Hi, welcome:)
I second the recommendation for Allen Carr's book, especially in the early days. I also worried about what to tell people who knew I was a big drinker and suddenly refusing....I start with "no thanks" then if pushed just say "omg, I've been getting the worst hangovers, dizzy, puking etc" then people love to go on and tell you all about theirs and that's it, issue deflected.
Now I just tell new people "I don't drink" end of conversation:)
All the best, it gets easier.xx

my goodness you made it thru the first day. Now the fun begins... hehe my sarcastic alcoholic humor shines thru... You can do it , everyone here has been where you are and want for you to get sober. Dont focus on all the stuff you will miss, focus on what you are going to be getting.

The other thing is that at some point i would suggest you chatting with another alcholic.. This was the only way I could have got 1.5 yrs sober. I was very strongwilled... we all are... and thought i could do it alone. i could not. i have a network that helps me... we help each other.

good luck and the other thing is that drinking was for me a coping mechanism... i couldnt handle life issues and i needed to drink

now i have the tools to cope. at least for today. get you some sober@@@!!!

1is2

Thanks to the folks that recommended Allen Carr's book. I just downloaded it and plan to spend the day reading! Stepson and family coming over this afternoon.....a stressor that I don't look forward to, but a stressor that is part of my life so I will have to develop coping measures to deal with it! Hopefully this book will help me do so! Day 2 feeling a little anxiety, but nothing I can't walk off on my treadmill! By the time I get through this year, I will be sober and fit :-)!!!

Lostnurse, I hit 3 months on new years eve.

It hasn't been easy, but it hasn't been difficult.

It's a pretty good time right now and lots of people are making their silly new year's resolutions. If you have to for now, tell people you are on a break, that you drank too much over the holidays.

What starts as a day, turns into a week, which evolves into a month.

Slowly but surely you can do this, and the people in your social circles will understand. If they don't, how good of friends are they? My drinking friends who were good friends stand by me, the other ones I've come to realize, weren't good friends.

They were drinking associates.

Good, it should scare you, hopefully, enough so you never let this happen to you again. Your best bet? Clench your teeth and get mad! Know that alcohol take 72 hours to get out of your system from then on it will get easier hour by hour. They don't mention this on tv huh? Eric

Well hopefully you are on day 4 now.. I had to think to myself I am just not going to drink now. I can't think of it as never again even though that is a goal.. But never is a long time so I just say for now I'm not going to.. Eventually you get to a point the cravings slow and you are just getting on with your life, or at least you have the cravings much less frequently...T

Thanks T! Day 4.5 and no physical withdrawal symptoms, a little anxiety but just a few moments of "I could really use a drink right now!". I agree with setting short-term goals and that it what I am doing....at this point I am not even saying I am not going to drink today...I am saying I am not going to drink now!! I am taking it one "i"d like a drink" moment at a time :-)!!!