Good job on eight days. Sorry to hear that you starting drinking again after six months sober. At least now you know that you can't be a "normal" drinker so you don't have to go through that again. Not an option for you (or me.)

If you found Carr's book helpful you might also want to read Rational Recovery's book about AVRT (Addictive Voice Recognition Technique) and check out the toolkit on SMART Recovery.org

I found this site helpful as well, lots of good folks here.

How does it feel this time around? Are you doing okay?

Welcome!

Sometimes we have what appear to be negative experiences but actually they teach us something that is vital for us to progress in our journey. Learning and accepting that we cannot drink normally is vital for us to move forward in sobriety.

Glad you are up to 8days - remember you never have to do those first 8 days again. I would suggest that you check out as many resources as possible to make sure you find what is most helpful for you to stay sober.

People here have a wide range of experiences so dont be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to. We will all be happy to share our experiences with you.

Congrat on 8 days. Great. No such a thing as normal drinker once an alcoholic. Try AA. The Big Book is pretty good, beautiful book to read and follow.
Don't even think about failure.
Hope you're okay with the withdrawal. I needed outside/medical help to stop. Go Claire, go. All the best.

Welcome Claire. Hope we can be a support to you in your efforts to change the path you were on. Nice to see a smiley after the 8 days. It can be an amazing adventure of change. Just give yourself permission and be an active participant. :}

Hey welcome Claire, nice to have you here. It's important to find a plan for staying stopped. I got sober through AA and have been happily and productively sober for quite a while. My life is so much better than it was when I was drinking, or trying not to drink!

PS - What I should also have said is that I was never a 'normal' drinker - I thought I was but in reality I never achieved it!!

Thank you everyone for the replies:) I am not counting the days this time like before. I mean....I am but last time it felt like 'how long can I go without?' Whereas now I feel committed....like I needed a trial run (or two).
I will check out AVRT, thank you....because I do find Allen Carrs method v helpful.
I will keep checking in and promise to post if that little voice pops up.
Thanks again for the support:)

Congrats on deciding to get sober. The rub for me, like with you, was in staying sober. I too quit for a few months, even a few years, but would convince myself I could drink normally. Whatever that means...
This is a progressive and fatal illness though and not to be toyed with.
Some of us learn that the hardest way while others get chances to pick back up, dust off, and find sobriety.
Stick around! Tell us how you are doing.
Reach out to others who are sober where you live. Its all part of the journey.

Dont think about how long without... think about how long with some enjoyment of life , with a feeling of self worth, with an ability to love and be loved..

Focus on the positive FOCUS on the good.

1is2

Hi Claire. Im new to this as wel im 5 months sober. This is my first tym tryin. Its a hard journey but u would change it for the world. Im 26 and have a son at 21 months and my life is jst beginning I didn't realise how much i was missing out on. My key thing is stick with the winners and get to meetings. Good luck.

Thanks Jilly...thankfully the worst of my drinking was pre kids, but the worst compulsion/guilt cycle has been in the last year. I'm done with it!
Good luck:)

Thank you for this! I've been through quite a few drug rehab centers and I had a hard time realizing over time that I can't no matter how hard I try drink in moderation like some people. Some of us were just born addicts and were programmed differently than others. It makes it harder on us but just makes us that much stronger. Keep it up!

very well put Avery. Yeah welcome claired4. I am on my third month this time. Yeah I finally came to the realization I am an alcoholic. Its not funny but I was the normal drinker around my friends. I was actually the one the cops would tell to take the rest of the idiots home. Only because I have excellent balance. Don't want no more of all that any longer. Like you say a whole new life to be lived now.