Good luck. Try not taking that first weekend drink. Its not the caboose that kills you but the engine that starts that crazy train up with the first drink. Postpone it if you usually start friday say till saturday morning. Then when waking sober postpone to saturday night. After lunch go for some distraction of walking in park or call someone for AA to talk with if you thinking drinking could happen saturday night to see if they can tell you an AA meeting to go walking into. You then postpone to after the meeting.

When meeting is over hopefully you went and decided you can change your drinking. Go home get some sleep repeat all in morning.
Be sure to say thanks if stay sober that friday night and help me on saturday morning too when waking up

Welcome to the group!

Alcoholism is triggered by deeper emotional issues which is why it is listed as a mental health disorder.

I reached my low in febuary of 2008. I had lost everything I had including family and friends. I checked myself into detox at a local hospital which was the best thing I ever did. I was in there for 4 days and given medication for the anxiety, in order to get me through the withdrawals.

I had to be ready to do everythng it took to stay sober so after detox, I agreed to go through a 3 week IOP (Intensive Outpatient program) which most hospitals have, and most insurances will pay for. After the IOP, I had 3 months of once a week group counseling where I learned what my triggers were and how to avoid them.

Throughout all the counseling I had, regular attendance at AA meetings were a requirement. I got an AA sponsor who became a close friend and he guided me through the steps. From that moment on, my life began to get better. I had money coming from places I never expected, I got a new job which I eally liked because it gave me a chance to travel and see places I never would have seen otherwise. Also, at that time, my relationships improved. When others saw how much I had changed as a result of being sober, they all wanted to hang around me!

I highly recommend dropping in on an AA beginners meeting where you will hear similar stories of how AA helped them. While I was introduced to AA while in a treatment program, it doesn't mean you need to follow my path to go to a meeting. Basicly, Anyone can walk into a meeting. AA is how most people stay sober but it's not the only way. There are many other ways and we are all responsible for choosing the path that works best for us.

So, good luck on your road to recovery and may you find peace and happiness along the way.

God Bless

I suggest reading a recent post here: Change.
When I quit I had increased my intake of alcohol over the years to a point where it was unsustainable. ie, I was coming unglued mentally. I know that clouded mind that you are feeling. It took about two months to be free.
To bring about change, I’ve found that there are certain times (windows of opportunity) when I can see clearer what I need. Then other times I’m back in my mind circles and change is a distant dream.
How I bring about healthy changes is by taking care of my body every day. Wake early, exercise, eat right with plenty of water. This sets the stage for some self love to come in. Walking every day is my go to.
I often ask myself: ‘what do I want?’
After 4 years of sobriety the answer is never a drink.
What do you really want?
Welcome to the group.

Welcome to our group, I can completely relate to you.
Every night before I went to bed, I promised myself I would give up drinking the next day - the next day came and I would drink again when I finished work & start all over again.
My mind was foggy, my thoughts were scattered and I did not think clearly at all.
One day I woke up, and made the decision - today was the day, I joined online groups, I rang my doctor and asked him for help and from that day on I have not had any alcohol.
You have to be so fed up, so sick and tired of it all, that you make that decision to change your life.
One day at a time, keep posting here, write in your online journal here, pour all those feelings out, if you don't, nothing changes if nothing changes.
We are all here to support you, and know that you can do it, you just gotta want it so bad that you are willing to do whatever you have to do.
Take care !

How are you doing Aphrodit? I’m curious, did you leave the e off the end of your profile name?
Keep checking in whether you’re drinking or not. We understand that this can be a process. No one will judge you.

Hello guys and thank you for your prompt responses. I am on my fourth day sober, I heeded your advice on postponing the drinking to the next and thanking myself for being sober every morning and night and so far so good. I am feeling much better just hot flushes and headaches probably cause of the withdrawal symptoms. So taking it one day at a time.

I was actually proud of myself today, I went out with friends for lunch and I just had water and juice. I was not that tempted but I kept reminding myself how I feel after I drink. I could hold a decent conversation at the table. Normally under the influence I'd become so rowdy, defensive and judgemental. Always wanting people to see things from my perspective, imputing my views onto them. I feel so much better honestly.

