Less Alcohol- July 2018- One Day at a Time

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  • ErynVee
    ErynVee Posts: 187 Member
    @snoo61 Thanks so much. Yes, I love your spin: Let the adventure begin.
    I woke up and felt relieved that I feel good today. I'm looking forward to the meeting but I must say I hope I dont cry sitting there.

    You've done an incredibly brave thing and should be proud. I hope the meeting goes well for you... and don't be afraid to cry!!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Last night, I reached out to a friend who is an addiction counselor. I called him crying and said i need you. We talked for a half hour and today I'm meeting him to talk. I think his presence in my life will be helpful. He's taking me to my first AA meeting - I know some people love it and some people don't , but it may be the hope I need. I don't want to live always teetering on the edge.
    P.s. My friend says it takes 3 days for alcohol to leave the system. So, that's good news. i always thought it was ten days.
    ErynVee great weekend for you! Like someone on our thread says, you are exercising your will power muscle.
    snoo61 Great job ! You set a goal and was under it. And you probably slept soooo well. Xo


    One of the things that has occurred to me while compiling tips is how different people respond to different mindsets/tricks/insights/courses of actions. Finding what works can take some trial and error it seems. I don't know you that well but I get the feeling this meeting is not something you are looking forward to attending. The fact you are going shows a strength and a commitment that I hope I have if I ever need it. I don't really know anything about the program other than the basics you see in TV shows so I don't have an opinion about it one way or another but I definitely see no harm in exploring it as an option.

    I think the difference between the 3 days and the 10 days is that 3 days is how long it might take alcohol to leave your system and 10 days is how long it might take to get to the first recovery/withdrawal point after daily drinking. I don't know any of that as fact it is just from what I have read. I have read some pretty "tough" journals of some people who took close to 30 days before getting significant relief.
  • NormInv
    NormInv Posts: 3,303 Member
    @JulieAL1969 good luck on your journey and thank you for creating this platform..
  • salleewins
    salleewins Posts: 2,308 Member
    Good for you @JulieAL1969. I actually didn't like the first AA meeting I went to. So if that one isn't for you, there are many others to look at.
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    Ke22yB wrote: »
    @JulieAL1969 Congratulations on a positive step in your journey
    I have been wondering since I found this site how to react to some of the posts.I am a relative new comer here and don't participate nearly as much as some others so I tend to keep my opinions to myself.
    I realize every journey is different and we each have to make our own way and seek our own path. I feel we are quick to say great job to one another but avoid pointing out what we feel may be an error in judgement sometimes. This is a hard journey and we need as much support as possible even if it isn't always positive

    My point I guess is we have to be ready to hear the good and the bad sometimes to keep us on track

    I kind of butchered your quote, but I would say how to react is with honesty, yet tactfully. I personally am working on being direct without being unkind. I prefer direct people because there is NO guessing what is on their mind....they just say it. I think it is an art to be able to speak truth in a way that appeals, BUT like you said sometimes the person we are speaking to isn't receptive to the truth no matter how it is presented. I suppose that is their issue then. A therapist once helped me to see that other people's reaction to me says more about them than it does about me.

    I really hope that you don't hold back from sharing at risk of "offending" someone because it may help someone who is ready to hear it. It's a risk. Like you said it's "nice" to hear all the positives, but sometimes we "need" to hear the other stuff also. I think you have some valuable insight because you have been there & continue to work at becoming a better person....thank you for sharing :)

  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    snoo61 wrote: »
    @snoo61 I'm looking forward to the meeting but I must say I hope I dont cry sitting there.

    No worries if you cry. Its just the alcohol being scared out of you, by your strength!


    LOVE that....crying is "the alcohol being scared out of you by your strength."

  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Heyooo, I made it through the day without drinking!
    I actually went as far as pouring myself a drink (okay, it was 4 shots of tequila) but then I remembered that I *kitten* hate tequila. And I thought, I don't have to do this. I don't want to be dependent.
    Poured down the drain.

    @SoulOfRusalka Wow, that is freaking awesome!!

    You are so strong!

    I hope you remember that when you feel "the sun over the yardarm".
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    @JulieAL1969

    You must have really been feeling helpless to reach out like that.

    Not sure if Kelly was implying he thought the AA meeting was a bad idea for you, but I think it is.

    Or rather, I think it would be a bad idea for *me*. :smiley: AA teaches you to seek strength in a higher power, which wouldn't work for me. I believe *kitten* happens, and that's OK.

    But AA may help *you*! x I'm just glad your friend gave you some hope.

