The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living

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  • IWillTakeBackMyLife
    IWillTakeBackMyLife Posts: 155 Member
    Checking in again this week. 115 days free from alcohol. I'm still vaping THC which defeats my urge to drink. I have been doing it once a week every Friday. Today just so happens to be Friday, so I'm going to do it again most likely tonight, unless I otherwise change my mind. This routine is working out pretty well I'd say so far.
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    I'm Back from my quickie vaycay. The weather turned out fine. Cooler than we've had normally, but definitely more comfortable. My niece's pool is quite warm so it was lovely with the cooler weather. I thought there was only going to be a couple of people there, but ended up being quite a crowd of family for dinner and lots of drinks among most of them & into the late evening. I think the more I'm around alcohol, at least lately, the less I'm tempted. AND I have just as much fun & maybe more cause I know that I won't wake up feeling like I was just hit by a truck, or wondering what I said or did OR worse, remembering the Stupid things that I said or did.....thank you! My drive home, although tired due to a late night & early morning, was way easier just being tired rather than tired AND hungover...I remember past times driving hours to get home anxiety ridden because of the after effects of too much the night before. I was likely still impaired from the night before....yukko...it is a fantastic freedom to be AF in many ways.

    I love coming back here to see all the comments :D
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    @Whitpauly <3 Beyond insensitive & thoughtless!! I agree that when people get to the point where they want to end their life, they are in a place in their head space where they just want to end their pain...I'm not even sure they want to die, but they see no other option in order to be out of the pain that seems never ending. We were created with a desire to live so if we no longer have that desire it means that something has gone terribly wrong & we need help. Unfortunately, some never get that help for varying reasons. Suicide is one of the absolutely most difficult deaths to cope with for those who are left behind. All the unanswered questions and the "What ifs...." You deserve compassion not someone's cruel judgement and you can be assured that our Creator is not cruel and he understands what led to your brother's despair and how it affects you & your family and he cares. <3 Hugs to you!! :'(
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    @FeelinFooFoo Proud of you :D

    @RubyRed427 and @JenT304 Hi to you two too! B)

    @donimfp I hope that the ENT has more encouraging news for you re: lessening your ear issues. You have a good attitude in spite of getting such discouraging news. Disappointment is a totally normal reaction. You're not ranting, just sharing your frustration. I hope there is a blessing somewhere for you in all of this. <3 I'm glad you are able to escape the heat at your Mom's...there's one blessing: you still have your Mom :)

    @IWillTakeBackMyLife Congrats on 115 days AF !! :)

  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    Morning friends, Lorraine,glad it went well ❤️ I wish there was a "thanks" button on here your comment was great to hear this morning, Feeling FooFoo,you're doing well,don't think too far ahead just think of today,I often think I sabotage myself being scared if I can stay sober during certain events so I end up drinking earlier than the event I'm scared of,the whole thing is a mindgame that's for sure,Donimfp I'm sorry about your A/C that really sucks! Also sorry that your doc didn't seem to grasp that the tinitus is bugging you as bad as it is,ugh doctor's just don't listen sometimes! Waves to all and wishes for a happy and healthy AF day 💗
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    IWillTakeBackMyLife wrote: »
    Checking in again this week. 115 days free from alcohol. I'm still vaping THC which defeats my urge to drink. I have been doing it once a week every Friday. Today just so happens to be Friday, so I'm going to do it again most likely tonight, unless I otherwise change my mind. This routine is working out pretty well I'd say so far.

    I don't think there's anything wrong with this,as I've stated before I think this is waaaaay safer on the body than alcohol 💁
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    People mag is highlighting Kelly Obsourne's 2 year anniversary of her sobriety today. The blurb said she put a pic of her 12 steps app on instagram and thanked all those who supported her through her journey and she expressed her gratitude for how much her life has changed in the past 2 years. She ended by saying, "If you are new to sobriety stick to it, life really does get good."

    SO, that led me to think about how we "stick to it." It is more than the "desire" to be AF, it requires that we look at others who are sticking to it and follow their example, and get the help we need. For Kelly O, it was obviously AA & surrounding herself with supportive people who would help her to follow through with her desire to be AF. Perhaps AA isn't something we want to try, but we will never know unless we do. I'm not promoting AA by any means...I've been to 2 meetings so far so I'm definitely not the poster-child for AA. But the reason I even considered "trying" it is because of the example of others here and although my immediate thought was, "I don't think that's for me," I changed my mind when I hit a really tough spot & decided, "it doesn't hurt to try!!" And so, I'm trying something I never would have considered and that would be my encouragement to others who are struggling..get some help...try something new rather than depending on your own resolve. If we continue to be open to trying different resources, we will eventually find what does work for us.There is a ton of help in varying forms and we just need to reach out and try.

    Happy, healthy AF day <3

    PS - I hope others will share what has helped them in their fight to be AF even if you've said it before, reminders are always good.
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,359 Member
    nighthawk584 wrote: »
    Facing my anxiety now without alcohol as a crutch, is a powerful & proud feeling.

    It’s a toss up for me - drinking causes anxiety for me - my body gets a weird anxious vibe the day after. Maybe meditation could help you with your anxiety. Or even a short term fix like an anti anxiety pill you could take as needed. Wishing you the best 😉
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    I'm cool as a cucumber when the alcohol is in me but as it starts to burn off I'm a nervous,shaky mess! After awhile off it anxiety tends to fade away
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    nighthawk584 wrote: »
    Facing my anxiety now without alcohol as a crutch, is a powerful & proud feeling.

