Hi. You know, the easiest, and most uncomplicated way I know of is just stay sober for today. Just that one day. It's pretty simple for me. you don't even know if your going to be around, tomorrow, the next day, or next year. So don't be worried about how many days you have, or if your going to relapse on day whatever. Everyday has it's own paticular chalenges, and we can face them, and get through them. You'll be alright. Just keep doing one day at a time, then when you get up again, do it again. All that stuff that goes on in our heads, hardly ever happens, but we can make it happen by worrying, or dwelling on it. Just enjoy today. Have a great day. James

That's how I got by the first few weeks. I will not drink today. Maybe I will drink tomorrow, but not today. When tomorrow came I said the same.

Hello Rich,

When I stopped drinking I had no belief that I could do it but I did have an acceptance that I could not drink without some very nasty consequences. My target was always one day but I had a hope that the days would stretch to a longer period and that is what has happened.

Reading your post I would fear that you are already setting yourself up to fail, even though that may not be your intention. Do you accept deep down that you cannot drink? Are you willing to do whatever it takes? For me it meant going to AA meetings and learning from people who had overcome the same problem. I was imprisoned behind a wall that was constructed from resentment, anger, fear, guilt and a host of other negative emotions. When I met my sponsor to go through the Twelve Steps he explained that it was about building an arch through which I could walk to freedom. Maybe you need to build a similar arch so that you can get past that wall.

I am not setting myself up for failure, I am recognizing a position that has given me difficulty in the past, looking for support from others to help me over that hump.

I don't remember what the reason for my relapse has been in the past except for my most recent relapse which was when I thought I could have just one (or two) glasses of wine but of course, I didn't stop there. However, the feeling of regret and the hangover that I had the next day are still very fresh in my mind, as is my literal run-in with the door in our bedroom and my wife calling the ambulance so I'm confident all of those memories will get me through the next few days and beyond.

Additionally, today is my 9th straight day without alcohol but also my 20th of this month - I had my relapse on 4/11 after vowing on 4/1 to stop drinking.

As others have said, each day gets easier, and I am feeling that way too.

Rich

Hi Rich,
I'm certainly not an expert on keeping sober, but I will agree with some of the posts here that seems to work for me - I'll just stay sober today, and tomorrow I can drink.
Maybe it's part of just learning to live each moment of our lives, not in yesterday or tomorrow.
I don't have many days sober. But the days I was able to maintain sobriety were the days I constantly told myself that I can make it "just for today". I'll deal with tomorrow when it gets here.