I'm doing it! CT off alcohol

[Charlie's girl]

I have been drinking about a magnum of wine(red or white) plus a few vodka drinks a day.  Or, I have about a fifth of vodka a day.  It's the first thing I thnk about in the morning instead of coffee!!!!!!  Any suggestions?  I really need to do this privately.
Thanks.

Charlie

[ibizan]

shomneg-AA-take what u can use and leave the rest..includes annoying folks u'll find at 12 Step...thats where the saying principles over personalities comes in!its being around folks that have same prob as us...and same goal....sobriety is key.Yes to rekindling /developing outside interests!Charlie- ur nuts!thinking u can have just ONE glass?get out ur baseball bat and clonk the BEAST upside the head!good ur gonna b-gin xercise again...that so helps with the **** resing tween our 2 ears.Dark- saying good things....can't agree with him more on his commnets!

[dark69meat]

I've always worked out at the gym and ate a healthy diet all my life.  That's not my issue or point; I'm not drinking after almost 17 days and continuing on this path.  I feel great; the beer drinking was the culprit for my depression, no doubt.  I happier and not such a ******* at work and home.  The booze isn't working for me at this stage of my life.  I'm quitting while I'm ahead and not reacting to a situation.  It's taken me years to figure this whole thing out.  In fact I never about quitting.

On the other hand I'm not getting down on the folks here who have DUI's or major league health problems because of the drinking.  I'm here to support everyone.  This isn't easy for me 'mentally' and a BIG life style change.  It's just time to leave it alone.

I'm going to have to say a big NO regarding one or two glasses of wine for a special occasion.  That could be enough to get me drinking again.  Serious stuff.  There's plenty people out there that don't drink and remember that's perfectly acceptable more than ever!  Alcohol doesn't exactly have a good name for itself anymore.

Charlie -  you're doing fine for day 3, you can't give in and feel GROSS tomorrow hung-over.  Go to AA, I went tonight for the 2nd time, it helps!

[Charlie's girl]

Thanks for your post.  Congrats on sobriety.  I am trying aa tommorrow night, I'll look for the big book session.  
After your sober do you think that most people will attempt to have one or two glasses of wine on a special occasion like Thanksgiving.  Or, just one glass a week out to dinner?   For some reason I think I could do that.  Never have any in the house and only drink with hubby who is watching closely.  It's tempting.  
I'm on day three and feel good.  I've been reading a lot of posts here that say that after the first few days WD gets ugly.  Did this happen to you or anyone you know?  It's kind of scary.
I'm sure there are so many things that I could get involved with.  I was in hiding before and now I can free myself.  

Charlie

[shomneg]

about the religion thing, it stems from their belief that you can't quit and stay sober indefinetly without the help of your higher power, which is not dogmatic at all. it can be whatever you choose it to be.

The part of your world that smiles upon and bring you good times, nature, whatever. just to support the fact that our lives are unmanageable with respect to booze, that we cannot control the drinking.

For example, I thought I could have just one or 2 drinks, and I was able to until evey SUnday when I had a couple of bottles of wine, some whiskey and all the rest.

But I cannot go back and try to control the drinking, but on the other hand I agree that with the tools of AA and the help of my higher power, I can. And also, the idea is, to have  alife that is more than just not drinking, this means to unravel the issues and problems that support the uncontrolled drinking in the first place. The need for help from a higher power is obvious to me there as well.

But if you dont agree about this, you should def. go to AA anyway and get the real picture from them and see if it suits you.

[shomneg]

HI I have been sober for 4 months. I went to AA meetings. I think you should also find a new hobby or get into something else besides being only into recovery. I think this helps to take the edge off, because in meetings, you are dealing with sick people basically. There will be a person who pisses you off, someone called it judgementalism, which it is, but it is difficult for the newcomer to deal with nonthe less alot of the BS that does go on.

Also I reccomend only going to Big book meetings. For me anyway, some of the sharing is not that helpful, altho some is.

I feel that you need a lot of luck with AA, as with anything I guess.

For me, after about a month I knew that I had licked this thing. My harder problem is with MJ, this i do in a very small amount, one or 2 hits, but I have stopped MJ for 38 days now.

I do alot more reading than I used to, I try to do less TV, more exercise. TV I find feeds my resentments.

[Charlie's girl]

It's 3pm.  This diet is driving me nuts.  Oh well.  When I set my mind to something I do it.  I'm trying to drink lots of water.  I'm really cold.  Maybe I'll make some hot tea.  I think the whole bread thing is giving me the chills.  I guess it could be WD too.  Plus I have a headache.  
D-it seems like you are really taking good care of yourself these days.  The gym is great.  When I didn't work out I drank more.  I haven't been for two months.  I start back with my trainer on Monday.  It keeps me on track, someone to answer to.  She says that everyone that comes in there that drinks has a big midsection and it's the last fat to go.  
I guess I'll become obsessed with health and kids.  This will keep me busy.

Charlie