Congrats on making your decision. I made mine yesterday and just beginning my new journey as well. I was sober 10 1/2 months last year, but fell back into my old ways after a night out with friends. I want the life back I had when I was sober and committed to returning there again. So day 2 for me, with the challenge of a weekend ahead. We can do this!

Congratulations! It sounds like you have completed step one of the AA 12 steps without realizing:
"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable."

I remember trying to quit hundreds of times but I always relapsed within 3 weeks. I knew I needed help so I went through a safe hospital detox followed by a 3 week outpatient treatment and still I needed more help so I went through 3 months of relapse prevention, group counseling where I learned what my triggers were and how to avoid them.

Throughout all the treatment I had, regular attendance at AA meetings were a requirement and I still attend occasional meetings today, 9 plus years later! I have a great life and I have never been happier. I wish the same for you. If you want to give it a try, you can google meetings in your area. It's free!

Good luck on your road to recovery and God Bless!

Hi,
Today is day 76 for me. I don't know if I'll never drink again or if I will. What I have learned is that there were so many BS reasons why I drank and most, make little sense. I'll give you two -- I'm bored or I'm pissed off. I've gone to an AA meeting daily and since it's mainly the only game in town, I continue. I still do think about drinking but I can also claim to have not had a hangover for 75 days! A mini-miracle

Hello tonewbeginnings,

Good luck to you on your journey.

If what you did in the past when you decided to stop drinking was not successful, are you going to do anything different this time? It is said that alcoholics suffer from a form of insanity where alcohol is concerned. The meaning of insanity is ‘doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result’.

When I came to realise that I could not stop on my own I went to AA meetings and what had been impossible before became almost easy.

The first promise that you need to make is not to take the first drink. It’s a scientific fact that once you take the first drink any promises, such as, I will only have one or two, are out the window. Compulsion sets in. There is no will power once the compulsion sets it. It’s hard wired in the brain. We are like Pavlov’s dogs. They cannot will to stop salivating when the bell rings. Many intelligent people think that they are smart and can use will power. The only will power that is effective is not to take the first drink.

The one day at time slogan helps. Don’t drink today. Don’t worry about tomorrow. There are many options available for you. There is AA, SMASR Recovery, LifeRing and others. I don’t use any of them. I am not a joiner. I don’t like face to face meetings. Here on DS( Daily Strength) I read what interests me and ignore the rest. Besides, I do not have a god to pray to. My religion tells me that I must do it myself. I had success. You must find the sobriety path that fits you. So people need to be told what to do. AA is a good fit for them.
Since I sobered up, I have been able to make changes in my life. I like the new me.

You are not alone here. Everyone, who post here, has been to the point where they had to stop drinking.

Yes I remember those mornings after when my brain was throbbing and I felt like I had let myself down, again. Then I would take a nap, eat some mcdonalds, and by 4 or 5 I would be back on the nipple of the bottle. Why? because it worked at removing me from me. It made me feel better and like there was nothing wrong with the world. Well it was killing me. I slowly had creeped up to drinking more and more and finally I was drinking lots. I was avoiding life at every turn and then life was becoming a huge tidal wave that loomed over me ALL THE TIME.

Finally one Sunday after a bender I was so angry and mad that I had the thought to either kick the door down, go get an apt and drink myself to death, or a little voice in me said go to aa. That was on June 10, 2012.

Today I wake up and am so happy I didnt drink last night. It took some time to get life under control and yes sometimes I still want to drink like other normal ppl do but Im an alcoholic. I drink one and I have to keep going to chase that feeling I was so in love with.

There is a way to get sober and be happy but just stopping drinking is not enough. You have to find something to replace the drinking. Or when 5 oclock hits the deamon will knock and you will just get up and answer the door again. Because drinking is what the default is unless you find something else.

1is2many

I can relate... right now I feel like shitt. I will focuse on not drinking today. Tomorrow will see

tonewbeginnings,

Welcome to the group. Congratulation for making a huge progress! Yes, admitting that we need help and knowing that we don’t have power over alcohol is a good place to start actually.

I just didn’t want to assume, but have you already joined an AA group or a 12 step group? It seems like you’re ahead of the game so that’s good news. It could be extremely discouraging on this journey, but it’s worth the trial and effort at the end of the day. I encourage to join an actual group if you haven’t yet, that will help you tremendously.

You are not alone my friend. We’ve all been through it or going through at the moment. We support you through the whole way! Praying for a successful recovery on your journey