That’s great to hear! I was amazed as the sober days added up how my true self emerged. Alcohol was a horrible thing for me and I couldn’t see that fact while I was drinking. The depressive nature of it just darkens the thoughts so much.
Make sure you drink lots of water. I keep a water bottle with me all the time.
The physical stuff faded in a week for me even though I was drinking quite a bit when I quit.
I hope you keep this going and feel better every day:)

Good for you, great news, yeh, I had headaches for quite a while, Vitamin B tabs are great as they help with mental stress and put back in what the alcohol has taken out, I take one every day.
For me, it is always one day at a time, and each day is a victory to be proud of.
If you are tempted, close your eyes and remember what alcohol leads to, and stay strong !

Welcome to the oasis in the desert. I find the comments you make to be so helpful...rowdy, defensive, and judgmental... booze made me an azz. I thought it was helping but it was just creating more trouble.

I wish you a great journey. It gets better every day.

1is2many

I was a bit emotional today and thought of a drink but just going through these comments gave me hope again. I literally had tears in my eyes because I couldn't believe how much support I am getting. This really strengthen me and I took a glass of ginger ale. And told myself otherwise, I am really grateful for the support. Thank guys.

You will find your emotions will be all over the place, the alcohol is coming out of your body, and your body is like 'what is going on' - so all normal. When you have those thoughts, replace it with another thought or go and do something you enjoy. If you have a dog, take your dog for a walk, just keep yourself busy to keep those thoughts out of your head.
We all know exactly what it is like, and have been through this ourselves, I am now 1 1/2 years sober, and started here on this group - checking in regularly, and reading posts like yours is what keeps me sober every day !

I am trying to distract myself, I just went for a walk and it took my mind off things. I just saw my neighbours sitting outside drinking and I was tempted to join them . But I asked myself whether it's worth it. Just the after feeling of drinking sickens me. One day at a time.

yep, if you stop and think about it, instead of reacting automatically which would have been to have joined the neighbors, you can act on your second thought which is not to drink. When I have a drinking thought, I say in my head 'no way, you have come too far, and if you have one, you will be back to that shitty place you came from", then I go and do something else and forget all about drinking.
It is being conscious about your thoughts, and listening to yourself, the longer you are sober, the quieter those drinking thoughts become.
Your mind is trying to get you to go to that easy place of drinking again, you be aware and keep super busy and find other things to do.
Also, keep remembering what drinking led to, and the person you became.
You are on a new, sober path and will find out who you really are when you don't drink - your authentic self !!!

Aprodit,

Sometimes the urges to drink when in the company of drinkers is pure habit or "muscle memory". My automatic "go-t0" was get some booze and join them. But if in the company of casual/recreational/moderate drinkers, I find that getting on iced tea, soda or water to drink was enough to trick the habit. My habit (routine behavior) was to have a glass in hand (usually containing alcohol), but my hand doesn't know what is in the glass - booze or water. My habit was just to have a glass in hand.

As a disclaimer, I still don't like being in a circle of intoxicated people, so I don't go there. But if in a circle of people moderately enjoying adult beverages, I am not threatened and can be content sipping my iced sweet tea.

Today I flipped the coin, I drank. I am travelling tomorrow and I just exchange my currency to euros and the rate is flippen high. I just panicked and had all racing thoughts and the first thing that came to my mind was to have a cider to calm my mind. I am not vaccinated and I had to fill a locator form which indirectly states that you must be vaccinated for the form to be complete. I tried calling the centers in the UK for testing and none of them are picking up, no response and I have a flight to catch tomorrow while I was guaranteed that I could travel regardless of my no-vaccination as long as I do a PCR test in my home country.

I am not trying to blame it on anything but I just had some panic attacks over that, I spent so much money on a trip that I haven't yet travelled and all I want is just a breather. Anyhow I didn't do my normal drinking self, I cut it very short and my sub-conscious still knows that this is temporary drinking because I didn't enjoy it at all. But I feel terrible for doing it because I didn't complete all the work I was supposed to. So I am feeling a bit shitty. If there was that 'tears' emoji, it will be me.

So guys please say a little prayer or something in the affirmative for me to come through this trip. I just want to relax and unwind without the thought of alcohol. I know deep down I am done.