    Good for you!!! Yes it is empowering to gain control over something we never thought we'd be able to control. I need to apply this to my eating issue!!!! Is there specific ways that you cope with your anxiety now that you've stopped masking it with alcohol?
  • nighthawk584
    nighthawk584 Posts: 2,023 Member
    edited August 2019
    lorrainequiche59 wrote: »
    nighthawk584 wrote: »
    Facing my anxiety now without alcohol as a crutch, is a powerful & proud feeling.

    Good for you!!! Yes it is empowering to gain control over something we never thought we'd be able to control. I need to apply this to my eating issue!!!! Is there specific ways that you cope with your anxiety now that you've stopped masking it with alcohol?

    Believe me, I had/have an eating issue too! I still take one pill that levels my brain chemistry out, but does not affect my everyday functions and does not ZONK me out. I was drinking 2-3 drinks plus taking meds per day just to leave my house. It hasn't been easy and I still struggle every day, but am gaining more confidence with getting my body back in shape and that is my focus. I was 280 last April and am now 217.8 as of today. I wish there was an easy answer to tell you. One step, one calorie, ONE DAY at a time.
  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    @FeelinFooFoo I was wondering if you've ever really observed others who are drinking when you are not. The reason I ask that is because this round of being around others' drinking while sober, I wasn't so focused on my end of things as to how I was going to resist the plentiful drinks, but on how it was influencing others to act and trying to notice if their drinking was making the evening more fun for them and to be honest, I do not think that to be true in any way...in fact, at times, I would notice someone who was quite inebriated looking at me, but it was as though they were trying really hard to focus and I tried to remember that feeling of being "out of it", but pretending I wasn't "out of it". One thing that really stood out to me in particular is the vulgar language coming from someone who normally wouldn't speak that way and it was just so unattractive. There were a lot of fun moments, but they were interspersed with some very inappropriate behavior that clouded the fun. There was not one moment when I wished I was free to do what they were AKA overdrinking!! In fact, it only served to reinforce my commitment to remain AF.

    I also believe that my sobriety is helping with my grief in ways that alcohol just is not capable of doing...in fact, alcohol delays the grief and just adds another layer to other unresolved grief....and then we become like rats on a wheel, slowly...or quickly...spinning out of control...

  • lorrainequiche59
    lorrainequiche59 Posts: 900 Member
    @FeelinFooFoo Forgot my suggestion to you in the blurb above LOL If you decide to remain AF for your bro's b'day, try really watching people as the alcohol takes effect....it could be an eye-opener for you and you might begin to think of the connection of alcohol to specific events as less of a temptation for you...it's worth a try. :D
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    Morning friends,ugh Lorraine,you probably wouldn't like to be around me in real life cuz I cuss like a sailor even without alcohol 😆 I hafta catch myself when I'm cutting hair cuz I just say whatever sometimes,no bueno! FeelingFooFoo, I think when you did the AE it really opened your eyes on the alcohol and how to avoid it,seems like you're really thinking things through when it comes to al,that's great! On the AA post yesterday I have tried it a few times, it's just not for me but I'm glad some people love to go,I have nothing against anything that works to stop drinking! Wishes for a fabulous AF day for us all💗
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,359 Member
    I love reading all of your comments and I agree with them!

    Last night I went to bed early around 10 o’clock on a Saturday night. I had my window open and throughout the night I heard different young people arrive home probably from a night out on the town. I felt like the mother in the shoe listening. At about 3 AM I heard a couple of guys come from an Uber I I assume, because they stated how expensive that ride was. And then they all laughed and said they sure wish they could have some Taco Bell now.The irony is I was totally sober but up all night because of drinking.
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    Morning friends, RubyRed sorry your sleep was messed up cuz of noisy drunks! A few Christmas eves ago our then neighbors pulled an all nighter (thought makes me cringe) they were so loud out in their garage drinking all night! Loud,none of us got much sleep so I feel for you,first day of school already today here in Vegas,I can't believe it! Feeling FooFoo,yep lots of new adventures AF are indeed possible ❤️ waves to all and wishes for a happy and healthy AF day
  • RubyRed427
    RubyRed427 Posts: 4,359 Member
    JenT304 wrote: »
    @RubyRed427 and @lorrainequiche59 I feel blah too. Maybe it's the end of summer blues. I am also going to re-commit myself to better eating and exercise. I found a 15 minute quick workout on demand last night and forced myself to do it even though I didn't want to and guess what? I felt better after. It's no myth exercise makes us feel better emotionally. I have been more off the wagon than on and that's going to end too. I'm tired of this broken record of drinking, guilt, depression repeat. I KNOW I feel better when I've been sober. Just taking it one day at a time.

    Hang in there Jen! You are back on track and take one day at a time ! ❤️
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    End of summer blues here too, seems like it all just flew by! Jen yep take it one day at a time and it will fall into place,that's really all we can do❤️ waves to all and I hope we all have a nice AF day!
  • SunnyDays930
    SunnyDays930 Posts: 1,573 Member
    @IWillTakeBackMyLife You sound clinically depressed. Please speak to your dr about anti depressants. They are so helpful for so many people, including me. I'm so proud of you for staying off the booze. We are here for you.

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