Here we go again...

[Jannaper]

So, after many years of heavy drinking I have decided once and for all to quit.
NO more, just one more time OR things are going to be different this time..
So, I am on day one now. I will be happy to put the first week behind me.
Any suggestions? It's only noon and I need to get out of my head.

[MYoungAtHeart]

It is important to remember that alcoholism is not just a drinking problem.  Alcoholism is a thinking problem. You can go for months without one drop of alcohol in your body and not change your drinking thinking and be unsuccessful long term in your goal of being alcohol free...
What is the thinking that continually pulls you back into active alcohol use and have you participated in AA or NA and gotten yourself a sponsor that you can call when your thinking might be leading you back to full blown use.

Best to you

[Jannaper]

Thank you!!

[TTinKKerBBell]

Be encouraged by Your feeling that the 4 months You were sober was the
"best 4 months of Your life"

Be encouraged that You proved to YourSelf that You can go 4 months - 4 months is a lot !! 4 months is 16 weeks; 4 months is 120 days, 2,880 hours, 172,800 minutes.  If ever 'one day at a time' feels difficult, well then, go one hour at a time, or even one minute at a time - it ALL adds up - EVERYTHING You do counts !!

[Jannaper]

Thank you for your support. Starting all over again. But this time, I don't feel scared. I am ready. I had been sober at one time for 4 months. Best 4 months of my life. So I will try to connect with that feeling again.

[Jannaper]

Thank you for the message. I will do some research-that's a great idea. And thank you to everyone for the support. I am starting again today.

[TTinKKerBBell]

I forgot to say Congradulations on SIX DAYS of sobriety !!  
Six days is BIG !!
and You have proven to YourSelf if You can go six days, You CAN go forever.
I'm not suggesting it will be "easy", I''m not suggesting that You will never 'want' to drink again but I am saying that if You can go SIX DAYS, well then, You CAN go the rest of Your life.  Six Days proves that You CAN function without alcohol,

I'm in Your corner and I'm pulling for You

I Wish You All The Success In The World

Again
My Utmost Regards,
Tink

[TTinKKerBBell]

I would like to comment that it is not "easy" for me to tell someone what is "wrong" with alcohol and its effects on the human body  - I came by my knowledge of how alcohol affects the physical body and mind LONG after I suffered physical AND mental AND emotional abuse from my Mother who was an alcoholic from the time I was born until the died She died.  I also watched with HeartBreak and HeartAche my Mother die from the wrenching "effects" of alcohol!!

Believe me, I am not being judgemental - but FACTUAL!!  in the hope that if people will educate themselves on the physiological affects of alcohol on Their bodies, it will give some incentive -  the pain they bring those who love them OFTEN is not enough for Them to recover, so hopefully if They can come to realize how alcohol is POISONING Them it will help.

No one is forced to drink, to drink is a CHOICE - to NOT drink is a CHOICE.  One becomes an alcoholic because one becomes ADDICTED to alcohol BECAUSE it IS an addictive substance - one BECOMES addicted when one continues to smoke, one BECOMES addicted when one continue to use drugs - and that includes alcohol - alcohol IS a drug!!

I salute everyone here who is in recovery!! and I will insist that recovery is harder for those who CHOOSE recovery than those who don't - it's easier to keep drinking than it is to make the choice to quit.  It Is Not (I'll use Your word here) "Easy" To Quit !!  But It IS do-able and I Salute, Admire, and Respect those who do !!

Regards,
Tink

[ibizan]

Who is your support system?This is necessary PLUS what role models personally do you have of seeing one in recovery live in action?

[letitgo2014]

Hi.... How are you making out? Its easy for people to tell US what's all wrong with acohol and the effects , no one understands till they r dealing with it. I also deal with it too. Today is day six for me without one drop of acohol :)  Alcohol is a terrible addiction be strong and lets kick this addiction in the butt!

[dominosarah]

Great advice Tink!

[TTinKKerBBell]

My best advice would be to educate YourSelf on the effects of alcohol on the body.  

If You were addicted to rat poison, You would CHOOSE not to drink it because You know it can kill You (and eventually will !!)

Well, alchohol is a poison too.

It's also a drug that depresses the central nervous system, like barbiturates sedatives & anesthetics.  The central nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

Alcohol is not digested like food rather it goes DIRECTLY to the bloodstream.

Vital organs (like the brain) that contain a lot of water & needs an ample blood supply are particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol.

The brain, the liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, kidneys & every other organ & tissues are affected within MINUTES after it passes thru the bloodstream.

Blackouts or memory loss?  that occurs as alcohol cuts off the supply of oxygen to the brain.  Lack of oxygen supply can (and does) kills 10's of 1000's of brain cells.

We all know it damages the liver.  That's because the liver processes 90% of the alcohol we consume (and remember, alcohol is a poison)

Have I scared You, yet?  If not, there's more, much more. Read up.  I really think if we all knew and understood how our bodies process alcohol everyone would CHOOSE recovery.

I Wish You All The Luck In The World

Tink