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Month to moderation

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 557

Thank you Ashley,

I find it is a big step that I stopped being in denial. I will start writing my journal every day now and work on my triggers.

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11213

Hi hors controle,

First of all, I am so sorry to hear about your cat. That is very stressful and that stress could certainly trigger a need to drink, I think.

I also I do not think your idea on rewards is silly at all. I think that makes perfect sense. Finding new ways to reward ourselves and celebrate without alcohol is important when trying to stay away from alcohol. It sounds like you pin pointed an area you can work on. Great work! You may have had a slip, but you are learning; so that is a success.

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 557

Hi Ashley,

I am not sure about the triggers but I think it is because, might sound silly but for 2 hours per day I had been delivering posters of my lost cat door to door. The weather was not nice and I kept thinking it would be nice to seat down and have a glass of wine once this would be done. I guess my mind was seeing it as a reward and I could not think of another way to reward myself. I do not see any other change in my routine

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11213

Congrats on the one month High Tower! Moderation can be so tricky to achieve for problem drinkers. As I am sure you know, three months of abstinence is recommended before attempting moderation. If you want to attempt before three months it might be helpful to only have an evenings worth of alcohol in the house at a time. I know this is not the most cost efficient way of buying alcohol but it might help you to moderate.

Each day you do not drink is a success in my opinion. Each time you learn something is also a success. The key is to keep learning. What do you want to take away from the successful one month you had and the 3 days of drinking more then you wanted to?

Hi hors,

Sorry to hear about your slip. I am so proud of you for posting here so soon though. Two months is also an amazing accomplishment! What do you think triggered the slip? How can you prevent it in the future?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 557

Thank you both!

And no, one month ago I would have never pour that wine down the drain lol. My kids wrote back to me and they are happy I did not hide it from them and were very encouraging.

True we have a tendency to forget before we fail for this first drink about all the negative side of it. I have to remember about it if the cravings come back like those last 3 days.

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 347

Hors controle,

This journey we're on can definitely be equated to a long run, it's certainly not a sprint. Several years removed from my last drink and I still have my struggles. From your last post I see two great achievements, pouring out half a bottle of wine and writing to your children. Could you imagine doing either a month ago? Today is a new day and I hope it's a good one for you.

Lynn

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1562

Good luck to you hors controle. My post was to highlight the state of mindset we get into just prior to the relapse, never to undermine any one. You can create a log of past slips and see how you were led to the first drink. And the guilt and remorse the next day. But you see, it only lasts for few days week and again the blank spots come back. The first step in recovery is having that deep realization that we have succumb to that first drink and that the consequences doesnt come into our mind moment prior to that first drink.

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 557

Thank you High Tower and Lynn and Foxman for your good word.

I like your analogy to a run. Of course, I would not just lay down there waiting. I did find the courage to pour down the drain the other half of the bottle and I just wrote to my children to keep them informed. I have to be honest with them and with myself. I do repeat to myself all the disadvantages of drinking and it is not the last glass I had, reading and relaxing in my bed that will change this. There are so many more cons.

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 26

Hey Hors

A slip is not a fail, I wrote that in this topic a couple weeks ago. You are not back to square one you just had a slip. I know you can get back on track as you just did almost 2 months with no wine. If you trip and fall you don't give up walking and just lie down forever. You get back up and look for the hazard that tripped you. You then fix the hazard so it doesn't happen again.

Another way to look at is if you decided to run a 3 mile course. There is a small incline about 1/2 ways and the ground is a bit slippery. part way up the incline you lose you footing and slide back a few feet as you drop to your knees. You don't get up and go back to the start you get back up and navigate that slope better and carry on to the finish line.

You have done extremely well. Refocus on the reasons you had 7 weeks ago. I had a small setback as I wrote at the start of this thread. My plans of control and moderation went out of the window and I am again assessing what my goals are and how to achieve them.

Be proud and be strong, you can do this.

High Tower

4 years ago 0 +0 / -0 557

Thank you Lynn,

I do feel so bad, I was one week from my two months... I had half the bottle and took a too long nap. Now I need the courage to pour down the drain the other half.

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