Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
I am under a lot of stress right now, and I have been having cravings lately. I put these back to my Higher Power who I choose to call God, and I tell my sponsor. I also go to online recovery sites.
I haven't had a drink since 2006, but there is alcohol in the house, and I am going to ask my brother to come and remove it tomorrow. I am also in recovery for six months from abusing Norco, and Mom takes it every day. I just remind myself that the pills are hers, not mine, and that taking them would be theft, dishonest, and a violation of her trust.
I also use to abuse benadryl, but there is none of that in the house, thank God. I see the pink boxes at the drug store all the time, and I try not to go down that aisle, I am so tempted to get some sometimes.
Someone told me that having cravings is an indication that I am not working my program hard enough, well, I suppose that might be true, my attention has been diverted between my own physical illness and taking care of my parents.
I have to remind myself that there are medicines in the world that ARE for me to take as prescribed, and there are substances that are NOT for me to use. And I have to draw a deep line in the sand and not cross that line. Ever.
I haven't had a drink since 2006, but there is alcohol in the house, and I am going to ask my brother to come and remove it tomorrow. I am also in recovery for six months from abusing Norco, and Mom takes it every day. I just remind myself that the pills are hers, not mine, and that taking them would be theft, dishonest, and a violation of her trust.
I also use to abuse benadryl, but there is none of that in the house, thank God. I see the pink boxes at the drug store all the time, and I try not to go down that aisle, I am so tempted to get some sometimes.
Someone told me that having cravings is an indication that I am not working my program hard enough, well, I suppose that might be true, my attention has been diverted between my own physical illness and taking care of my parents.
I have to remind myself that there are medicines in the world that ARE for me to take as prescribed, and there are substances that are NOT for me to use. And I have to draw a deep line in the sand and not cross that line. Ever.
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Dick Van Dyke’s path to sobriety was a turning point in his life and career. Here’s what happened:How He Got SoberStruggles and Realization: Van Dyke began drinking as a teenager, largely to cope with shyness and social anxiety. Alcohol made him feel more comfortable in social settings, but over time, his drinking spiraled out of control. By his mid-40s, he recognized that he had an addictive...
You sound like you have a good solid sober head resting on your shoulders. I am only 9 months sober and hearing that someone with years of sobriety like you, has cravings still is a reminder to me that I have to practice regular and rigorous honesty with myself and my limitations. Sometimes it's about going back to the basics.
I am not in control of my drinking ever; I am not in control of how my body chemically rewires once I have a single drink.
I AM in control of how I choose to deal with life's more difficult chapters. My own approach as a co-scribe to these chapters, is to allow those feelings that are making me anxious and emotionally uncomfortable, just be; to feel them, to acknowledge them but to simultaneously make the resolute and committed decision to not respond to them with drinking. There are many other better and empowering options available at my finger tips.
I choose to be serene to life, ever present, accepting but not a voiceless passenger just along for the ride. I am a co-pilot...not a passenger, and I say where and when, how and what.
Peace, serenity, and sobriety.
Stress and fatigue can change your way of thinking completely so it is wise to learn how to deal with those things. It is easy to move away from what has been working for you and to fall back into old ways of thinking.
I am no expert on stress but I do see that there is a lot of help available in that area and I have seen the benefits of one of those stress managing courses that a friend has recently completed. Maybe you need to look at what you are doing and find ways of reducing the workload. If you are dealing with an illness and trying to take care of your parents at the same time, maybe you are pushing yourself too hard. Are there other options or other people who can share some of the work?
I used to suffer from stress many years ago but I made a few simple changes that removed the problem. The first thing was an acceptance that I could not cure the ills of the world, things that were beyond my control. Also, an acceptance of things as they are rather than how I wished them to be was a big help. I recently learned that my son is seriously considering emigrating to the far side of the world due to a lack of job opportunities at home and the natural reaction was to feel stressed. However, I am now slowly coming to accept that what will be will be and it may in fact have a positive outcome.
The cravings that you are feeling are warning signs. You can ignore the warnings and hope for the best or you can accept that you need to step back a little and make the necessary changes.
Do I have impulses to punch someone when they are taking too long in line or cut me off on the road? Or do I have cravings to smoke a cigarette every now and then when I'm stressed? Sure!!! Do it do it? No!
Cravings are a normal part of our Id/Ego struggle. No cravings would be abnormal... that's called a lobotomy.
So relax that you have them, and celebrate that you don't give in.
That's called success in my world!
I don't know what's best for you since I haven't met you.
But you seem to have such a full plate and so many things going on.
Have you considered going into an actual AA meeting where you could talk to people in person?
There are better ways to deal with stress. Best wishes.
Or a coca cola. Or even a piece of candy
But the thing that helps me the most is doing something for somebody else. I forget about me when I am helping another
1is2msny
also, I get to regular meetings. I understand you do this online.
and - it's great to reach out to others, like you did here.
Good luck with it all, congrats on being off all things.