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11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 270

68bird,

Thanks for your honesty and for sharing your experience with us. What can you do to make sure you are better placed to avoid stepping over your personal limits next time?

Many members find that thinking of their quit or cutting down journey in the same way as they would think of protecting a best friend brings a new and helpful perspective to the idea of saying 'no' to oneself. It's easier to say 'no' to someone we truly care about when we know that 'no' is what's best for them. In the same way, thinking of your healthy behavior change as a best friend makes it easier to say 'no' in order to maintain the behavior change. After all, the decision to cut down can be your health's best friend!

Please let us know your thoughts.

Sonia

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 7

Well I had some drinks on Friday night with some co workers. I don't think I was out of control. I really tried to pace myself with the group. I should have stopped at 4. I went to 5. I was frustrated with myself this morning but at least I am being conscious more of how much and how fast. I would really like to go a few weeks, months maybe to heal my body. Its hard to say no to yourself.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 616

Wow thank you 68bird for saying such lovely things to me. I never looked at myself as being an inspiration for others, but finding out that I too can inspire someone to make positive changes in their life is a huge reward for me. I like your thoughts on reaching daily goals. I have been struggling this week with abstinence and have failed by not holding myself to drinking once per week, but have been successful in keeping it under control and not allowing myself to get intoxicated....1 - 2 drinks when I do decide to have an alcoholic beverage.

I wish you all the best 68bird. Two days is a great start. Thank you for helping me to see that my goal is achievable with hard work and determination. I am most definitely remaining true to myself, and I'm not allowing any short comings to bring me to the point of giving up.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 7

Camiol,

First let me introduce myself. I just recently joined and find inspiration from they way you look at things.

You talk about goals and it reminded me of a passage from Dr Wayne Dwyer (who if you are not familiar with also suffered from alcohol and substance abuse) and he talks about goals. What I find interesting, and I can not fully remember his passage but I encourage you to listen to it or read it, is that when he talks about goals he says goals that are set to low are easily reached so they are not goals. If you set the goal high enough and are always reaching for it and coming so close that it brings you back everyday than that is a goal. I believe another great read is Don Miguel Ruiz and "The Four Agreements" and he talks about doing your best. Everyday is different and if you are true to yourself and always do your best even if it wasn't as good as the other day than you are true to yourself for doing your best.

So what I am trying to highlight is that set a goal that you strive to reach everyday that is so close but not so far and try everyday to do your best. If you try, and you fully know inside that you did your best, regardless of the outcome, than you can ask no more from yourself.

That being said I am on day two, looking for inspiration and guidance and finding it from you and reminding myself I am not alone.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 616

I'm not so sure whether there is a trigger perse' but more habit/craving. I am not sure how to alter my activities to limit the drinking. In a sense I did limit my drinking by not allowing myself to drink to the point of intoxication, and I feel good about that. What I'm not happy about is that I didn't stick to my goal. I won't allow the guilt to bring me to the point of giving up, I refuse to give up, just like I refused when I quit smoking.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Hi Camiol,

Thanks for sharing and being honest with where you are at.

If your original goal feels overwhelming than start with smaller steps. The last thing you want to do is feel guilty and give up on yourself completely. You CAN do this. You have proven to yourself over recent stressful times that you have strategies to overcome the urge to drink.

How can you alter your activities on the weekend so that you are not drinking as much or limiting yourself to drinking on Fridays? What seems to be your triggers?

Vincenza, Health Educator

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 616

Starting to feel like I'm slipping back into my old habit. Although I'm not allowing myself to get drunk, I'm certainly not sticking to my goal of once per week. Perhaps that was a bit unrealistic and I should try to abstain Monday to Thursday? I'd rather keep it to once per week....time to regroup and start again tomorrow.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 270

Camiol,

Absolutely, accountability to one's support network is definitely instrumental in ensuring a successful quit.

Hope you're having a wonderful smoke-free Saturday,

Sonia, Health Educator

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 616

I think that a big part of my self control is the fact that I'm feeling accountable for my actions now that I've joined this site. I believe that putting my habit and feeling out there for all to see, is making me open my eyes to just how out of control I was. I feel a sense of failure when I drink now, but the need to be honest about it and post it in this forum is giving me the desire and the drive to regain control of how I handle my alcohol intake.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Hi Camiol,

It sounds like you are experiencing a lot of progress with regards to the way you are controlling your drinking. Continue to be mindful in social situations as you've proven to be capable of having a good time without feeling the need to binge drink.

Keep it up - you are doing great!!

Vincenza, Health Educator

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