I'M AVOIDING MANY THINGS BECAUSE OF THE SAME REASON. I WISH I HAD SOME PEARLS OF WISDOM FOR YOU...I WILL FOLLOW YOUR POST, I HOPE WE FIND A WAY!

Are you in AA?

If so, why haven't you worked the steps?

Guru

I would suggest going and doing these things with some sober friends... I learned how to have fun that way... Peopl in the fellowship Like havin fun just as much as I do.. Not only do you get to have fun but you are with people you can talk about the program with too...

I too avoided doing the things I enjoyed doing for 4 1/2 years. Then my friend asked me to go out and shoot some pool with her. When I quit drinking, I attending alot of meetings and had alot of conversations on the things I did when I drank so I turned to work, work, work and taking care of my daughter. I then tried a relationship, and that didn't work. So for the last 2 years, it was work and my daughter. Let me tell you, it felt so good to just get out and have fun without having to have a drink in my hand. You will find that when you are ready. I don't know what else to say. Good Luck and congrats on another year.

For me, I loved to fish. Being out on the water drunk was cool with me, but when I got sober I didn't even know if I would like fishing anymore. I tried it, and still love it! BUT, I am scared of water, so for me to get out in a boat is terrifing to me!!! I am a bank fisher now, and that's the way I can still fish!

Maybe you had the guts before, and now...well, like I said, water terrifies me, but when I quit smoking...I'M TAKING SWIMMING LESSONS!!! WHOOT!

So maybe you could take up some of your hobbies in smaller doses? Maybe? Just take small steps. Start by going to the banks and skipping stones. Get your lawn chair and your pole and some worms (I only touch worms) and try it. GO FOR IT!!!!

karen i didnt know you was afraid of water..water is one of my big triggers..sitting in the pool, or anything around outside events...i would sit in the pool with my friend this summer and everytime i did, i wanted a beer..so i had to wuit doing that..ill try again next summer..

Thanks to every one.

eat i do not want you to be fat but for me is dificult to drink with a full stomach and use the techniche put it away for a minute and an hour and a day also exercise and save the money you used to drink to buy something you want and pray and sorry change your drinking friends for not drinking ones remenber you have this illness and this is like cancer take care i love you and all the people in this side love you

i go on quite a few sober retreats where we stay in cabins on a lake. we fish, swim and have A.A. meetings throughout the three days-speakers as well.i also go to a retreat called Holy Name here in houston which is strictly 12 step recovery work. the best thing about that is if you have no money, no money is required. you just ask in a letter and then you get your comformation later. the grounds are beautiful and you get private rooms. i love it there.devonh

If there had not been sober dances when I got sober, I bet it would have taken a lot longer for me to get sober. The group I sobered up with was known for it's rowdiness. We went off camping all over the state of Ok. Recruited unsober drunks for campfire meetings. Had dances, parties, football watch parties. Fishing was also included. Some of the times those old drunk feelings would creep up on someone but this way you always had someone to talk you through it. We just learned to do it sober. There were probably a lot of things we did that other AA groups would frown on but there are a lot of us around still with 20+ years.

Good luck with getting back to fishing and such.

i only have 19 months, i remember sitting in an aa meeting while in detox and of all things to be running thru my head....racing and football!! iwas talking with some co-workers the other day and made the comment that i liked both even SOBER! everyone cracked up. I was at a wedding last night(i was the planner) and for the first time i found myself getting pissed and feeling sorry for myself because everyone was partying their butts off and poor patty couldn't. I didn't know quite how to handle this so i said my goodbyes and went home. i've accepted that these feelings will come and go and as long as i don't feel trapped and can leave i'll be ok. maybe something i've said will help. good luck patty

hi there take a little from everyone work your steps find somepeople in aa that like to do the samethings u like and plan a outing somethings u may never do again that is were they tell us that somethings u did will never do again pray pray pray god will work it out god bless

Ditto on what RobBo said. Once you go out and do these things that you like with sober people, you'll relize that you CAN have fun sober. I wouldn't do anything without booze before. Now that I'm sober I remember All the fun I had and can wake up the next morning and do it again. There is plenty of fun out there, and you don't have to plan around hangovers!

Thanks again guys. You are the best. I do go to meetings and I do work the steps. I also am very active and do alot of activities. Its a couple of thing that I wish I never stopped doing. I feel like I must be afraid to do these things for some reason. However I did promise myself that I would make whatever adjustments I have to, to be able to enjoy these things again. If I can quit drinking and enjoy it, I can get back into the things I so enjoyed. (If that makes ant sense).