear from people who have been drinking daily for years.  What does it feel like to stop?  How can I possible carry on my day to day activities and mobilize enough energy and determination to tackle this problem.  I have wasted so much of my life and I know it.  It appalls me that I am not able to make more positive choices.  I was raised to believe that I could be anything I wanted to be, that I should aspire to great things.  Now after three weeks of thinking about it very hard, my greatest hope is that maybe I could find someone who would like to play scrabble with me occasionally to distract me from drinking.  What a waste.

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