I can relate. I tried quitting hundreds of times and the longest I was able to stay sober was 3 weeks.

Eventually I realized I needed help because I couldn't do it alone. I had a long talk with my doctor who referred me to the dept of alcohol and drug abuse at our local hospital. I was evaluated and they set me up with the next session. I will never forget my first day there. I was terrified because I didn't know what to expect, but after the first day, I felt a connection to the other 8 people who were in there with me and we quickly became friends. I felt like I was right where I needed to be and I looked forward to participating in the remaining days.

That was 13 years ago. Today I have a great life and I am happier then I have ever been. I wish the same for you.

The only suggestion I have is to try different things to see what works for you and what doesn't. Listed above is what worked for me because I was lucky enough to have two great counselors who I loved dearly.

Good luck on your road to recovery. I hope you find peace and hapiness along the way.

God Bless

I made it five months.

Hi there. I think everyone feels subdued throughout the winter. Of course some are more sensitive to it as underlying mental/emotional states can come to the surface easily. I have a vague anxiety as the leaves come down and after the first November storm strips the rest off, the bare ness is pretty bleak. Combined with the loss of daylight it’s a tough adjustment.
I have been waking at 6 am for years and I find that being aware of the coming day gives me a stronger connection with the sun. I adjust my schedule to have some time to walk after work with the sunset.
And early evenings means more time to make the meals that I love but couldn’t justify spending the time during the summer.
More tea and books to enjoy... Yoga/exercise with some peaceful music really helps me too.
Since alcohol is a depressant winter is the worst time to drink. It’s dark enough without adding to the mental darkness....
Anyday can become day one. Just pick one that feels right.

Hi, my sister gets SAD and uses a sun lamp.

You just gotta start again, alcohol will be contributing to that sadness

I know. I can tell. Im at my moms helping her do estate paperwork. My stepdad passed away in August. I can't hardly stand it. I hate myself for my impatience with her. She let my stepdad abuse me. (Not the one that just died) and I have a lot of resentment. I suppose I'm entitled to that but she's 84 and I need to forgive her.

I have SAD. I use a sun lamp in the morning when I wake up, but it was suggested to me to use it when the sun sets. If I'm ever home when that happens, I'll do it. If you can't use a sun lamp, try to go outside for a walk if you physically can at your mom's during the day. It'll give you some distance from her to process your resentment against her.

I have a lot of resentment against the people who abused me, but I am working on letting go. I get some AA quotes emailed to me daily, and this was in one of them- "Forgiveness is almost a selfish act because of its immense benefits to the one who forgives." - Lawana Blackwell - The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, 1999.

I am on my 4th step and seeing my part in what I did, even if it's holding on to the anger of the past instead of letting it go. It's very hard to see my part in all the wrong that's been done to me instead of playing the comfortable victim that I've played for almost 40 years, but I am working on getting over it. I also have a psych and therapist who help me out, and if I need to I can go to a group outpatient therapy for my alcoholism. I have learned to use my support network.

I think sad, is overrated. What does it really accomplish? Some would say sad is better than being nothing. At least you feel something.

As far as being sober, I'm sober, have been sober for years, still completely believe that God determines each day I am sober proportional to the desire of me wanting to be sober.

Right now I am not valuing my sobriety enough to really appreciate it. I have to write down how terrible life was before God made me sober. I know that goes against the recovery communities self-will and you can do it philosophies, but for me personally, if God wants me drunk, I'm going to be drunk, but if I want to be more desirous of not being drunk, God works with me on that one.

We are not so special that God wants this or that for us, God simply does what we want him to do, often, and if you really don't want to be sober, you're probably going to drink and it's probably not going to be that bad. You'll know if it is bad.

I thought you meant sad as in feeling down, never heard of SAD that you meant- sorry that l misunderstood x

It happens to me every year

There is a direct correlation to loss of sunlight to depression.

And I’m sure you know alcohol is a depressant.

So what’s your plan for the rest of your day? Booze and then wake up and do it all over again tommorow? Without a plan, a goal, no progress is ever made.

Happens to me every year, too. Making sure you have some outside time really helps.

Alcohol will not help this situation. You have to make the decision to stop. If you want to be sober, make the commitment, you can do it.

Frederick, what do you mean SAD is overrated? Seasonal Associative Disorder is reaI. Are you just trying to be a jerk to those of us who suffer from it?

Don’t let his comments effect you. I don’t think he knew what it is so he’s referring to the emotion. It is apparent from his posts that he really struggles with empathy It’s heart breaking.

Yeah, I figured. HIs comments don't affect me - I have very thick skin. I worry about the folks he has chosen to comment on lately. His last few comments were downright mean, in my opinion. If he was the first guy who had responded when I joined this group, I would have high-tailed it out of here. Tough love is one thing, being a dick is quite another.

Yes! Feeling that way today. Struggling

Hi guys. Thank you all for taking the time to say hi. I got outside this weekend and watched my friend Flyfish on the river. It's poetic and awe inspiring. I don't even think he realizes it! Also went hiking in the desert and saw so much ancient pottery we even stopped bothering lo look at it!? I did find one piece that had fingerprints in the clay. Thought that was pretty cool. Anyway getting out and about really helps. Also, I did not drink this weekend.