    I think it's long overdue for me to tell you I love seeing you in all my favourite threads being so insightful, kind, creative, consistent, thoughtful, intelligent, caring, and all-around wonderful. :heart:

    You have some "bad days", but have a very sensitive reaction to one day of drinking. Overall, it seems you can go without for many days, drink once, then go straight back to AF. Maybe you're being too hard on yourself, a bit perfectionist, for want of a less negative word? Has anyone you know said that about you?
  • andysport1
    andysport1 Posts: 592 Member
    Heyooo, I made it through the day without drinking!
    I actually went as far as pouring myself a drink (okay, it was 4 shots of tequila) but then I remembered that I *kitten* hate tequila. And I thought, I don't have to do this. I don't want to be dependent.
    Poured down the drain.
    Omg, you are so strong, well done you.
    The future looks good
  • donimfp
    donimfp Posts: 795 Member
    @erikNJ, I totally get your points. And while I came to MFP originally because I wanted to lose some weight, I do not struggle with what I would consider food addictions. I also realize that those who do have that struggle have an added challenge because you can't simply stop eating food like you can stop drinking alcohol. On the other hand . . . to @JenT304's point, there aren't many songs and movies and TV shows that actually glorify stuffing your face with food. My original post started because I was struck by the godlike status afforded alcohol in that remodeled restaurant. A backlit bag of Cheetos or even a nice piece of cake, just wouldn't have the same effect as those gorgeous alcohol bottles.

    I don't mean to minimize anyone's struggle with anything. And I'm absolutely sure you're right that my conscious struggle with alcohol makes me more aware of the omnipresent suggestions that it is what makes the world go 'round and adds "glamour" to life.

    By the way, @erikNJ, your baseball post has me anticipating my first AF Astros game in September.
  • SoulOfRusalka
    SoulOfRusalka Posts: 1,201 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    @JulieAL1969

    You must have really been feeling helpless to reach out like that.

    Not sure if Kelly was implying he thought the AA meeting was a bad idea for you, but I think it is.

    Or rather, I think it would be a bad idea for *me*. :smiley: AA teaches you to seek strength in a higher power, which wouldn't work for me. I believe *kitten* happens, and that's OK.

    But AA may help *you*! x I'm just glad your friend gave you some hope.

    I think it's long overdue for me to tell you I love seeing you in all my favourite threads being so insightful, kind, creative, consistent, thoughtful, intelligent, caring, and all-around wonderful. :heart:

    You have some "bad days", but have a very sensitive reaction to one day of drinking. Overall, it seems you can go without for many days, drink once, then go straight back to AF. Maybe you're being too hard on yourself, a bit perfectionist, for want of a less negative word? Has anyone you know said that about you?

    I don't like the higher power model, either. I have trouble with that in ED treatment, too-- admitting that you're powerless over your addiction just seems really counterproductive to me. And I have a relationship with my higher power, but I believe she wants me to figure *kitten* out on my own. If all I had to do was ask for help, what would be the point?
    Sorry, might be rambling a little.
  • erikNJ
    erikNJ Posts: 1,009 Member
    @donimfp I do agree with the point about songs glorifying alcohol and not food. Whether it’s a party song or sad song, that is often true.
    TV shows I will argue against. Man vs Food is literally a show about people eating such disgusting amounts of foods that they often throw up. And there are more than one tv networks dedicated to food, but not one for alcohol. Although alcohol does get glorified on regular sitcoms and dramas. Especially dramas

    Your backlit bag of Cheetos comment literally had me laughing out loud. Hahaha

    The baseball game was so glorious. Just relaxing and exciting. And a bonus while alcohol free. I am jonesing to get to another now. May go in a few weeks for my birthday
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    JenT304 wrote: »
    Apparently I am the only person with a back lit bag of Cheetos on display in my home :)

    I went to find an image that I had seen before, of a cheeto art exhibit - and the first one that comes up:

    cheeto-covered-the-cocktail.jpg

    Is actually called Cheeto Cocktail Hour. How ironic is that...
  • salleewins
    salleewins Posts: 2,308 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    JenT304 wrote: »
    Apparently I am the only person with a back lit bag of Cheetos on display in my home :)

    I went to find an image that I had seen before, of a cheeto art exhibit - and the first one that comes up:

    cheeto-covered-the-cocktail.jpg

    Is actually called Cheeto Cocktail Hour. How ironic is that...

    Ha ha ha! That is amazing that this exists!
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,347 Member
    @salleewins Wow! You are amazing and an inspiration. Big hugs!
  • LC0924
    LC0924 Posts: 71 Member
    Hello, beautiful people! I have sucked pretty badly at checking in - both because life has been busy and also probably because I have been less than stellar at sticking to my goals. In any case, today is a new day, and I am grateful for all of you (and the 300+ posts I am going to try to catch up on!) :)
  • Ke22yB
    Ke22yB Posts: 969 Member
    @JulieAL1969 AA was never for me as a grouchy old man I tend to keep to myself IRL. However two people very near and dear to me have been going to meetings and been AF, one over 20 years now. I have tried to change opinions and to no avail they are steadfast supporters of the program. I have the big book for close to 10 years without really looking at it. Whether it is for you or not I cant say but if you decide with an open mind to apply yourself to working the program I can say I have seen success achieved.