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Challenging Worry

HelpPlease

2024-04-15 2:59 PM

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Hello

Linda Q

2024-04-11 5:06 AM

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Addiction

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-08 3:54 PM

Managing Drinking Community

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New Year's Resolutions

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-03-25 2:47 AM

Managing Drinking Community

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Small Victories


a year ago 0 11212 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0

Thank you for sharing!

A sweet treat is a great idea. I'm glad you are still celebrating. You deserve it!

Ashley

a year ago 0 347 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0

When I was drinking, I preferred savory treats to sweet treats, but rarely allowed myself one. I usually limited food treats to save calories for my nightly alcohol. Shortly after I stopped drinking, I began to crave sweets all the time. As a reward to myself, I allowed a sweet treat at night. And sometimes throughout the day, too. ;)

I now know the initial sweet cravings were due to my body adjusting to the lack of alcohol. The sweet treat habit continued and now, 7 years later, I look forward to that nightly sweet treat. Since reading the post, I started reminding myself of the reason for this nightly treat.  I do think it’s important to remember the struggle.  I’m only one drink away from having to face another Day 1. 

Stay strong everyone!

a year ago +2 11212 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 2

Thanks for sharing Lynn! I agree. Celebrating our successes is an often overlooked behaviour change strategy. Even small rewards are great. I just purchased some nice new teas to treat myself for being consistent with my goals. It's funny how much satisfaction a cup of fancy tea can bring haha.

How do you plan on celebrating?

Ashley


a year ago +2 347 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 2

This is a great reminder, Ashley. I know I don’t celebrate my non-drinking days the way I did when I first stopped drinking. This makes me think about people who slip back into drinking after many years of not drinking. Maybe they forgot to celebrate every day too. I’ve had a rough year and I am thankful for every day I don't drink. Perhaps stopping to congratulate myself every now and then wouldn't be a bad thing. :)

Lynn


 

a year ago +2 11212 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 2

Bump!

A reminder to celebrate your small victories. Every day you don't drink I'd a success. Every drink you turn down is a success. Every step towards your goal is a success!

What are your successes this week?

Ashley

9 years ago +2 12 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I just want to say thank you to everyone here for sharing their experiences and support.  It helps so much to know that I'm not the only one facing this challenge.  

In the interest of keeping myself honest, I wanted to share my latest update with you.

Just over one month in and here's where things stand (goal: moderation to within safe guidelines)....
Total days with no alcohol    12
Total days within safe limits 10
Total days exceeding limit by 3 drinks or more  5

It has been a very interesting learning curve for me, even on the days where I have been over-limit.  I have had a couple of celebrations in that time period (including my own birthday) that turned on the "relax and enjoy, you're at a party" voice in my head.  I've learned the best way to counter act those kind of thoughts is to stop myself and ask WHY I want to pour/take a drink in that moment.  9 times out of 10 asking the why makes me realize that I don't really have a good answer and in fact I don't really want the drink at all.

I've also learned that I am well past the age where the 'morning after the night before' feeling can be chased away with a couple of Tylenol and a greasy breakfast.  I don't like the way I feel when I drink even one drink over the safe limit and actually much prefer waking up on mornings when I've had nothing to drink the night before.

Reminding myself of how good it feels to be sober and healthy is proving to be a very strong motivator for me.  


9 years ago 0 421 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi all!  I haven't posted in a while but, I've been reading the forum and keeping up on things.  Not binging and staying sober! It's very freeing and very humbling to look at the time lost to booze.   It's a time in my life I can not return to.  I've been striving for self respect and the respect of others and I feel like I'm starting to get that all again.
 Welcome Bill! Yes it's difficult to start once we start a downward plunge.  It's great that you are dealing with things and taking your health seriously.  I've been working out and meditating a lot lately.  Feeling healthy will help you to stay on course.  This site will help also....read every day if you can and post when you feel the need.  It's a support group but we can't support when we don't know you are struggling.  So, if the urge hits--post and people will respond.
 
Best of wishes to you!
9 years ago +1 315 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 1
I know for me one drink and all bets are off. The first drink is the only one I can say no to. One is too many and 100 is not enough. You are not alone. 
9 years ago +1 1562 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 1
gave into the temptation and drank heavily everyday since.

Thats what the big book alcoholics anonymous calls it as a "peculiar mental twist". It strikes us when we are least aware of it. That is powerlessness over alcohol. We may be strong and intelligent in all other affairs.
9 years ago +1 8 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 1
I was two weeks sober going into Thanksgiving, gave into the temptation and drank heavily everyday since. Went to the doctor a week ago and my BP was off the charts "stroke level scary high". Today, marks a week of sobriety. Took time this morning to review strategies to withstand the temptations and strong desires. {Thankful for all of you who are a part of this forum. It helps me know I am not alone and your successes strengthen my resolve.}

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