Welcome to the group, seaQ. Maybe you need to skip the drinking parties for a little while till you get stronger. Not forever ... just a while. I spent the first couple of months pretty much staying away from places where there would be alcohol. Now, it doesn't bother me. You CAN do this. Good luck, be strong!

Welcome to the group. I agree with Jan. Might be best to stay away from the parties for a while. After a while they may not seem so great.

Welcome seaq- You are right, you have to try harder. In fact you have to try very hard in the beginning but it does get much easier with time and the fact that you are here shows you are taking the steps to improve yourself. You don't need luck. You can do this.

I guess I used the term drinking party a little too flippant... really it's my family gatherings, and my family parties. so do my friends. but when they see that I'm not drinking, they'll be supportive; I just have to try harder. I've often said I'll just have 1 social drink, which would be fine if I could stop there, but I don't. Well, day 1 today with no friends or family in my plans so I should conquer day 1 pretty easily (an me with my bar fully stocked:) haha! but other times I empty it out, and that hasn't worked, so this might add to my resolve. Thanks!

seaq; first off welcome, there is allot of experience and support here. that was very hard for me too as my sons drink and we get together frequently. a couple times before when i Quit i had taken beers offered without forthought. i naturally sinse i had already blown it, it was all the excuse i needed. we all know the rest of that story.
you can do it . you have made the first step. i hope your family is supportive of your endevours. lucky for me mine have been.
you too deserve tobe happy and healthy. stay hydrated. carry a candy bar or ?? your body will be craving sugar as that is what booze is sorta. remember cold water am are good stuff. potacium is good too.. i prefer bananas my self... go figure???
good luck and be nice to yourself, you deserve it .

So that's why I bought tootsie pop suckers, it was good :) and craving water too which I know is good. So I made it through day one, and I even attended cocktail function (story of my life, I am always surrounded by alcohol it seems). Feeling good.

Welcome! The beginning is an adventure for sure and it becomes more amazing each day. Stay positive and stay active. I am also an advocate of seeing the Dr. soon and fill him/her in on what you are going through.
-Matt

i agree with matt about letting your doc in on your quest. quitting cold turkey can be dangerous. your hole body is going to change . for the better really. it is scary but be committed and you can do it. i keep telling myself i have drank enough for several life times.. it just time to quit. i have lost weight and my liver is getting better. i haven't fallen out of my tree in quite awhile!!
unfortunately we can't help but be around booze. just think of it as pure poison, rat poison, icky nasty stuff.
just choose not to. keep up the great job, we are here if you need us.
duane

Thank you for the encouragement and I did it - I made it through day-1 and even had to say no to a drink, at a "open house" function! fallen out of your tree - funny! I like it, I'll have to come up with my own! falling off the wagon is so un-original; very creative mind you have :)

Great job on day one -- now it's on to day two!

If you don't like the term falling off the wagon, you can think of it as the wormhole to hell, the elevator to destruction, the face palm of stupidity, the spiral down to awfulness, or just the "why the heck did I do THAT again, now I feel like pond scum" mindset.

I think falling out of the tree is a good analogy. I was a good tree climber when I was a kid so I need to remember that I don't fall out of trees.

Some thoughts on drinking in moderation -- it's easy to see people getting totally wasted and saying -- Dang I don't want to be like that again. At some point I shifted into seeing people who are tipsy off of a few drinks and saying that I don't want to be that way either. (Not that I could, I always was compelled to drink past tipsy to total train wreck.) Being sober is a pretty satisfying way to live. And like yrekadc, I've had enough alcohol for several lifetimes.

Keep posting -- let us know how it's going.

It is possible to be around people who drink and not be bothered by it. I'm around alcohol and people drinking almost every day and I don't even think about it any more. I don't have to worry about others offering me a drink because everyone I know knows that I'm a recovering alcoholic.

I think one reason it doesn't bother me is because I was a closet drinker. I was fine not drinking around others but let me get by myself and watch out. I think if I had been a social drunk I would have had a hard time being around other drinkers at least in the beginning.

well said... yes, being a non-drinker IS a satisfying way to live! Luv it Tweety!

well it's another day. how are you feeling? keeping hydrated? keeping a banana handy?
i got faith in ya. going for 3? woooopeeee.!

Hi SEAQ, sounds like we are both newbies here. Our situations. Are pretty similar, our social life is full of drinks, probably the same as a lot of people out there. I have told one daughter and my husband that I am not drinking any more alcohol, and they are very supportive, but I am not interested in having all this attention and focus on me by telling everyone...I think this strategy is the right one for me now. This online support group is brilliant. I use it twice a day, and the support out there is great. My virtual supporters.

one doesn't have to explain to everyone that you quit. you just politely say " no thanks, i am fine.". and keep a non booze drink handy. i tell only those i think need to know. my family has been real good at working with me on it. slowly those you associate with allot will get the word, and most will understand and be supportive.
all of on here have been right there in your shoes, so don't be shy or feel ashamed to vent or ask questions.
when i first quit, the first few months, my mind would try to create situations that would cause or give me "reason" to have a drink. it was scary, i thought i had really gone crazy. but rick and the rest of these wonderful folks walked me thru it.
well i hope you are both feeling better and hanging in there, as nancy regan used to say " just say no", it really works. a thanks at the end helps too. lol
well time to go to work. be strong
duane