This is so hard and new to me. Going to the fridge to gather stuff to a make dinner, I automatically reached for a beer.

Had a friend come round, the conversation I found hard, as I am usually fired up on booze...

Yes I can so relate. Win o clock for me was when I started to make dinner for my family. I used that time of day as an excuse to start drinking. And did for years. When I got sober that time was super hard. If I made it *to* the dinner table without a drink, I knew I'd stay dry that night. When I got to AA and got into the program I knew that time would remain hard. So...I did other stuff. Drank green tea, drank water, didnt cook....made appts with friends to run after dinner, or to get a manicure. Whatever it took to focus on the time *after* that witching hour. Now it doesnt faze me at all. there is no "wine oclock" for me anymore and by God's grace there won't be tomorrow either.

Round the clock was my wine o' clock, didn't think I could survive without it. I was wrong.

Thank you sticky, I too occupied my mind and did not drink. I am feeling so proud of myself.

I am now listening in on a meeting on the internet. On Smart recovery website.

So desperate to do this. Some one said to me last night at AA that if you can get past 7 days, you will stop craving.

Fair...well done to you for getting sober. The lady at AA said to me last night that I have come to AA at the right time, as alcoholism is a progressive disease, I have not got to that stage yet were I am craving it all day. I certainly think about it when I wake up, but dont start until dinner time. Although I have started to have the odd glass in the afternoon. That is why I know I need help now, I know I need to stop it if I can.

Maybe try making/having a cup of tea while cooking. I've found decaf tea to be very mellowing and there are lots of fun flavors! I like natural detox tea that contains milk thistle which is a greater cleanser for the liver.

I was such a hot mess. Even though I was taking prescriptions for both xanax and trazodone for sleeping, I'd still wake up at odd hours and would be unable to get back to sleep. I'd just pick up a drink. If I didn't have adequate time to sleep it off before time to go to work, I'd just phone in sick and resume where I left off. I'd wake up in the late morning or early afternoon and just feel horrible. I remember that half-hungover feeling and the nasty taste in my mouth. Ugh. I'm surprised that I'm still alive.

Clover: that sounds awful. What a life. hearing other pals stories makes me determined to do this. I am not that far down this sorrid road, but I know if I carry on drinking I will be. I feel so blessed this morning. But I know by 2pm I will be itching to drink, it seems to get earlier my cravings. I have tackled it for 2 nights. I pray I can continue. I feel I have the strength.

Hang in there Sugar.
Mine was always beer thirty right after work. I have two routes I can take home and both have at least 2 liquor stores before I get home and Im only 6 miles from my job so it was very easy to pass one thinking I would make it home without beer, well 2 miles later is the drive through store and it got to the point where they remembered my truck and would have my order sitting at the window when I got there so I changed my strategy on my addiction.
Now when I leave work I have a bottle of flavored water I can sip on which kills the crave for a cold carbonated beverage.

Today is day four and so far so good! Making some green tea with lemon and honey, then gonna cruise the board till I go to work to motivate me through the day.

Stay strong everybody!